“Modernization and Dependency: Alternative Perspectives in the Study of Latin American Underdevelopment” by J. Samuel Valenzuela and Arturo Valenzuela broadly compares and analyzes modernization and the dependency approach (1978, p.536) within the context of underdevelopment in Latin America.
Valenzuela and Valenzuela first begin by discussing the modernization perspective, its assumptions and how this perspective relates to Latin America underdevelopment (1978, p.537). Valenzuela and Valenzuela determined that modernization literature assumes that for a society to modernize it must reject traditional values and patterns. Essentially, it is the internal traditional practises that need to be dismantled for modernization to take place.
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Development and underdevelopment are linked and “condition each other mutually” resulting in a divided world that consists of industrial “central” countries and underdeveloped “peripheral” countries (Valenzuela and Valenzuela, 1978, p.544), with the periphery often being constrained by its role in the global capitalist system (Valenzuela and Valenzuela, 1978, p.544).
The level of analysis differs greatly between the modernization approach and dependency approach, where modernization focuses predominantly on the behaviours, beliefs and traditions of individuals, the dependency approach focuses on elements outside the individual unit such as international trade, class alliances and conflict (Valenzuela and Valenzuela, 1978, p.550). Where the modernization approach focuses on the microsocial, the dependency approach focuses on the macrosocial (Valenzuela and Valenzuela, 1978, p.550).
Valenzuela and Valenzuela have determined that the dependency approach has a fundamental advantage compared to modernization theory (1978, p.552), dependency perspective is much more open to drawing from a broader body of evidence and range of phenomena, such as the relationship between “central” countries and the “periphery”, trade and class alliances. Modernization theory, which operates on a “simple conceptual framework and a reductionist approach”, such as the traditional- modern dichotomy (Valenzuela and Valenzuela, 1978, p.552),
Modernization theory refers to a theory that can be used by developing countries to develop their economy, it evaluates how developing countries can use the developing processes used by developed countries to develop. The theory argues that in order for developing countries to see growth the developed countries have to aid the development so that the developing countries can grow and learn in their own improvement from the developed. the modernisation theory believes that the developing countries need a push /start up from the developed countries and if this happens then it would be possible for the developing countries to develop to the same level or even more than the developed countries. The development of a country
In fact, differences between Modernization theory and Dependency theory result from the origin of Dependency theory which, as it has been already mentioned above, was developed in response to Modernization theory. On analyzing existing differences between the two theories, first of all, it is necessary to underline that Modernization theory views the development of the world and relationships between developed and developing countries as the relationships of potentially equal countries which are just at a different stage of development at the moment. To put it more precisely, Modernization theory stands on the ground that western countries are well-developed and western way of development is viewed as the most successful and perspective while there is practically no other alternatives to this way of the development. This is why the supporters of this theory insist on the necessity to develop the cooperation between developed and developing countries in order to make the latter closer to the former. What is meant here is the fact that Modernization theory underlines the necessity of borrowing the experience of western countries by developing countries of the Third world (Scott 196). Basically, developing countries should follow blindly the example of more developed western countries and this will bring them economic, social, and
Direct criticism to the modernization theory created the idea of the dependency theory. Scholars from Latin America theorized about what was the cause of their dependency and underdevelopment. The theory stated “the present underdevelopment of Latin America is the result of its centuries-long participation in the process of world capitalist development” (Frank 7). In ordinary terms, the drive to compete in the global economy deepened the hole of underdevelopment. The capitalistic pull of resources from underdevelopment countries to the development country perpetuated the conditions of
The modernization process has been experienced in different ways by different countries that some of them succeeded and some of them failed. Theoretically it has been defined as “a concept in the sphere of social science that refers to the process in which society goes through industrialization, urbanization and other social changes” (Zapf, 2004).Even there is no single approach toward this process, evolutionism, diffusionism, structural functionalism, systems theory and interactionism as well as other disciplines such as political science, economics, anthropology, psychology and others are combined to be known as modernization theory.
The dependency theory is based off resources flow from poor undeveloped states to wealthy states, which makes the wealthy countries richer. It argues that less developed countries will never become developed due to wealthy countries using them for their benefits such as sources of raw material and never let these countries establish domestic industries for themselves, to become developed. The modernization theory was based on the belief that mass media would help transform traditional societies. It was viewed as way for developed countries to spread the message of modernity or capitalist economic and political models to underdeveloped countries. The dependency theory is a critique of modernization theory in a variety ways. One way is the idea
Modernization is a structural explanation that sees rural poverty as a result of a lack of economic and industrial development. According to modernization, traditional values and practices prevented the acceptance of new technologies and institutions. This point of view looks past the individual and points
Before the Dependency Theory and World Systems Theory (WST), Development and Modernization theories were dominant theories of development and globalization. Both these theories rested on the assumption that “contact with western countries stimulates successful development among developing countries” (Harper and Leicht 2011: 306).
Theorists have argued that some poor nations are held back due to political corruption, religion and a culture of poverty. According to the conflict approach, poor nations, are poor because of unequal relations with powerful nations and not because they lack resources. The economic and political systems of the powerful nations dominate and exploit the weaker ones in trade and other relations while preventing them from becoming dependent. Reader pg. 271 on global stratification, suggest that in the future power and influence will only grow. Technological advancements are playing a role in creation and reinforcing of the global economies.
Not unlike the political transformations that pepper Latin American history, Latin America experienced several changes in economic systems. Each country possesses its own unique history, however there are several structural similarities that create a likeness across national borders. When examining Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Venezuela one major commonality is the shift from Import Substitute Industrialization to Neoliberal reforms in times of economic downturn. Nevertheless, each country experienced distinctive outcomes placing their economies on different scales of development and stability. To understand how inequality, economic growth and structural independence influence these countries, an examination of each country's major economic
For post-development theorists such as Esteva or Escobar, development is socially constructed and based in a western economic structure and in the power relationships between developed and developing countries, with a clear domination of the first ones (Escobar p.18, Esteva & Prakash, 1998b, p. 175-182). Positivists claim that development can only be sustained and attained by industrialization, which is achieved through human
Modernization theory is a unilinear process in which stated that every society goes through the same process of modernization (Smelser, 1988, p.2). The idea of modernization came in Turkey while Mustafa Kemal Atatürk came into power after the world war one by defeating Ottoman Empire through Young Turks. Ottoman Empire was ruling Turkey for more than five decades; at first they were ruling Turkey through absolute monarchy latter they change it to constitutional monarchy. It was one of the strongest powers on that time the power was decentralized on the hand of Ottoman Empire; large portion of development took place which lay out the foundation or basis for process of
Modernization theory is a hypothesis used to clarify the procedure of modernization that a country experiences as it moves from a simple society to a modern one. Dependency theory is the idea that assets spill out of a fringe of poor and immature states to a centre of rich states, enhancing the latter to the detriment of the former. These two theories contrast in that modernization theory clarifies how created states work and develop, whereas dependency theory outline how work and develop are restricted. Modernization theory clarifies the advancement and improvement of innovation in more steady regions of the world (Culp, 2014). Dependency theory looks at the impacts that modernization in one district has on different parts of the world. Dependency theory is more comprehensive than modernization theory. Modernization theory emphasises that instruction, innovation and broad communications are noteworthy reasons why created districts pull ahead from others. Be that as it may, modernization theory does not operate on a worldwide scale where the assets, work and power originate to make this advancement conceivable. In modernization theory, the majority of the advancements that local areas or states make originate from an aggregate interior exertion.
We will be dealing with primarily two theories on national (i.e. LDC) policy - modernization theory and dependency theory. Both have their own sets of costs and benefits as well as they do policy approaches. But before we go further, we must compare the two in attempt to see if either would compromise our government’s mandate.
A clear and advanced look at the two theories leaves one with the assumption that they are related and therefore they can be discussed together. This is attributed to the fact that they both argue from the same point of development and that development of a nation can only be reached at by ensuring the acquisition of new techniques. In addition a country on its own cannot acquire the advanced techniques but through the interaction process with other countries. In terms of modernity, Anthony Giddens compares it to riding on a board a huge juggernaut (Potter 2002, p. 63). This brings with it consequences in the sense that those who resist the juggernaut are crushed. However, this maybe
The political scientists, economists, philosophers, and other scientists have different views and ideas about development and modernization such as, Adam Smith, Karl Marx, Lenin, Baron, and Frank are the different scientist that introduced development theory. Similarly, this paper offers a discussion of modernization theory between two Asian