Dependency theory is the notion that resources flow from a periphery of poor and underdeveloped states to a core of wealthy states, enriching the latter at the expense of the former. In other words, the relation between underdevelopment and dependency is explained in a circular manner. Vincent ferraro, mount holyoke college south hadley, ma july 1996 background dependency theory developed in the late 1950s under the guidance of the director of the united nations economic commission for latin america, raul prebisch. Nonetheless, there are some core propositions which seem to underlie the analyses of most dependency theorists. Accordingly,neoliberalism is an anti development perspective,not in termsofgoalsbutintermsofmeans. The endogenous explanation is a modernization theory. Dependency theory and modernization theory dependency theory is a mixture of various theories, including world systems theory, historical structure theory, and neomarxist theory. According to modernization theory, development will arrive in traditional societies after the modernization of their beliefs and attitudes. Dependency can be defined as an explanation of the economic development of a state in terms of. Modernization theory is a theory used to explain the process of modernization that a nation goes through as it transitions from a traditional society to a modern one. Yet this may not be a fair test of modernization theory. Modernization theory stresses the importance of internal, local, and native factors as catalysts for socioeconomic development while making science an external agent of change an exception chasedunn, 1998.
The modernization the movement of the 1950s and 1960s is an economic theory that is rooted in capitalism. The use of the term development to refer to national economic growth emerged in the united states beginning in the 1940s and in association with a key american foreign policy concern. In analysing the assets of the modernisation theories, it should be understood that this school of thought emerged in the early years of the 1950s, and began to disappear in the 1970s when belief in it started to wane. Modernization or dependency 72 95 modernization theory and underdevelopment dependency theory and underdevelopment dependency in a specific historical context. They fail to understand that value systems and institutions tend to be culturespecific. Critics argue that the theory and model do not take into account the differences between capitalistic vs. A critique of modernization and dependency theories in africa. Dependency theory assumes that human behavior in economic matters is a constant. The basic assumption of this theory, in any of its versions, is that there is one gen. Development theory, cluster of research and theories on economic and political development.
Not all dependency theorists, however, are marxist and one should clearly distinguish between dependency and a theory of imperialism. It combines elements from a neomarxist theory and adopts a revolution of under developed nations model. Dependency theory, which originated in the 1950s, has singer and prebisch as the progenitors and emerged as a result of the growing dissatisfaction with modernity theories that had propounded. Critique of modernisation theories based on the dependency. Modernization versus dependency in the context of colonial bengal. Difference between modernization theory and dependency. Modernization, modernization theory and its criticism.
Modernization theory not only stresses the process of change but also the responses to that change. Perhaps one of these theories is more likely than the other to explain living conditions and the lack of development in the global south. The marxist theory of imperialism explains dominant state expansion while the dependency theory explains underdevelopment. To learn about our use of cookies and how you can manage your cookie settings, please see our cookie policy. Modernization theory focuses on the social elements which facilitate social progress and development of societies, and further aims to explain the process of social evolution. Modernization theory explains the progress and development of technology in more stable regions of the world. Modernization and dependency theories flashcards quizlet. A large argument opposing the dependency theory is the subjectivity in the theory and the terms that are often used. Modernization consists of a gradual differentiation and specialization of social structures. Dependency theory dependency theory has been presented as a theory of development that improves modernisation theory reyes, 2001a. The basic assumption of this theory, in any of its versions, is that there is one general end page 157 process of which democratization is but the final stage. The proponents of modernization theory claimed that underdeveloped countries were. This theory not only stresses the process of change but also the results of that change.
Development theory development theory dependency and world systems theories. Therefore, modernization theory sheds light on modernity in a very different way to dependency theory. A country plagued by a myriad of critical issues, pakistans deepening woes have dented its image in the social and economic strata. Modernization theory focuses specifically on a type of modernization thought to. Postdevelopmentthinkingalsoputs forth an anti development position. Aug 31, 2015 modernization theory and dependency theory are two development theories between which some difference can be identified. A critical analysis in the changing world situation after the post 1945 era, the development of modernization theory in order to modernise the rest of the world in line with american development is interestingly significant in the history of development studies. Modernization theory claimed that once developing societies came into contact with western european and north american societies, they would be impelled toward modernization and, eventually, would achieve the economic, political, and social features characteristic of the nations of western europe and the united. Difference between modernisation theory and dependency theory. Society for comparative studies in society and history. Seeing the state of development or underdevelopment in latin america 1 and africa 2, i argue that dependency is created by a dominant country on these so called underdeveloped countries by creating a. Modernization and dependency theory nowadays the rapid development of the word and the growing integration of countries can hardly fail to affect the development of new theories which attempt to explain the relationship between countries and the existing inequality between developed countries and countries. The discourse assesses the influence of modernization and dependency theories on africas development.
Development and underdevelopment in the third world. However, the way modernization theory suggests for. Dependency theory holds that the condition of underdevelopment is precisely the result of the incorporation of the third world economies into the capitalist world system which is dominated by the west and north america randall and theobald 1998, 120, hence in development studies, dependency implies a situation in which a. According to valenzuela and valenzuela, the modernization perspective is behavioral, or microsociological. In these days of increasing globalization, which appears as an unstoppable and relentless process, structuralist.
Modernization theory is a grand theory encompassing many different disciplines as it seeks to explain how society progresses, what variables affect that progress, and how societies can react to that progress. A critique of modernization and dependency theories in. Beyond latin america chapter iii a theory of underdevelopment in sociology. Dependency theory is premised on the fact that resources move and. Feb 23, 2018 worldsystems theory, dependency theory and global inequality duration. Comparison of dependency theory with modernization theory. Worlds such as developed and underdeveloped that construct the argument of dependency theory are subjective and different people will view these different terms in different lights. Modernization theory, dependency theory and world systems. Dependency theory, sometimes called foreign dependency, is used to explain the failure of nonindustrialized countries to develop economically despite investments made into them from industrialized nations.
It is also known or being compassed within development theory. Modernization theory emphasized internal factors while making an exception of science. The focus of this theory is the totality of society and social system periphery, which highlights the. Matunhu department of development studies, midlands state university, zimbabwe.
There is, presumably, a need to make traditional societies beliefs and attitudes more rational. Both modernisation and dependency theory make the mistake of treating ldcs least developed countries as homogeneous i. The difference between modernization theory and dependency theory is that one explains how developed states operate and grow, while the other explains the exact opposite. Modernization versus dependency in the context of colonial bengal by r1uha11ad shahidullah, b. Difference between modernization theory and dependency theory. Modernization refers to a model of a progressive transition from a. Theories of development modernisation theory youtube. Dependency theory grew influential in latin america in the 1960s and 1970s, largely in reaction to modernisation theory and free trade policies, which originated in the west.
Modernization theory studies the process of social evolution and the development of. Dependency theory, an approach to understanding economic underdevelopment that emphasizes the putative constraints imposed by the global political and economic order. Modernization theory and dependency theory are two development theories between which some difference can be identified. Development theory economics and political science. Modernization theorists only see western economies as completely modern and deem other economies to be unevolved or primitive. The theory suggests developing countries through the five economic growth stages with a western. The hypothesis implied by this theory is that if a country develops over a longer period under dictatorship, so. Dawn development alternatives for a new erainfluenced, mainly, by liberal and social feminists have emerged, in part as critiques of the major theoretical approaches to development modernization theory, underdevelopment and dependency theory and neoliberalismin the third. By closing this message, you are consenting to our use of cookies. Dependency theory is more inclusive than modernization theory. In the words of one of the major proponents, historically, modernization is the process of change towards those types of social, economic, and political systems that have developed in. The frankian model of dependency dependency theory. Modernization theory both attempts to identify the social variables that contribute to social progress and development of societies and seeks to explain the process of social evolution. Dependency theory observes and explains the effects modernization in one region has on other parts of the world.
Modernization theory oxford research encyclopedia of. Matunhu department of development studies, midlands state university, zimbabwe and published in african journal of history and culture vol. The discourse pins hope on the african renaissance theory of development. Dependency theory an overview sciencedirect topics.
In such a way, the dependency theory is externallyoriented, whereas the modernization theory is internallyoriented. However, nobody can deny that dependency theory opened up a new perspective on the realities of international political economy. This article provides information about the critique of modernisation theories based on the dependency theory of development. It was the start of the origin that development became directly associated with western values and ideologies, thus showing us a early modernization theory, however modernization theory developed much later than this, as stated above, but can always be seen as having influence from this period. Still, since our purpose is not the piecemeal criticism of one or another version of modernization theory but the evaluation of modernization theory itself as. Modernization theory is subject to criticism originating among socialist and freemarket ideologies, worldsystems theorists, globalization theorists and dependency theorists among others. Latin american dependency theory global south studies, u. The conclusion is that both theories have failed to help develop africa. There are two levels of analysis in classical modernization theory. In such a way, unlike modernization theory, dependency theory does not view the choice in favor of western way of development as the panacea from all problems or as a conscious choice that is really supported by the population and elite of developing countries but such westernization of developing countries is viewed as a violent interference. Modernization theory an overview sciencedirect topics. Dependency theory was very much about criticizing the western development theories that hindered the underdeveloped countries by exploiting their resources and labour force, as to develop themselves more.
Modernization theory is a description and explanation of the processes of transformation from traditional or underdeveloped societies to modern societies. Development theory dependency and world systems theories. Development theory and gendered approach to development. Modernization and dependency theory 1563 words 7 pages. The concept of modernization incorporates the full spectrum of the transition and drastic transformation that a traditional society has to undergo in order.
Modernization theory is a socioeconomic theory, which received wide popularity in 1950s years, and as well as dependency theory is a part of the wider theme of theories in sociology, known as sociocultural revolution. Modernization theory is used to explain the process of modernization within societies. Modernization theory stresses not only the process of change but also the responses to that change. Modernization theory vs dependency theory 1227 words 5 pages. Modernization theory studies the process of social evolution and the development of societies. Dependency theory grew influential in latin america in the 1960s and 1970s, largely in reaction to modernisation theory and free trade policies, which originated in. Modernization theory vs dependency theory while many theorists have numerous explanations towards underdevelopment, experts like david brooks and peter hallward have described the natural disaster in haiti to be brutally destructive primarily due to its poverty. First proposed in the late 1950s by the argentine economist and statesman raul prebisch, dependency theory gained prominence in the 1960s and 70s. Dependency theory highlights that due to colonial and postcolonial endeavors the countries at the periphery are constantly exploited by those at the core. It is a central contention of dependency theory that poor states are impoverished and rich ones enriched by the way poor states are integrated into the world system.
Relationships with developed countries and particularly with multinational corporations were viewed as. Two interesting theories used to examine the development of global south are. The main weakness of dependency theory lies in explaining the origin of underdevelopment. To put it more precisely, modernization and dependency theory stand on the ground that western countries are the world leaders due to their higher level of development, which affects practically all spheres of life, including economic, political, social, and even cultural life leys, 210. Dependency theorists sought to explain persistent levels of under development in latin america by situating national economies within their global economic context.
Modernization and dependency theory essay example graduateway. Modernization theory is subject to criticism originating among socialist and freemarket ideologies, worldsystems theorists, globalization theory and dependency theory among others. Dependency theory and its close relative, world system theory, emphasized the role of external relationships in the developmental process. Modernization versus dependency in the context of colonial. What is the difference between modernization theory and. The central argument of this theory is that the world economic system is highly unequal in its distribution of power and resources due to. Dependency theory is a kind of developmental theory, which is a major critique of modernisation theory. Introduction dependency theory, as a theory that purports to explain the related conditions of economic development and the lack of, and evident need for it, in the countries of the periphery, or third worlda condition that some dependistas theorists of dependency refer to as underdevelopmenthas.
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