Social-political Sustainability: the Human Element

Copyright (c) 2008 Jackson Kernconcerned with physical and material standing of
It is commonly accepted that the project ofpeoples, but further than this it is concerned with the
sustainable development is conceptually composed ofstate of their civil society. Social-political sustainability
three constituent parts. These parts are (1)is differentiated from pure social development in that
environmental sustainability, (2) economicits sphere is expanded beyond the employment of
sustainability, and (3) social-political sustainability. Thesimply monetary means. Social-political development
United Nations 2005 World Summit refers to theentails not only the engagement of institutional
"interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars" ofmechanisms, but also their modification and
sustainable development as environmental protection,advancement. Social-political sustainability thus seeks
economic development and social development. Thepathways to durable social enrichment and
interdependency of the first two is evident; it isdevelopment via the vibrancy and health of a
perhaps the greatest challenge of our time to satisfysociety's political processes. At its core, there
the needs and wants of burgeoning populations withinultimately is little more than an absolute faith in the
the binding constraints imposed by our physicalfunctioning of liberal democracy. Despite the frequent
environment. But what is this great hoopla aboutchanging of the guard and the potential for policy
social development and sustainability of politics, anddiscontinuity this entails, it is believed that
what exactly is its place?representative republican government bolstered by
If environmental protection is concerned with themass public awareness and participation provides the
preservation of our natural environment andbest model of a sustainable body politic.
resources, and economic sustainability is concernedIn addition to social policy, environmental and
with seeking durable growth solutions therein, theneconomic policies are clearly dictated in the political
the social-political sphere can be thought of asrealm as well. It is in the creed of the sustainability
representative of the more purely human element inproject to hold that healthy political bodies which are
the equation. Social development and social-politicaltruly representative of the collective will can show us
sustainability are intimately related concepts but theythe path forward. Recognition of the strain to our
are not in fact entirely interchangeable. It is importantnatural environment that unrestrained industrialization
that we understand their symbiotic relationship and itsand consumption have brought depends upon it.
implications for the broader sustainability project.The French political thinker and historian Alexis de
Social development is a concept that is familiar toTocqueville long ago warned Americans that their
most of us in its many and varying forms. Within anypolitical structure (and indeed that of all democracies)
given society there are opportunities to improve andcould fall hostage to a "tyranny of the majority". To
enrich each of its composite parts in many ways. Ofillustrate the weight of these words, consider a
sometimes greater importance is the need toscenario in which a pluralistic political majority were
harmonize relations amongst these various andunwilling to adopt legislation which combatively
sometimes opposing elements. Those activelyaddresses climate change issues, while the autocratic
engaged in the process of social development includebut highly environmentalist ruler of another nation
agents acting within its institutions to effect changeprosecuted an aggressive climate change agenda
via established channels. Of more notice, however,with gusto. In the face of peril, such a situation would
are often those who act from the outside, thoserevive human moral and ethical dilemmas of the
who reject the society's institutions as inadequate,highest order.
and who advocate wholesale social and politicalFaith in democracy and the ideologies it espouses
change as the only true path to social enrichment andtranscends the purely political arena. In a free and
development.wealthy society, those in the pursuit of scientific
It is in this transformational role that we begin totruth battle only scientific obstacles. If the danger is
touch on the realm of social-political sustainability.real, the truth will be brought to bear. But even in the
Within any given social context, social developmentface of incontrovertible truth, can the titanic inertia of
can be pursued with the simple granting of budgets.human complacency and comfort be overcome and
Financial and human resources are utilized toconquered?
strengthen and enrich societies by improvingMany scientific and economic authorities now believe
educational opportunities, by embracing thethat emissions caps are insufficient in the battle
marginalized and the forgotten, by makingagainst climate change. They call for a massive
improvements to healthcare and hygienic conditionsmobilization of public funds for investment in research
and by endearing knowledge of financial andwith the goal of discovering new
entrepreneurial activities to name just a few. Here,low-carbon-emissions technologies, and this on the
the distinguishing feature of social development isscale of the Manhattan Project that delivered the
that it is executed within the institutional mechanismsfirst atomic bombs.
and constraints prevailing in that given entity.We will be watching. This, folks, is nothing less than a
Social-political sustainability too is very muchtest of social-political sustainability in action.