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Abstract
This paper makes an important distinction between the typical development theory of the 1960's and the 1970's. This theoretical movement has a significant impact on development management and administration.
During the sixties theorizing on political development was dominated by positivism which tended to focus on mathematized formulations and quantifiable data. The overriding goal of the sexagophists was to establish a value‐free model of development but this approach was highly ethnocentric. Furthermore, no generally acceptable theory on development transpired.
A new intellectual posture is developing in the seventies. Positivistic and so‐called value‐free science is rejected. Post‐behavioralism has a profound influence on the development theory of this decade. Ethical considerations on development are now pre‐eminent and septuagophists typically ask questions on moral issues such as the good life and a good society in a world of mass technology and global interdependence. The cultural and psychic needs of Third World peoples thus are gaining prominence, especially in relation to earlier criteria of pure techno‐economic progress. These new perspectives cannot be ignored by development administrators and managers who have real human progress and community development at heart.