Simon, David. 1989. "Sustainable Development: Theoretical Construct or Attainable Goal?" Environmental Conservation 16 (1): 41-48.

Thesis:

Simon states: "This paper seeks to advance debate by reviewing current thinking on sustainability, and then raising some pertinent questions about how readily such concepts can be operationalized in the context of the prevailing world order" (p. 41).

Summary:

Simon reviews various definitions of sustainable development and then focuses on Michael Redclift's political economy perspective. He concludes by comparing Redclift's analysis to that of the more commonly known World Commission on Environment and Development's (WCED) definition: "His [Redclift's] historically-based, international political economy conception is certainly superior to that of the World Commission on Environment and Development's report " (p. 43).

Definitions of sustainable development "vary in terms of their degree of detail and the extent to which they explicitly incorporate, internationally, structural as well as natural dimensions, geographical scales of importance, and intertemporal effects (p. 44)." He argues that "there is no actual conflict between definitions as such, and together, in my view, they encapsulate the key concepts" (p. 44).

Next, Simon discusses the WCED's global policies, specifically recommendations which concern population and human resources, food security, species and ecosystems, energy, industry, urban centers and the more general international dimension (see p. 44-5). Simon criticizes the WCED for its lack of a clear theoretical base and the problems which this lack creates in policy implementation.

Simon suggests the following guidelines for integrating these varied approaches: It has been repeatedly shown that development projects stand little chance of success unless the local population not only derive tangible and sustainable benefits, but are also actively involved in planning and control throughout.

There are at least six critical variables to consider in evaluating the sustainability of particular agro-ecological systems (see p. 47):

1. The mix of arable and grazing land, and the fallow system used;

2. The species of crops and livestock that are kept, and hence the potential yields;

3. The productive technology that is used or available;

4. The nature and source of energy supply, e.g. whether organic or inorganic, animate or inanimate, generated within or outside the farm or ecosystem, and whether recycled or not;

5. The land-tenure system or coexistent subsystems;

6. Social relations of production - e.g. the nature and dynamics of local political systems, such as community and household structures.

Keywords: sustainable development variables, local participation in development projects