Targets & Attitudes
Geography: Edexcel A Level, topic 10.2.1
Defining Development Targets for Governments and IGOs
Governments and International Government Organisations (IGOs) play a significant role in defining development targets and policies.
Defining targets
- In most countries, economic development provides the means (capital and human resources) that drive and sustain human development.
- The link between these two types of development is critical and is in the hands of governments.
- Governments determine how much of a country’s wealth should be spent on providing education, health and other social services.
- This depends very much on governmental attitudes towards social progress.
Government attitudes
- Governments can be classified along a continuum from left wing (socialist) to right wing (capitalist).
- They can also be classified along a continuum from democratic (hold regular elections) to authoritarian and totalitarian (with small powerful elites).
Attitudes to social progress
- In general, countries that are more to the ‘left’ and more democratic tend to invest more in social progress factors e.g. education and health.
- On the other hand, countries that are more to the ‘right’ and more authoritarian tend to invest less in social progress factors.
- Two extreme examples are:
- Socialist Cuba, where social development is a high priority.
- Saudi Arabia, with very low levels of per capita spending on public services.
Test yourself on Targets & Attitudes
What drives human development in most countries by providing capital and human resources?