National unity and consensus: a prerequisite for development and progress

The main goal of this research is to examine the role of consensus and national agreement—especially the consensus among political elites—in achieving development. The research question is: What position does national consensus hold in the realization of development, and how can it strengthen or weaken the fundamental elements of development?The methodology of the article is based on document and library research. Using theoretical data, it analyzes the relationship between elite consensus and development to answer the main question: «What is the role of consensus and national agreement among political elites in realizing development?» This study relies on the theoretical framework of Lucien Piérre and colleagues, conceptualizing development in three components: «structural differentiation,» «equality,» and «creative capacity.» In the findings section, ten advantages and ten challenges related to the presence or absence of political elite consensus are analyzed, and their effects on the three components of development are evaluated. The results indicate that elite consensus is a key factor in achieving political stability, sustainable policymaking, reducing corruption, increasing public trust, expanding social capital, and strengthening democratic institutions—all of which enhance development indicators. Conversely, the absence of political consensus leads to the emergence of parallel institutions, legitimacy crises, elite migration, and economic fluctuations, posing serious obstacles to sustainable development. Therefore, consensus and agreement among elites are not only facilitating conditions but also theoretical and practical prerequisites for achieving development.