Can Globalization Help in Reimagining the Developmental Sciences? Finding Balance between Global Science and Local Reality

Abstract

Social changes and technological advancement have profoundly impacted the human condition, and the former world order has gradually become obsolete as domination and imperialism are no longer justifiable. In the social and developmental sciences, such a shift implies the expansion of theory, methods, and application to embrace diversity as a fundamental property of being human. However, a bulk of the research draws from limited samples and circumscribed methods, largely excluding culture from conversations about human development. There is urgent need to find balance between global science and local reality where social justice, sustainability, and inclusion find a central place in the play between unity and diversity. Recent events have further highlighted the importance of democratic principles, multidisciplinary approaches, and international collaboration. Globalization cannot be undone, but it can be fruitfully exploited to reimagine the developmental sciences to embrace diversity and pluralism. Cultural psychology as a discipline offers a productive way forward.