The Importance of Relationships

The well-being of individuals and communities can be defined in terms of relationships. This is often neglected in Western political traditions with an individualist approach to rights and materialistic definitions of well-being and development.

There is, however, increasing awareness of the importance of relationships to all aspects of society.

• In any country, the provision of public services, such as health and education, relies heavily upon a whole set of relationships within and between the service providers, and with the communities they serve. Dysfunctional relationships result in both increased demands on services and a weakened capacity to provide them.

• The quality of social relationships is also important in determining economic performance. This is partly a consequence of the importance of the relationship environment for business efficiency, and partly a consequence of the economic costs of relationship breakdown.

• Finally, and perhaps most importantly, relationships form the basis on which the happiness, security, identity and well-being of individuals depends. This may include relationships within families and communities, working relationships and faith relationships. Measures of happiness and physical health, for example, can be linked to an individual's social support - the network of relationships of which they are part and on which they depend.

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