Human Scale Development and Fundamental Human Needs

Manfred Max-Neef

From “Real-Life Economics, Understanding Wealth Creation”

Ed. Paul Etkins and Manfred Max-Neef

Routledge, 1992

Human Scale Development

• GNP (economic growth) vs ‘Development’ based on the greatest improvement in people’s quality of life.

• What determines people’s quality of life depends on how adequately their fundamental human needs are satisfied.

• Human needs – inter-related and interactive• Unsatisfied needs lead to poverties and

pathologies.

Matrix of Needs and Satisfyers

Temporal and spatial plasticity

Choose, take risks, be different, be dissident, disobey, self-awareness, engage

Equal rightsAutonomy, self esteem, rebellious mind, tolerance, openess of mind

Freedom

Grassroots NGO, daily life, stages of development, social rythms

Integrate, engage, self awareness, confront, grow

Symbols, languages, religions, customs, sexuality, values

Sense of belonging, self esteem, differenciation

Identity

Workshops, schools, creative spaces, freedom and time

Invent, build, compose, interpret

Methods, skills, tools, gifts, work

Passion, determination, intuition, curiosity

Creativity

Intimacy, private life, free time, contact with nature

Meditate, relax, play, dream

Games, shows, peaceful mind, parties

Curiosity, imagination, humour, idleness

Leasure

Grassroots organisations, trade-unions, political parties, churches, communities

Vote, express one’s opinions, disobey, agree, co-operate

Rights, responsibility, privileges, work, duties

Adaptabilty, humour, openess of mind, dedication, will

Participation

Universities, schools, family, adult training, placements etc.

Research, study, meditate, work, analyse

Litterature, educational methods, teachers

Critical mind, openess of mind, intuition, rationality

Understanding

Privatelife, intimacy, being together, homes

Make love, caress, express one’s emotions, cultivate, share

Friendships, family, contact with nature,

Self-esteem, respect, tolerance, generosity, passion, sensuality

Affection

Homes, social spaces, social environment

Co-operate, prevent, take care of, cure

Insurance, social security, social rights

Solidarity, autonomy, balance, adaptability

Protection

Human interactions, social environment

To eat, work, procreateFood, water, shelter, fuelPhysical and psychological health

Subsistence

To Inter-actTo DoTo HaveTo BeSatisfaction/Needs

Human Scale Development

• Satisfied human needs;

• Increasing self-reliance (small settings and direct/participatory democracy);

• Organic articulation – natural and common sense interaction bet. nature and technology, bet. global processes and local activities, and bet. state and civil society

Fundamental Human Needs

• Inter-related and interactive – all needs are seen as equal apart from subsistence;

• Deprivation or potential? Needs engage, motivate and mobilise people;

• Satisfiers are not the available economic goods but are related to everything which contributes to the actualisation of human needs (incl. forms of organisation, political structures, social practices etc.).

Matrix of Needs and Satisfyers

Satisfaction/Needs To Be To Have To Do To Inter-act

Subsistence Physical and psychological health

Food, water, shelter, fuel To eat, work, procreate Human interactions, social environment

Protection Solidarity, autonomy, balance, adaptability

Insurance, social security, social rights

Co-operate, prevent, take care of, cure

Homes, social spaces, social environment

Affection Self-esteem, respect, tolerance, generosity, passion, sensuality

Friendships, family, contact with nature,

Make love, caress, express one’s emotions, cultivate, share

Privatelife, intimacy, being together, homes

Understanding Critical mind, openess of mind, intuition, rationality

Litterature, educational methods, teachers

Research, study, meditate, work, analyse

Universities, schools, family, adult training, placements etc.

Participation Adaptabilty, humour, openess of mind, dedication, will

Rights, responsibility, privileges, work, duties

Vote, express one’s opinions, disobey, agree, co-operate

Grassroots organisations, trade-unions, political parties, churches, communities

Leasure Curiosity, imagination, humour, idleness

Games, shows, peaceful mind, parties

Meditate, relax, play, dream

Intimacy, private life, free time, contact with nature

Creativity Passion, determination, intuition, curiosity

Methods, skills, tools, gifts, work

Invent, build, compose, interpret

Workshops, schools, creative spaces, freedom and time

Identity Sense of belonging, self esteem, differenciation

Symbols, languages, religions, customs, sexuality, values

Integrate, engage, self awareness, confront, grow

Grassroots NGO, daily life, stages of development, social rythms

Freedom Autonomy, self esteem, rebellious mind, tolerance, openess of mind

Equal rights Choose, take risks, be different, be dissident, disobey, self-awareness, engage

Temporal and spatial plasticity

SUBSISTENCE

PROTEC

TION

UNDERSTANDING

CREATION

PARTICIPATION

IDENTITY

LEASURE

FREEDOM

AFFECTION

The Wheel of Fundamental Human Needs

• Destructive or Violating satisfiers (e.g. arms trade, exile, censure, authoritarianism);

• Pseudo-satisfiers (prostitution, fashion, charity);

• Inhibiting satisfiers (authoritarian pedagogy, competitivity, protective family, paternalism);

• Singular satisfiers (army, insurance system, bottle feeding);

• Synergetic satisfiers (breast feeding, preventive medicine, democratic structures, meditation);

Satisfiers

Destructive satisfiersSupposed Satisfier

Need to be supposedly satisfied

Needs whose satisfaction it impairs

Arms race Protection Subsistence, Affection, Participation, Freedom

Exile Protection Affection, Participation, Identity, Freedom

Bureaucracy Protection Creativity, Identity, Affection, Understanding, Participation, Freedom

Censorship Protection Understanding, Participation, Creativity, Leasure, Identity

Autoritarism Protection Affection, Participation, Créativity, Identity, Freedom

Pseudo-Satisfiers

Satisfier Need that it seemingly satisfies

Fashion Identity

Social Status Identity

Mechanistic medicine « A pill for every ill »

Protection

Over-exploitation of national resources

Subsistence

Stereotypes Understanding

Prostitution Affection

Charity Subsistence

Inhibiting SatisfiersSatisfier Need Needs whose satisfaction is

inhibited

Taylorist-type of production

Subsistence Understanding, Participation, Leasure, Identity, Freedom

Over-protective family

Protection Affection, Understanding, Identity, Freedom, Leasure

Authoritarian pedagogy

Understanding Identity, Understanding, Creativity, Participation, Freedom

Obsessive competitiveness

Freedom Protection, Subsistence, Affection, Identity, Leasure

Unlimited permissiveness

Freedom Affection, Protection, Participation, Identity

Singular Satisfiers

Satisfier Need which it satisfies

Aid programmes Subsistence

Curative medicine Subsistence

Insurance systems Protection

Army Protection

Nationality Identité

Guided tours Leasure

Gifts Affection

Synergic Satisfiers

Satisfier Need Needs whose satisfaction is stimulates

Popular education Understanding Protection, participation, Creativity, Identity, Freedom

Breast feeding Subsistence Protection, Affection, Identity

Democratic Organisations

Participation Protection, Affection, Identity, Leasure, Creativity

Educational games

Leasure Affection, Understanding, Participation, Creativity

Preventive medicine

Protection Understanding, Participation, Susbsistence

Meditation Understanding Leasure, Creativity, Identity, Freedom