To Examine Sustainable Development Through The Historical Applications of Foundations

To Examine Sustainable Development Through The Historical Applications of Foundations

ŞENSOY, Fatma

Sustainable development is one of the contemporary concepts. If we move from today‘s definition of this concept, the solutions for the global problems can be obtained from the foundation‘s applications in the past. Sustainable development concept is generally referred to the 1987 report of World Commission on Environment and Development. The Brundtland Commission reported the slogan, ―Our Common Future: From One Earth to One World‖. The Commission conceptualized sustainable development as ―paths of human progress, which meet the needs and aspirations of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs‖. The goals of sustainable development are far-reaching and have as their objective the transformation of contemporary development theory and practice. They include the formulation of new paradigms of social, economic, political, cultural, and ecological development. More and more rational approaches are improved to the concept of ―development‖ which takes into account the long-term costs associated with short-term improvements. The judicious use of the planet‘s non-renewable physical resources; a balance between economic, social, cultural and physical development; and the realization of fully integrated development strategies that bring together all relevant sectors and actors into a common framework of local, national, regional and international action. Foundations (Waqf) are Non Governmental Organizations. Current approaches to the definition of a waqf includes; local administration and free economic rules in management. In addition, democracy and volunteerism are essential for the definition. These are weld from the Islamic law. Foundations with the social policy functions had provided the continuity of social life. Waqf functions include almost all stages of social life. Such as; increasing recruitment rates and employment, income and wealth redistribution, social security formation, infrastructure development, expansion of education… The aim of the settler, colleteur is the continuation of this functions for infinitum. It indicates that they think not only for needs of future generation but also the needs of all humanity. According to the facts mentioned above, economic and social resources were available to all humanity. Community life has a constantly changing dynamic character. We are the heirs of the finest examples of the foundation of civilization. In other words, we as the heirs must attribute a new, fresh and modern mission to the third sector or civil society organizations. Sustainable development concept includes different dimensions. Such as ecological, economic, political, cultural, social sustainability. This study‘s aim is to indicate that the applications of foundation were serving the same purposes of sustainable development. The treatments applied today to strengthen the social structure exactly overlaps with the services performed by the awqaf throughout history. The given example in this case will emphasize the importance of each term. The traces of good experiences are which created in the past have lived for centuries. The orphans, widows, elderly people, children and the others joined economic and social life through endowed charity. However, it is clear that foundations must have found new solutions and different policy instruments for today‘s problems.

Conference or Workshop Item
PeerReviewed

2010-06

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