The solution to the problem of development requires cooperation among individual political communities. “Political communities condition one another and we can affirm that each one will succeed in its development by contributing to the development of others. For this to happen, understanding and collaboration are essential”925John XXIII, Encyclical Letter Mater et Magistra: AAS 53 (1961), 499; cf. Pius XII, Christmas Radio Message (24 December 1945): AAS 38 (1946), 22.. It may seem that underdevelopment is impossible to eliminate, as though it were a death sentence, especially considering the fact that it is not only the result of erroneous human choices but also the consequence of “economic, financial and social mechanisms”926John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 16: AAS 80 (1988), 531. and “structures of sin”927John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 36-37, 39: AAS 80 (1988), 561-564, 567. that prevent the full development of men and peoples. These difficulties must nonetheless be met with strong and resolute determination, because development is not only an aspiration but a right 928Cf. Paul VI, Encyclical Letter Populorum Progressio, 22: AAS 59 (1967), 268; Paul VI, Apostolic Letter Octogesima Adveniens, 43: AAS 63 (1971), 431-432; John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 32-33: AAS 80 (1988), 556-559; John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 35: AAS 83 (1991), 836-838; cf. also Paul VI, Address to the International Labour Organization (10 June 1969), 22: AAS 61 (1969), 500-501; John Paul II, Address to the Participants in the European Convention on the Church's Social Teaching (20 June 1997), 5: L'Osservatore Romano, English edition, 23 July 1997, p. 3; John Paul II, Address to Italian Business and Trade-Union Leaders (2 May 2000), 3: L'Osservatore Romano, English edition, 10 May 2000, p. 5. that, like every right, implies a duty. “Collaboration in the development of the whole person and of every human being is in fact a duty of all towards all, and must be shared by the four parts of the world: East and West, North and South”929John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 32: AAS 80 (1988), 556.. As the Magisterium sees it, the right to development is based on the following principles: unity of origin and a shared destiny of the human family; equality between every person and between every community based on human dignity; the universal destination of the goods of the earth; the notion of development in its entirety; and the centrality of the human person and solidarity.
The Church's social doctrine encourages forms of cooperation that are capable of facilitating access to the international market on the part of countries suffering from poverty and underdevelopment. “Even in recent years it was thought that the poorest countries would develop by isolating themselves from the world market and by depending only on their own resources. Recent experience has shown that countries which did this have suffered stagnation and recession, while the countries which experienced development were those which succeeded in taking part in the general interrelated economic activities at the international level. It seems therefore that the chief problem is that of gaining fair access to the international market, based not on the unilateral principle of the exploitation of the natural resources of these countries but on the proper use of human resources”.930John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 33: AAS 83 (1991), 835. Among the causes that greatly contribute to underdevelopment and poverty, in addition to the impossibility of acceding to the international market,931Cf. Paul VI, Encyclical Letter Populorum Progressio, 56-61: AAS 59 (1967), 285-287. mention must be made of illiteracy, lack of food security, the absence of structures and services, inadequate measures for guaranteeing basic health care, the lack of safe drinking water and sanitation, corruption, instability of institutions and of political life itself. There is a connection between poverty and, in many countries, the lack of liberty, possibilities for economic initiative and a national administration capable of setting up an adequate system of education and information.
The spirit of international cooperation requires that, beyond the strict market mentality, there should be an awareness of the duty to solidarity, justice and universal charity.932Cf. Paul VI, Encyclical Letter Populorum Progressio, 44: AAS 59 (1967), 279. In fact, there exists “something which is due to man because he is man, by reason of his lofty dignity”.933John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 34: AAS 83 (1991), 836. Cooperation is the path to which the entire international community should be committed, “according to an adequate notion of the common good in relation to the whole human family”.934John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 58: AAS 83 (1991), 863. Many positive results flow from this; for example, an increase of confidence in the potential of poor people and therefore of poor countries and an equitable distribution of goods.