Humanity has evolved from a society mainly
concerned with physical realities, such as survival, fears
and threats from without, and complete deference to authority, to
one engaged in vital interests, such as expansion, trade,
travel, social interaction with others, and the concern for our own
individual needs, wants, and desires. Individuals are now
clearly seen as mental resources. The factors to be addressed
to release society's resources of individual creativity are,
freedom, democracy, the fulfillment and empowerment of the
individual, the emergence of fast, complex organization, and the
extraordinary power of thought to shape our world for endless
development. The keys to creative success are environment and
education.
The development of society is a process, not a
programme, for creaing social structures. Development is not the
result of a set of policies or programmes. It is the result of a
process by which society moves from lesser to greater levels of
energy, efficiency, quality, productivity, complexity,
comprehension, creativity, enjoyment and accomplishment.
There are three essential stages in the process
of development. In the first stage the society is prepared to move
to a higher level of development through its surplus energies,
awareness of possibilities, and its aspiration to see the
possibilities through. In the second stage pioneer individuals in
society express the aspiration in various ways. Finally, in the
third stage the initiative of pioneering individuals are accepted,
organized, and integrated in society.
Society grows and develops by introducing new,
more advanced and complex structures so it can better use its
energies.
On this model. those societies whose citizens are
encouraged to engage in the fullest and most enlightened exercise
of choice will have the greatest potential for development.
When society seeks to move to the next higher
stage of development, existing beliefs, attitudes, behaviours and
forms of organization become obstacles that have to be overcome in
order for the transition to take place. Progression to each further
stage involves a change in attitude and life style. The creation of
the necessary social structures to achieve this involves two way
interactions between people, organisations and government.
