CULTURE IN DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
Culture refers to the collective ideas, practices, conventions, values, arts, social behaviors, and
information that define a community or society. It includes all aspects of life, such as music, art,
dress, language, food, and social customs. Culture is handed down from every generation,
which influences the identity formation of an individual or a group. Because culture enables
people to recognize morality, make moral decisions, and contemplate their own lives, it is the
culture that uniquely defines humans as rational, critical thinkers with moral commitment (CDN,
2019).
There are two types of culture: material culture, where physical objects or artifacts like buildings,
clothing, tools, and art represent a society's way of life, and non-material culture, which is the
intangible aspects, such as values, beliefs, norms, and traditions (Schank, 2023).
According to Ghiasi (2015), everything consistent and symbolic of a people's past is embedded
into the culture and affects the society's capacity to build and manage institutions. Culture is one
of the key drivers in social stability, economic growth, and environmental preservation through
its tangible and intangible heritage, creative industries, and diverse artistic manifestations
(Marana, 2010). However, few individuals, particularly politicians and technocrats, don't realize
how substantial of an impact culture has on economic growth.
Des Gasper (2006) argues that traditional views on the relationship between culture and
development are based on several flawed assumptions. These include seeing culture as an
unchanged and same set of beliefs shared by a population, focusing only on how cultures help
or hinder economic growth, and simplifying the success or failure of different cultural groups.
This perspective overlooks the diversity and complexity within sociocultural contexts, giving an
incomplete picture of culture's role in development.
Gasper also criticizes social sciences, particularly development economics, for ignoring cultural
diversity and assuming that people have the same perceptions and values. This simplistic
approach fails to consider the subtle cultural influences on human behavior and social
dynamics. When ethical issues arise, such as conflicting values, the intersection of cultural
values and development becomes crucial. Therefore, there is a need for more reflective and
culturally aware development planning that appreciates the complex interplay between culture
and development to make these efforts effective and sustainable.
