This article explains, as a first step, how development has been conceptualized from the end of World War II by different actors such as the World Bank, United Nations and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and... [ view full abstract ]
This article explains, as a first step, how development has been conceptualized from the end of World War II by different actors such as the World Bank, United Nations and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and countries. Then, we analyze from a comparative perspective, the current approach to development of four Unitarian countries (Bhutan, Colombia, Ecuador and Sweden), based on the analysis of the introductory chapters of their multi-year national development plans, official documents and other academic sources. We conclude that these four countries share at the national level some common principles in their development, even though their cultural, social and political diversities. This research provides a general view on what values guide national development planning in different international contexts, in the aim to find elements that can contribute to national development initiatives.
Keywords: post development, national development plans, national comprehensive planning, comparative analysis, Bhutan, Colombia, Ecuador, Sweden.
Relevance of the paper to the panel topic: as a first author, I consider this paper is relevant to A.1 New Researchers panel. As a second year PhD. student this panel is a great opportunity to present the results of this work in progress to an international audience and get important feedback on it, as my dissertation proposal is heading to analyze strategic planning and comprehensive planning processes from a comparative perspective.
