Development theory economics and political science. Society for comparative studies in society and history. Modernization theory is used to explain the process of modernization within societies. More specifically, this theory holds that the richer nations increase in wealth at the expense of the poorer nations. Modernization theory is a description and explanation of the processes of transformation from traditional or underdeveloped societies to modern societies. Modernisation theory thought the third world should develop like the first world there are two main aspects of modernisation theory 1 its explanation of why poor countries are underdeveloped, and 2 its proposed solution to underdevelopment. Chapter iii a theory of underdevelopment in sociology. Dependency theory rejects the limited national focus of modernization theory and emphasizes the importance of understanding the complexity of imperialism and its role in shaping postcolonial states.
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. Dependency theory highlights that due to colonial and postcolonial endeavors the countries at the periphery are constantly exploited by those at the core. They fail to understand that value systems and institutions tend to be culturespecific. The hypothesis implied by this theory is that if a country develops over a longer period under dictatorship, so that all the modernizing consequences. Modernization theory focuses specifically on a type of modernization thought to. Both theories have been presented in the following manner. Modernization, dependency, rural underdevelopment, african. Dependency theorists sought to explain persistent levels of under development in latin america by situating national economies within their global economic. Modernization theory emphasized internal factors while making an exception of science. The main weakness of dependency theory lies in explaining the origin of underdevelopment. Comparison of dependency theory with modernization theory. Some aspects of liberation theology and world systems theory are related to dependency theory. This theory carries a very optimistic view for traditional society to industrialize and follow the leads of western countries who have developed.
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 of developed countries in the life of the third world. This article problematises the modernisation and dependency theories of development as well as well as locating the place and influence that language be it. Many scholars, often people of color and those from nonwestern nations, pointed out over the years that modernization theory fails to account for the way western reliance on colonization, slave labor, and theft of land and resources provided the wealth and material resources necessary for the pace and scale of development in the west see postcolonial theory. Dependency theory is a popular theory within the social sciences to explain economic development of states. 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 of developed countries in the life of the. So division of social science, hong kong university of science and technology, clear water bay, hong kong keywords. Changing conceptions of governance and its relation to development can be traced through the major perspectives on development that have emerged since world war ii, as represented by theories of modernization and growth, dependency and world systems theories, the resurgence of neoclassical theory, and an array of newer critical perspectives. Modernization is a theory that looks at the domestic factors of a country with the assumption that, with help underdeveloped countries can b.
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. Development theory has two major studies dependency and modernization theory. Relationships with developed countries and particularly with multinational corporations were viewed as. The theory of development in modern ization has become the theory of underdevelopment in dependency. 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. A critique of modernization and dependency theories in. Dependency theory key concepts in international relations series. Donor aid has emerged as a nuanced form of dependency on western countries. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves. Africa, development theory, modernisation theory, dependency theory, structural adjustment programmes. Development, dependency, modernization, social change, gunder frank, the third world, developing countries, capitalism, imperialism, worldsystems. Huntington is alerting to the problem that some societies reach such social and. Dependency theory, which originated in the 1950s, has singer and prebisch as the progenitors. However, it does not explain on a global scale where the resources, labor and power come from to makes this development possible.
Modernizationtheory and dependency theory free download as pdf file. Modernisation and dependency repub, erasmus university. In the words of one of the major proponents, historically, modernization is the process of change towards those types of social, economic, and. Still, since our purpose is not the piecemeal criticism of one or another version of modernization theory but the evaluation of modernization theory. Dependency theory dependency theory has been presented as a theory of development that improves modernisation theory reyes, 2001a. Critique of modernisation theories based on the dependency. 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 of the thir. Yet this may not be a fair test of modernization theory. It combines elements from a neomarxist theory and adopts a revolution of under developed nations model. Modernization theory says that a focus on education, technology and mass media is a major reason that developed regions pull ahead from others.
Dependency theory has always been quite controversial. 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. The dependency and worldsystems perspectives on development alvin y. According to valenzuela and valenzuela, the core difference between modernization and dependency theories. In this respect, it is possible to refer to modernization theory and dependency theory which, being quite different, still have certain similarities in their views on the. 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. Implications of the modernisation theory and the dependency theory. Modernizationtheoryanddependencytheory modernization. This article provides information about the critique of modernisation theories based on the dependency theory of development. Modernisation theory advanced country dependency theory historical structure international economic order these keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. These are the principal theoretical explanations to interpret development efforts carried out especially in the developing countries. In this respect, it is possible to refer to modernization theory and dependency.
Matunhu department of development studies, midlands state university, zimbabwe and published in african journal of history and culture vol. The discourse assesses the influence of modernization and dependency theories on africas development. 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. Dependency theory is more inclusive than modernization theory. The theory developed during the late 1950s and over the following two. Dependency theory seeks to analyze international politics by concerning itself with the existing unequal relationship among nationstates i.
Neocolonialism, modernisation and dependency springerlink. Modernization theory an overview sciencedirect topics. The origin of dependency theory came as an alternative to the theories of modernisation and development as formulated and supported by. These are the principal theoretical explanations to interpret.
Modernization, dependency and structural adjustment. These theoretical perspectives allow us not only to clarify concepts, to. The focus of this theory is the totality of society and social system periphery, which highlights the. The dependency theory, introduced by raul prebisch in the late 1950s, is an economic concept that identifies a financial dependence between the rich and the poor nations. 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. Pdf compare and contrast modernization and dependency. The dependency theory claims that this is how underdevelopment was created and is still being reproduced. Pseudointellectualism of the dependency theorist made manifest in the walter rodneys how europe. Both modernisation and dependency theory make the mistake of treating ldcs least developed countries as homogeneous i. Chapter two dealt exclusively with the modernisation theory of development. Dependency theory and its close relative, world system theory, emphasized the role of external relationships in the developmental process.
The discourse pins hope on the african renaissance theory of development. What is the difference between modernization theory and. For this purpose, this paper examines the definitions of dependency, general perspectives, classifications, and the criticism of dependency theory. Difference between modernization theory and dependency. 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. Dependency theory developed in the late 1950s under the guidance of the director of the united nations economic commission for latin america, raul prebisch. Its main tenet is that the periphery of the international economy is being economically exploited drained. Matunhu department of development studies, midlands state university, zimbabwe. Modernization theory describes the development of a society from a traditional society to a modern one. Chapter three talked about the dependency theory of development. Donor aid has emerged as a symbol of dependency, supporting the argument on the relevance of dependency theory. Page 1 of 11 modernisation and dependency are theories which specify the.
Modernization theory is subject to criticism originating among socialist and freemarket ideologies, worldsystems theorists, globalization theorists and dependency theorists among. Modernization refers to a model of a progressive transition from a premodern or traditional to a modern. The conclusion is that both theories have failed to help develop africa. Modernization versus dependency in the context of colonial. A critique of modernization and dependency theories in africa. An outline and critique of competing theories by dieter nohlen, heidelberg. Modernization theory and dependency theory are two development theories between which some difference can be identified. Dependency theory and modernization theory dependency theory is a mixture of various theories, including world systems theory, historical structure theory, and neomarxist theory.
The modernization theory puts the most emphasis on economic development social and cultural change, and political stability. The main objective of this document is to synthesize the main aspects of the four major theories of development. Latin american dependency theory global south studies, u. The dependency theory was developed to criticize the modernization. Modernization, dependency, rural underdevelopment, african renaissance.
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