RETHINKING DEVELOPMENT 2020 : A Three-day International Conference on RETHINKING DEVELOPMENT

Rethinking development is a critical engagement of questioning,
debating, analysing, and evaluating the various developmental models that
are in place today. Such a rethinking is necessitated by changing social
structures and the need for alternative holistic models of development. The
idea of development down the history lane has kept on evolving and the
contexts in which we find ourselves today lead us to rethink development,
against the background of SDGs of UN, de-growth movements, minimalist
movements etc on the one hand and exploitative tendencies of the
corporates and the markets on the other hand. Amidst the rift between right
wing ideologies that contain fundamentalist and nationalist tendencies and
the liberal left, the idea of development swings accordingly.
Development is not an isolated concept and is the result of various
ideologies, economies, historicity, hierarchies, politics and governance, social
conventions, religious influences, global interventions, neo-imperialistic

activities, etc. The effects of development thus so far in history has been lop-
sided, leaving behind a massive population of the poor, and the subaltern, at

the mercy of a few that seek an uncontrollable power to exploit, even to the
point of self-destruction.

In the light of ‘modern development’, there is an urgent need to
question and clarify notions of development.
• Basic questions such as what is development, who defines development,
the stakeholders of development, whom does it reach, etc.,
• the ethical implications such as the reachability of development, the care
of the environment, the dignity of humanity, etc.,
• social and cultural implications such as humanization, rights and
freedom, identities, etc.
• philosophical frameworks operational behind current or future models of
development, such as capitalism, social economy, de-growth, minimalism
This International Conference attempts to bring together researchers,
scholars, academicians, social engineers, religious leaders, economists, political
analysts, ethicists, policy makers, and others to critically engage in current
models of development and propose ideas for inclusive development.