Theories of Underdevelopment:

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Theories of Underdevelopment

• Modernization Dependency

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Outline

• Modernization
• Dependency
• Discussion/assessment

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Modernization Theory

• Initially the dominant paradigm
• Origins demise of colonialism
• Post-colonial countries direction?
• Modernization becoming like the West
• How? Two tasks

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First task value change

• Traditional values
• Modern values
• (universalistic standards)

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Agents of value change
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Second task institutional change

• Modern political institutions
• Modern economic institutions

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Examplemodern bureaucracy

• Professionalization training
• Merit-based
• Decision-making uniform consistent standards

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Modernization value change institutional
change
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Critique Conflict Theory

• Modernization theory too optimistic?
• Do all good things go together?
• Conservative critique (Huntington)
• Authoritarianism a necessary evil?
• Reconciliation approach

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Cultural Change Reevaluation

• Modified version of modernization
• - traditional/modern contrast?
• - appeal of modern (Western) values?
• - reevaluation of traditional values

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Dependency Theory

• Challenged modernizations most fundamental
  assumptions
• Timing is important!
• Western influence?
• Modernization W influence is beneficial
• Dependency W influence is harmful

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Dependency

• World system core periphery
• Core advanced capitalist nations
• Periphery developing nations

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DependencyWestern influence

• Unequal core/periphery relationship
• Economic dependency
• Political dependency

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Dependency TheoryCaveats

• Evidence?
• Associated dependent development (F.H.Cardoso)
• Negative social consequences
• Negative political consequences

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A crucial test East Asia

• (East Asia the giraffe of dependency theory)
• Economic growth and even income distribution
• (also democratic, except Singapore)
• According to dependency theorists, East Asia did
  all the wrong things

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Current perspective

• No single theory of development
• Neither modernization, nor dependency
• Both useful, both limited
• Focus on more specific issues

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Modernization and Dependency
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Modernization Dependency
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Modernization Dependency
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Modernization Dependency
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Modernization Dependency