Development theory
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Development theory is a conglomeration of theories about how desirable change in society is best to be achieved. Such theories draw on a variety of social scientific disciplines and approaches.
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[edit] Historical development theories
[edit] Modernization Theory
Modernization Theory is a theory of development which states that the development can be achieved through following the processes of development that were used by the currently developed countries. Scholars such as Walt Rostow and A.F.K. Organski developed stages of development through which every country develops. Samuel Huntington determined development to be a linear process which every country must go through. Modernization Theory was built upon Classical Liberalism and the belief in individuality, free trade and the market fundamentalism. Technology played a key role in this development theory because it was believed that as technology was developed and introduced to lesser developed countries it would spur growth. One key factor in Modernization Theory is the belief that development requires the assistance of developed countries to aid developing countries to learn from their development. In addition, it was believed that the lesser developed countries would develop and grow faster than developed countries. Thus, this theory is built upon the theory that it is possible for equal development to be reached between the developed and lesser developed countries.
[edit] Dependency Theory
In response, came the rise of Dependency Theory which was critical of Modernization Theory. Dependency Theory is founded on the concept that the effects of colonialism on lesser developed countries must be considered when creating future development. Dependency Theory grew out of Latin America and scholars such as Raul Prebisch, due to observation that Modernization Theory was failing to address the consequences of colonialism such as trade inequities in which the colonial trade patterns of exporting raw materials and agriculture and importing the processed and manufactured goods continued to persist. Scholars such as Andre Gunder Frank and Fernando Henrique Cardoso have furthered the theory attributing the Modernization Theory to be a development process through which the developing countries only became further entrenched and dependent upon the developed countries. In addition, Dependency Theory divided countries into two different categories of development, periphery and center. The center was determined to be the developed and colonizing countries and the periphery consists of the developing and colonized countries. The relationship is outlined as one of exploitation in which the center exploits the periphery and it is through this colonial and post-colonial exploitation that the center countries were able to develop. This approach aims to discredit Modernization Theory's development process by stating that since exploitation allowed the center to develop it is impossible for the same process to lead to the development of the previously exploited countries.
Some criticisms of Dependency Theory are that it provides no feasible development solution, it does not acknowledge distinctions within the periphery or vulonerability in the center and does not outline any means of observing change within development.
[edit] World Systems Theory
In response to some of the criticisms of Dependency Theory came World Systems Theory, which the division of periphery and center was further divided into a trimodal system consisting of the core, semi-periphery and periphery. In this system, the semi-periphery lies between the core and periphery and is exploited by the core and exploits the periphery. This division aims to explain the industrialization within lesser developed countries. World Systems Theory was initiated by Immanuel Wallerstein in, among other writings, World Systems Analysis, Durham NC: Duke University Press, 2004, and focuses on inequality as a separate entity from growth in development and examines change in the global capitalist system. One distinguishing feature of this theory is a distrust for the state and a view in which the state is seen as a group of elites and that industrialization cannot be equated with development. Out of this theory stem anti-systemic movements which attempt to reverse the terms of the system's inequality through social democratic and labor movements.
[edit] State Theory
In response to the distrust of the state in World Systems Theory, is State Theory. State Theory is based upon the view that the economy is intertwined with politics and therefore the take-off period in development is unique to each country. State Theory emphasized the effects of class relations and the strength and autonomy of the state on historical outcomes. Thus, development involves interactions between the state and social relations because class relations and the nature of the state impact the ability of the state to function. Development is dependent upon state stability and influence externally as well as internally. State Theorists believe that a developmentalist state is required for development by taking control of the development process within one state.
