Critic of The Role Played by the Social Development Approach to the Promotion of Human Rights at the Global Level

Abstract

Traditional models of development have been criticised as they did not consider the issues related to security rights, legal rights, political rights and cultural rights as major aspects which contribute to socio-economic development and sustainable development of developing and developed countries. Development is a concept and a multifaceted phenomenon. It involves social, political and economic progress facilitated by quick technological evolution. Todaro (2012: 261) argues that development is a multidimensional process involving the re-organisation and re-orientation of entire economic and social systems. Various models have been put forward trying to define and shape development at a global level. Some are classical, while others are contemporary. Traditional models of development include the Linear Stages Growth model influenced by the writings of Harold Domar and W. Rostow in the 1950s, Modernisation Theory and dependency theories. These models emphasize development along economic lines where attention is given to increased savings, economic investment and acquisition of appropriate technology that leads to structural transformation of the economy and production. The article, therefore, seeks to argue on the contention that traditional models of development have long been criticised for lack of attention to human rights and inadvertently contributing to human rights violations (Androff, 2006). This contention is examined with reference to the role played by the Social Development Approach (SDA) to the promotion of human rights in Zimbabwe