Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use which tries to meet human needs without dramatically harming the environment so that future generations can also benefit from these resources. In other words, sustainable development combines concern for the carrying capacity of the natural systems with the social challenges facing humanity.Sustainable development is conceptually broken into three parts: environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and sociopolitical sustainability, or the simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental quality and social equity. The paper I presented at the conference focuses on how volunteer organizations can contribute to social equity and also economic prosperity in multiethnic societies and global conflict zones.
In recent decades, there has been a growing realization of the damage to the environment and a widening global gap between the rich and the poor. It is becoming more obvious that the way the modern world is developing is not sustainable. Rich and poor worlds cannot coexist without dramatic consequences. In the past efforts have concentrated on dealing with consequences of instability and responding to crises, but more effective responses to reduce instability and prevent crises are possible. As countries that are democratic, respect the human rights of and are responsive to the needs of their people are more likely to achieve sustainable development, the focus should be on promoting human rights, democracy and good political, environmental and economic governance.
On the way toward establishing and maintaining sustainable development, priority should be given to, among other things, creating sustainable communities and a fairer world, tackling economic and social inequalities by providing opportunities for everyone to fulfill their potential. As I argued in my paper, the Gülen movement successfully turned its spiritual, intellectual and human resources into effective social capital and utilized this social capital in establishing educational institutions from primary school to university levels, attracting students of diverse backgrounds. The movement has also mobilized its social capital to establish civil society organizations such as foundations and associations to promote democratic participation and dialogue among various segments of the society. In the global arena, the movement employs an inclusive discourse with regard to several different religious, ethnic and ideological groups and claims to promote the religio-national interest of the host country. Gülen educational institutions foster sustainable development by bridging international values with local values and cultures; by capacity-building, preparing professionals to foster a sustainable future and by creating public spaces through civil society associations.
Today in Turkey, Central Asia and many other parts of the world, the movements' educational institutions contribute to the education of people of different religions and ethnicities and have already contributed, through educational endeavors, to the building of peace in many areas of conflict, including the Balkans, northern Iraq, Northern Ireland and the Philippines. Needless to say, Bosnia, with seven Gülen movement colleges and a university, is one of these countries.
It is clear that providing good and quality education -- especially in diverse multiethnic and multi-religious mediums -- is vital in establishing and sustaining an equitable, fairer and cohesive society. The Gülen movement, by focusing on good and quality education in either poor areas or global conflict zones and multiethnic, multi-religious environments, is contributing toward establishing and maintaining sustainable communities. While the activities of the movement do not cost anything to the receptive states, by offering good quality education, it helps ensure stability and long-term sustainable development in the countries where they operate.
