Integral Human Development (IHD) and decolonization are two important concepts in the contemporary discussions on social justice and development. Despite their distinct objectives and methodologies, both concepts present significant similarities that underscore their commitment to fostering human well-being, justice, and the common good. IHD aims to enhance “holistic growth,” which encompasses the economic, social, cultural, and economic dimensions (Pope Paul VI, 1967). Similarly, decolonization seeks to address the historical injustices and empower marginalized people while also advocating for self-determination and autonomy. Both concepts complement each other as they recognize that a good development process should address the needs of all individuals, especially the most disadvantaged.

This is what the idea of “leaving no one behind” means in IHD: making sure that everyone is being included in the development process. The UN 2030 development agenda also highlight the integral development where all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are interconnected, acknowledging that the development in one area influences others. It prioritizes this concept of leave no one behind as one of the fundamental principles that focuses on inclusivity and equity to ensure that all individuals, particularly the most marginalized and vulnerable populations, benefit from development efforts (United Nations, 2015).

Moreover, both IHD and decolonization challenge traditional development paradigms that prioritize economic growth at the expense of social equality and equity. They advocate for a broader understanding of development that integrates human rights and social justice. This creates the necessity to address systemic inequalities and injustices that affect marginalized groups. Another important connection between IHD and decolonization is their emphasis on community empowerment. IHD encourages participatory approaches that engage individuals and communities in their development processes. It recognizes that sustainable development requires the active involvement of those it aims to benefit. Keleher (2018) argues that empowering communities to take ownership of their development is essential for fostering resilience and sustainability. In the same way, decolonization also prioritizes the voices and experiences of marginalized communities; it advocates for their active participation in decision-making processes, especially in the process of dismantling colonial legacies.

This is what Fanon (1963) refers to when he argues that there should be significant social and economic structures post-independence to ensure that the interests of the general population are considered rather than serving only those of the national bourgeoisie. Smith (2012) also adds that decolonization seeks to center indigenous knowledge and perspectives, challenging the dominance of Western paradigms in development discourse. This focus on local agency and empowerment aligns closely with the principles of IHD, reinforcing the idea that sustainable development must be rooted in the realities and aspirations of the communities it serves.

In the perspective of IHD, this inclusion of the local communities, especially the least privileged, does not only concern post-colonial states but the world at large, including both the former colonial powers and the colonized nations. Tuck and Yang (2012) also claim that decolonization should not be taken as just a metaphor; it requires a critical examination of the power dynamics that shape development discourses, focusing on the need for comprehensive approaches that respect local knowledge and experiences. In this sense, these two concepts share a commitment to dismantling the root causes of inequality, injustice and supports sustainable and inclusive solutions.

However, as mentioned in the introduction, IHD and decolonization are two different concepts despite their common goal of enhancing human well-being. The main goal of integral human development is to foster holistic growth across multiple dimensions: economic, social, cultural, and spiritual as Pope Paul VI (1967) explains. IHD emphasizes the importance of creating conditions that allow individuals and communities to thrive collectively. This perspective aligns with frameworks such as the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which advocate for inclusive development that benefits all members of society (United Nations, 2015).

In contrast, decolonization is primarily concerned with dismantling colonial structures, ideologies, and practices that have historically oppressed marginalized communities (Sutherland, 2023). As Fanon (1963) maintains, decolonization is a violent process where the colonized tends to use force to combat the colonizer in order to achieve freedom and sovereignty. Unlike decolonization, IHD does not employ the use of force or violence in its approach to dealing with colonial legacies or disparities between the Global North and the Global South, but rather uses a soft approach that is not to be owned by any institution or community, a process that can be understood as economic, social, ecological, and spiritual. This implies that this approach can be translated in different contexts within different cultures in the way that preserves the common good. In Africa for example, in the African context, IHD can be interpreted as “Ubuntu,” which is an African philosophy that literally means that we are all interconnected and interdependent as human beings, “I am because we are.” In post-apartheid South Africa, community-driven development initiatives have adopted this concept of Ubuntu to foster social cohesion and economic resilience (Lutz, 2009).

In this process, one needs to pay attention to the “do no harm” approach while implementing IHD so that the development process may not create more harm or conflicts to the local communities instead of primarily seeking to address their problems. It is obvious that the current systems as especially the capitalist exploitative systems do not provide a convenient environment to achieve this common good. Considering social and economic inequalities in the world today, it will be difficult for both IHD and decolonization to be effective because these existing structures function in a way that that perpetuates the cycles of inequalities, in a way that those who have keep getting more (Mathew effect), and those who do not have keeps remains often impoverished and this cycle can be reproduced and transmitted generation after generation if no care action is taken from the side of the individuals concerned.

These challenges are not only observed within individuals who compete for resources, but also within the global markets where the systems of trade are usually not balanced and are often designed in favor of the global north at the expense of the global south. “To decolonize international development, we must first unlearn the entrenched narratives that perpetuate colonial frameworks” (Sutherland, 2023, p. 18). But of course, change is a process that takes time. It is thus important to remain optimistic and trust the process, with hope that integral human development will someday achieve this ideal of the development of every person and the whole person where no one will be left behind in the development process, but rather include all the individuals in the development process especially paying attention to the list advantaged.

Decolonization also remains an unending process that requires time for certain colonial legacies to be dismantled. we can observe some changes of course from the decolonization movements that started in the 1950s and 1960s especially in Africa, that many things have changed and continue to change as countries are emancipating from dictatorial and military regimes that oppress and exploit their citizens, into more democratically elected regimes that promote equality, justice and inclusion. This implies that both integral human development and decolonization have a vital role to play in the promotion justice, equality and common good of the world. Practitioners of these concepts should promote these concepts in different disciplines, and different cultures so that many people can get introduced to them. And the sooner everyone is informed on IHD and decolonization the better individuals will commit to making life more flourishing and contribute to the common good.