Introducing a Simple Qualitative Comparative Dichotomy Approach to State and Clarify Sustainable Development and Sustainability Related Concepts and Issues, Part 2

editors | 28 January, 2010 12:47

By Lucio Muñoz*

*Independent Qualitative Comparative Researcher/Consultant, Vancouver, BC, Canada. E-mail: munoz@interchange.ubc.ca

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iii) Comparing sets of forces between development models

By comparing the combination of forces underlying the development processes of different areas or localities, we can gain an insight into their similarities and differences. For example, considering the two following models:

Di = Abc; where Di = development conditions in locality "i"

Dj = aBc; where Dj = development conditions in locality "j"

The above models indicate that the development conditions in locality Di are different from those of locality Dj: in locality Di, societal forces(A) are dominant and in locality Dj, economic forces(B) are the active ones. In other words, locality Di follows socialist goals and locality Dj follows capitalist goals. However, the two localities are similar in that in both of them the environment(c) is assumed to have a passive role, and must accommodate to either societal or economic goals. Hence, similarities and differences can be helpful into providing insight into patterns of active or passive dominant roles across localities and areas. For example, if regional development(RD) were made up of development conditions in those two localities, the following holds:

RD = Di + Dj = Abc + aBc = c(Ab + aB).

The above regional development(RD) model indicates that the environment(c) is the common passive factor at the regional level. Hence, the implementation of environmental policies could be a common policy in both localities. And perhaps this common policy could be implemented without much discourse if social and economic goals in this region can be balanced out successfully. For example, if there are win-win situations in social and economic terms, locality Di and locality Dj should be expected to see an incentive and take action in implementing a common environmental policy like global warming or a ban on pesticides.

The ABC development model based on qualitative dichotomies

i) The ABC development model

D = A + B + C

The above model simply says that there is development(D) when social factors(A) or economic factors(B) or environmental factors(C) or any combinations of them are present as active forces. One implication of this development model is that each set of forces are sufficient for development to take place, but not necessary. For example, if the economy(B) has the dominant role, development(D) will take place whether or not social factors(A) or environmental factors(C) are active or not.

ii) The ABC anti-thesis development model

d = abc

The above anti-thesis development model indicates that there is no development(d) when all three factors are absent or passive at the same time.

iii) The ABC optimal development model

D^* = ABC

The above expression indicates that development is optimal when all three types of forces are present and have an active role at the same time. The main implication of this expression is that the active presence of these three factors at the same time is a sufficient and a necessary condition for optimal development to take place. In other words, if one or two of these three factors is passive, development can not be optimal.

iv) The different faces of development(D)

The formula to find the different faces or types of development using dichotomy rules is the following:

D = 2^n - 1 ; Where 2 means two choices, active and passive

n = number of forces or factors

1 = the anti-thesis development model

A direct application of the above formula to the ABC development model leads to the following:

D = 2^3 - 1 = 8 - 1 = 7 faces

The above means that 7 different types of development models or of faces of development are possible, which are described below:

D1 = Abc = Social factors(A) are active only

D2 = aBc = Economic factors(B) are active only

D3 = abC = Environmental factors(C) are active only

D4 = ABc = Socio-Economic factors are active only

D5 = AbC = Socio-Environmental factors are active only

D6 = aBC = Economic-Environmental factors are active only

D7 = ABC = All three factors are active at the same time

v) The different personalities of development

Based on the concept of optimal model of development mentioned above, development has two personalities: 1) an optimal personality when all factors are present in an active form as in model D7; and 2) a non-optimal personality when at least one factor has a passive role as in models D1 to D6. In other words, from all the above seven models only D7 is an optimal model of development reflecting the characteristics of true sustainability or strong sustainability.

vi) The different faces of sustainable development(SD)

Based on the definition of sustainable development(SD) used in this research, it includes all models of development, which do not have all three factors active at the same time. This means that sustainable development(SD) in this view is the same as non-optimal development because it includes all models where at least one factor has a passive role. Hence, sustainable development is not optimal development. On the other hand, one implication of the above discussion is that sustainable development is not unique and it reflects sustained states of development. The six different faces of sustainable development are listed below:

D1 = SD1 = Abc = Deep socio-centric development model

Society goals are dominant

D2 = SD2 = aBc = Deep Market-centric development model

Economic goals are paramount

D3 = SD3 = abC = Deep eco-centric development model

The environment only matters

D4 = SD4 = ABc = Socio-economic development model

Social and economic concerns matter

D5 = SD5 = AbC = Socio-ecological development model

Social and ecological concerns matters

D6 = SD6 = aBC = Eco-economic development model

Ecological and economic concerns matters

One of the implications of the above six models is that sustainable development(D) allows for development to take place in the absence or passive presence of one or two factors, which make it a term consistent with the concept of weak sustainability described above in which system-system dominance is present, and capital substitutability widely promoted. Notice that in all sustainable development models the passive or inactive factors are used to sustain all active factors. As a result of the above it can be concluded that sustainable development is not optimal development.

On the other hand, each of the six models above indicates sustainable development reflects forms of development that can be sustained or that sustainable development refers to any form of sustained development. The two most well known sustainable development models are D2 and D6. Model D2 is known as the neo-classical model of economic development, where the society and the environment are used to sustain economic growth programs. Model D6 is known as the eco-economic development model, the dominant paradigm today, where society is used to sustain eco-economic development programs. On the other hand, a socialist country would reflect model D1; deep ecology would reflect model D3; countries seeking to balance social and economic goals would reflect model D4; and countries seeking to pair social and environmental goals would reflect model D5.

vii) The unique face of sustainability

Based on the definition of sustainability(S), it takes place only when all three factors or forces driving the development system play an active role. Hence, sustainability(S) is equivalent to optimal development since:

D^* = S = ABC = D7

The sustainability model indicates that development is sustainable only if it is optimal development.

By comparing the sustainability model and the different sustainable development models, we can conclude that sustainable development is not sustainability, and that both are different forms of development. Sustainable development is non-optimal development while sustainability is optimal development. This is true because sustainability(S) does not take place when factors have passive roles. Therefore, sustainability is a term consistent with the concept of strong sustainability described above in which system-system dominance does not exist. However, sustainability in the above model is maintained by internal system adjustments in response to the dynamic processes taking place in the other systems. As a result of the above, the sustainability model can be called the socio-eco-economic development model. Finally, the sustainability model can be used to indicate how close or far the different sustainable development models are from optimality. For example, by determining the optimality gap or sustainability gap, the distance between specific sustainable development models and sustainability, we can assess how far we still need to go to achieve optimality.

Conclusions

There are seven specific conclusions that can be derived from the above analysis: a) Development has 7 different faces; b) Sustainable development and sustainability are two different personalities of development; c) Sustainable development is not unique as it reflect all forms of sustained development; d) Sustainable development is not optimal development; e) Sustainable development is not sustainability; f) Sustainability is consistent with the concept of strong sustainability; and g) The resulting sustainability model can be used to understand optimality gaps or the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of optimal development.

There are five general conclusions that can be stated: a) The proposed ABC development model based on qualitative comparative dichotomy variables provides a simple way to state all the possible types of development; b) Sustainable development models can be seen as different development paths toward sustainability; c) The sustainability model can be used to determine how close or far sustainable development models are from optimal development; d) A better understanding of the different types of development models being pursued often at the same time would facilitate planning, monitoring, and evaluation activities at the local/regional level; and e) Sustainable development reflects all forms of sustained development.