1984
Goals, Processes and Indicators of Development (UNU/GPID)
Examples of Integrated, Multi-set Concept Schemes (Annex 0)
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See other Examples of Integrated, Multi-set Concept Schemes. The concept scheme described here is discussed in the paper on: Patterns of N-foldness: comparison of integrated multi-set concept schemes as forms of presentation (1984). This was prepared for a sub-project meeting of the Forms of Presentation group of the Goals, Processes and Indicators of Development (GPID) project of the United Nations University (UNU). The annexes were published in Patterns of Conceptual Integration. Brussels, UIA, 1984, pp. 161-204
Summary
This is a project of the Human and Social Development Programme of the United Nations University on "Goals, Processes, and Indicators of Development" (GPID). The project was planned in 1977 and is scheduled for completion in 1982. The points below are mainly extracted from a document prepared by the project Coordinator, Johan Galtung:
Goals, Processes and Indicators of Development; a project description. Tokyo. United Nations University, 1978
1.1 The purpose of the project is stated as being "to contribute to new theories and practices of development" (p. 1). As one of five features characterizing the project "Development is defined as development of people. It is not defined as the production of goods and services, nor as their distribution, nor as institution-building, nor as structural transformation, nor as cultural development, nor as ecological balance." (p. 13. It is doubtful, however, whether defining development as "development of people" can be considered as having completed the definitional exercise or clarified the intended meaning unambiguously. Indeed later it is stated that "the use of'country' as the unit of development will be seriously questioned, and even the concept of 'development' itself -- possibly a latter-day expression of Western models and ideas of progress" (p. 2).
2.1 "Development" is contrasted in the project with various Kinds of mal-develop ment (p.1). Note however that the contrast between "development" and "over-development" or "under-development" (p. 2) involves a distinction which must be carefully considered.
3.1 The project is, from its title, concerned with "goals", "processes" and "indicators" of development -- the "three major divisions of the project" [p. 6)
4.1 In order for appropriate work to be carried out on the project, "in addition to the three major divisions...already reflected in the project title...a fourth division, "Tools," had to be included. This is not merely a question of listing research approaches that will be used; they are also seen as research topics in their own right." [p. 6)
5.1 The introduction to the project describes it as "characterized by" five features of which the key phrases might be (p. 1-3):
- development of people ("basic human needs")
- conditions for achievement of development goals ("concept/theory")
- people as active sources of insight ("dialogues")
- necessary geographical symmetry of research effort ("network")
- "integrated approach"
The "five terms in quotations above...are the key terms to define the project." [p. 3)
6.1 The documentation on GPID does not appear to contain any explicit sixfold division of the concept scheme. It might however be expected that such a division could emerge from the breakdown of the 24 subprojects into 4 groups.
7.1 The documentation on GPID does not appear to contain any explicit sevenfold division.
8.1 An explicit eightfold division exists as "A tentative list of GPID dimensions" (by the project Coordinator, circulated as a memo) and "suggested for the purpose of bringing about comparability within the GPID project, and also to suggest to all of us aspects of the total 'development problematique'that we may, accidentally or intentionally, have left out...". It consists of:
- space [regions, ethnocentrism) - intellectual style
- time (processes, tempocentrism) - social science style
- social space (other groups) -GPID style
- level (personal, globala - pragmatics
12.1 The documentation on GPID does not appear to contain any explicit twelvefold division of the concept scheme. However, in order to provide a simplified presentation of the GPID research process, the Coordinator of the project recently chose to focus on 12 subprojects "to illustrate the methodology of the GPID project" [Synergy paper for networks subproject). This selection may, or may not, be indicative:
- expansion/exploitation processes - human development
- autonomy/liberation 'processes - visions of desirable worlds
- militarization - visions of desirable societies
- strategies ~ alternative ways of life
- energy ~ rights
- food - needs
24.1 The GPID project has since its inception been made up of 24 subprojects, divided into 4 groups:
- Goals:
- concepts of development - needs
- alternative ways of life - rights
- visions of desirable societies - visions of desirable worlds
- Processes:
- theories of development - expansion/exploitation processes
- liberation/autonomy processes - militarization
- alternative strategies/scenarios - processes of the UN system
- Indicators:
- goals indicators - indicators of territorial systems
- indicators of ecological balance - indicators on non-territ. systems
- politics of indicators
- Tools:
- dialogues - forms of presentation
- networks - methods of analysis
- semiotics - interregional studies
- mathematics
27.1 The GPID is organized in 27 research units, of which one is the coordinating unit in Geneva. It has been decided that no further units should be added in the immediate future.
29.1 The GPID is currently made up of 24 "subprojects" together with 5 "study groups". The latter are not usually distinguished from the subprojects, although a subtle distinction does exist. The 5 study groups, additional to the 24 subprojects (indicated under 24.1) are:
- economics - dictionary
- food - human development
- energy
It is interesting to note that they do not appear to have been distinguished according to the fourfold grouping of: goals, processes, indicators or tools. There is an indication in the "List of dimensions" (8.1 above) under "GPID style" that a fifth grouping may be emerging under the term "concrete fields"
30.1 In addition to the special meetings for the 29 groups noted above, a special series of meetings has been arranged under the topic "integrative workshops", bringing the total series to 30.
31.1 Although it has not taken the form of either a subproject, a subgroup or a meeting series, there has been an acknowledged exchange of papers reflecting on the nature of the GPID project itself (as distinct from its integration). This might be considered as bringing the total substantive groupings to 31.
32.1 In addition to the previous foci of concern, the members of the project meet as a whole in a distinct series of "network meetings" to consider the complete range of substantive and other issues. This might be considered as bringing the total number of streams of concern to 32
33.1 The affairs of the GPID are steered and coordinated by a small group "of the wise" amongst the members. This might be considered as bringing the total number of substantive and administrative streams of concern to 33
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