Re-defining sustainable development values: a developing country perspective

Abstract

On 8 September 2000, to mark the new millennium, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a set of fundamental values such as freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature, and shared responsibility known as sustainable development value. These sustainable development values are translated into several key objectives such as 60 millennium development goals regarding peace, development and environment, human rights, the vulnerable, hungry, poor and Africa which are set to be achieved with a deadline of 2015. Although these values have been declared 10 years ago, these values are relatively new to developing country perspective. Therefore, the average citizens of the developing countries are not fully aware of the notion of sustainable development value. Furthermore, the notion of sustainable development values greatly varies from country to country, culture to culture. Indeed, there are differences in perceiving these values from developed country and developing country perspective as well. So, there are two questions need to be answered: how to define SDV from the developing country perspective? And what are the relevant dimensions of sustainable development value that suit developing country perspective? This paper attempts to answer this research question. This paper utilized the qualitative methodology to gain in-depth understanding of the issue. 16-in depth interviews were conducted in this regard. The interviews were then transcribed and analysed to understand the best ways to define sustainable development value from the developing country perspective. It is expected that developing countries, academicians and top countries leader will be benefiting from this research.