ABSTRACT
The history of integrated approaches to rural development begins in the 1950s with such social mobilization strategies as Community Development (CD). CD was paradigmatic of the then debate on development theory, which called for comprehensive social and economic modernization. It was argued that economic and social backwardness was largely caused by endogenous factors and was perpetuated as a vicious circle. Traditional societies and cultures met neither the psychological, social and political nor the economic requirements for progress. Besides social structures and patterns of behaviour that inhibited progress, it was such economic barriers as a shortage of capital, the absence of modern sectors (especially manufacturing industries) and the smallness of internal markets that caused and sustained backwardness. To break the vicious circles of underdevelopment and poverty, both investment in the development of modern industries (economic growth) and social change (acculturation) were needed. CD therefore invariably focused on the village, with its traditional social order and patterns of behaviour. The measures taken related to education, the promotion of agricultural production, the improvement of infrastructure, and hygiene and health. The aim was to bring about comprehensive social change with a view to eliminating hunger, disease and ignorance. To initiate, control and oversee this social change, CD had the Village Level Worker, a village adviser. His task was to mobilize, explain, educate, advise and help.
