ABSTRACT
The term ‘developed countries’ seems to be somewhat misleading. It conveys a sense that the ‘developing’ is over and that the countries in question have reached a stage of being developed: there is no further room to improve. However, a fundamental characteristic of a ‘developed country’ is that it is speeding simultaneously along various lines of development. Hence, what might have seemed a well-developed feature of a country in the past-be it a policy, programme, building or organization-is ripped apart, cast aside, torn asunder or demolished and something new planned, implemented, erected or restructured, all in the name of progress. Sometimes, on reflection, the feature demolished will be subsequently sadly missed, regrets will be held and maybe something of the past will be restored-usually with various modernizations; but for purists only the original will do.
