At the core of its uniqueness is the view that development is more than a matter of achieving macroeconomic stability, implementing structural adjustment programs or getting policies right. Its students, faculty and alumni share an overall belief that development depends on individual people and the groups they form, seizing opportunities and moving through those openings. It supports social change based on the energies and ideas of low-income people, a strategy that reduces dependence on governments and outsiders. It links lessons learned abroad with those from domestic programs, and is vigorously interested in the contributions of faith-based institutions to international and domestic development.
Development depends on much more than capital-output ratios and real interest rates.
It springs from a people's history and future expectations, from their social structures, and from whether a society encourages everyone's advancement. Cultural traits of passivity or entrepreneurship make a significant difference, as do trust, empowerment and the ability to work together. Whether people seize opportunities also depends on the skills of development practitioners who work with them. These specialists have to be enthusiastic about learning from local people, exchanging ideas with them and encouraging one another. In 1998, a review of the changing demands on SAIS education highlighted the importance of foreign languages and cross-cultural communication.