Book Review: Development as Freedom by Amartya Sen

Development as Freedom by Amartya Sen (Anchor Books)

The definition of “development” is elusive, to say the least. Yet, experts in the field use the term constantly without explaining what they mean. Amartya Sen committed an entire book to defining the term in Development as Freedom. Rather than focusing on the widely accepted quantifiable statistics like income and infant mortality to determine a community’s state of development, Sen writes that these only reflect advances if they result in increases in the freedom of individuals. He sees the end goal of development as the empowerment of individuals to identify their needs and take action to improve their own lives. Why is this idea such a big deal? Because Sen might question whether a family provider living in the US earning $17,000 per year with 2 children is in a more advanced state of “development” than a subsistence farming family in rural Thailand with access to education, clean water, sustainable farming practices, a participatory democracy, and virtually no income. While freedom is clearly a difficult concept to quantify, Sen states that failure to define development in this way robs individuals and our greater society of its humanity.

Sen’s vision and understanding of what it means for a community to “develop” is so revolutionary that he was awarded the Noble Prize. The text is academic and somewhat challenging, but it will undoubtedly challenge the views of anyone who thinks about development. In fact, it’s likely to challenge the thinking of anyone who makes decisions in their own lives. His work represents a powerful combination of new and classic economic theory, humanitarianism, and an understanding of the true needs of developing communities around the world. While this book will likely leave your head spinning, you’ll undoubtedly feel it is worth the effort.

Robin Pendoley
Curriculum Director
Thinking Beyond Borders

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