[43%]

Bachelor Of Social Sciences Honours Degree In Development Studies

[Block Release 2.2]
Faculty

: Humanities And Social Sciences

Department

: Development Studies

Student Name

: Emmanuel R Marabuka

Student Id Number

: L0110064T

Module Name

: Theories Of Development

Lecturer

: Dr E. Munsaka

Due Date

: 15 March 2013

Email Address

: emmanuelrems@gmail.com

Question
and dependency theory.

: Compare and contrast modernisation

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Modernisation and dependency are theories which specify the concept of development. These
theories reveal valid explanations for both development and underdevelopment of developed
and developing countries. However, in order for one to successfully compare and contrast
these theories it vital to really know the meaning of both theories. According to Matunhu
(2011) modernisation is about Africa following the developmental footsteps of Europe
(largely the former colonizer of Africa). Mar (2008) defined modernisation as a process of
transforming from traditional or underdeveloped society to a modern western societies way of
life. From the definition, modernisation is a developmental process which was derived from
the steps followed by western countries when they were doing their development.
Dependency is an historical condition which shapes a certain structure of the world economy
such that it favours some countries to the detriment of others and limits the development
possibilities of the subordinate economics a situation in which the economy of a certain group
of countries is conditioned by the development and expansion of another economy, to which
their own is subjected (Ferraro 1996). From the definition, dependency theory attempts to
explain the present underdeveloped state of many nations in the world by examining the
patterns of interactions among nations and by arguing that inequality among nations is an
intrinsic part of those interactions. 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 modern world and relationships between developed and developing
countries. Also they aim to explain development but using different angles. This essay seeks
to compare and contrast modernisation and dependency theory.
Therefore, theory refers to a set of logical propositions that explain a given phenomenon. It is
a set of organized ideas that offer logical explanations of the interrelationships among
different variables. Development theories are, therefore, a set of logical propositions that
explain how development occurred in history and how it should occur. Development theories
particularly aim to reduce and eliminate oppression and poverty for example, in order to
improve human conditions. It is worthy of mention that the comparison of these theories will
help better understand the current trends in international relations and the future perspectives
of the world. At the same time, this theories help assess the current situation and relationships
between developed and undeveloped countries more objectively due to existing differences
between the two theories. Modernisation is about Africa following the developmental
footsteps of Europe (largely the former colonizer of Africa). Matunhu, (2011) expounds that,
according to modernity, policies intended to raise the standard of living of the poor often
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consist of disseminating knowledge and information about more efficient techniques of

production.
The modernisation theory was propounded before the dependency theory in the 1960s. This
theory is mainly used in many context of development like politics, agriculture, religion,
economics and it is based on four main assumptions. The modernisation theory suggests that
development is a linear evolutionary process that should follow the stages and the way
developed countries developed. Rice (2012) alludes that, the assumption of the theory is
centred on the fact that development is a series of successive stages through which all
countries through happening through a process of diffusion.

Therefore, modernity, policies

intended to raise the standard of living of the poor often consist of disseminating knowledge
and information about more efficient techniques of production. For instance, the agriculture
modernisation process involves encouraging farmers to try new crops, new production
methods and new marketing skills (Matunhu 2008). Therefore, the Western countries
societies are most advanced in terms of technological, social and political terms, they go
through a series of stages on their rate to becoming advanced.
Modernization theorist Rostow revealed that, modernisation theory has five major stages that
a traditional society has to pass through to become a Morden society. In their theory they
assume that all countries pass through these stages in order to for them to reach a stage of
being developed. Therefore, the Rostowian theory identifies these five stages which the less
developed has follows. Firstly it is the Primitive society stage which is stage is characterized
by subsistence farming and barter trade. The Second is the Preparation for take-off which is
characterised by specialization, production of surplus goods and trade. Transport
infrastructure is developed to support trade. In addition the stage encourages savings and
investment. Thirdly it is the Take-off stage where industrialization increases and the economy
switches from agriculture to manufacturing. The fourth stage is regarded as the Drive to
maturity where the economy diversifies into new areas and there is less reliance on imports.
And the last stage is Period of mass consumption where the economy gears on mass
production and service sector becomes increasingly dominating. In general, modernization
led to the introduction of hybrids, the green house technology, genetically modified (GMO)
food, use of artificial fertilizers, insecticides, tractors and the application of other scientific
knowledge to replace traditional agricultural practices (Matunhu 2008). Smith, cited in
Matunhu (2008) pointed out that; modernisation is about exchange of older agriculture
practices with something more recent.
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According to Sharmila, (2008) dependency theory is the relationship between two or more
countries assumes the form of independence when some (dominant ones) can do this as
reflection of the expansion. Therefore the relationship between these countries is not equal.
The dependency theory views developing countries as is politically conservative because
they view developing countries as undeveloped because they lack the qualities that developed
nations have this is compared with the dependency theory which sees development as due to
the exploitation of advanced nations. Moreover dependency theory states that, there is the
core, semi periphery and the periphery. The core consists of developed countries, semi
periphery is the Newly industrialised countries like Brazil and the peripheries are developing
countries.
Costantino (1998; 9) postulate that
The final result is the creation of a core and a periphery, with a number of semiperiphery countries in between. The core consists of the industrialised countries, the
periphery of the agricultural export countries. The semi-peripheral countries (like
Brazil), which act as a buffer between the core and the periphery, are differentiated
from the periphery by their more significant industrial production. The semi-periphery
functions as a go-between: it imports high technology from the core and in return
exports semi-manufactured goods to the core. It imports raw materials from the
periphery and exports to it industrial end products. Wallerstein saw the Newly
Industrialised Countries as examples of the semi-periphery. A peripheral country can
achieve the status of semi-periphery and in this way can be brought into the core. The
spread of as large a market as possible is essential to his reasoning.
From the quotation above, the undeveloped countries supply the developed countries with
raw materials whilst the developed countries add value to the raw material by making the
valuable goods. In the support to this view line Prebisch points out that, poor countries
exported primary commodities to the rich countries that then manufactured products out of
those commodities and sold them back to the poorer countries. Do Santos (1967) is of the
notion that, dependency assumes that development depends on the relationship between
center and the periphery where the center or the core are the first world and developed
nations while the periphery refers to the third world and developing states. Therefore,
Rodney, (1972) argues that dependent states, therefore, should attempt to pursue policies of
self-reliance to avoid unfair relationship between the periphery and core. This is based by the
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argument that, Africa deprived (by Europe) of politic and economic decision power, and
lacking sustained investment funds, trod the reverse path, sinking deeper and deeper into non
development and poverty (Matunhu 2008).
According to Do Santos (1967) it is central contention of modernisation theory is that poor
countries are impoverished and ones enriched by the way poor countries are integrated into
the world system. In the same line Matunhu (2008) revealed that, Modernization
impoverished Africa through colonialism and imperialism by the West and this trend is with
us today as the East takes its turn to deplete the continents resources such as oil and
minerals. Africa needs to outgrow poverty and underdevelopment but this may not be
possible as long as we still believe in the power and strength of modernity at the expense of
promoting new theories for Africas development.
Matunhu (2008) postulate that, discontentment with the modernization theory in the 1950s
precipitated new strands of thinking which resulted in the dependency theory. The theory
came as a critical reaction to the conventional approaches to economic development that
emerged in the aftermath of World War II. In the same line Moles (1999) propounded that,
dependency theory was developed in response to Modernization theory out of sheer criticism
of the latter theory by the supporters of Dependency theory. In analysis done by Andre
Gunder Frank cited in Matunhu (2008), the post-colonial state, has argued that classical
development theories such as modernity are misleading in that they fail to articulate the true
relationship between the developed world and the poor regions of the world.
Modernisation and dependency theory have similarities which may assist us in comparing
and contrasting the two theories. Therefore, when speaking about the similarities, it is
primarily necessary to point out that both theories pay a lot of attention to the gap existing
between developed countries and undeveloped ones belonging to the third world (Mjrice
2012). 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 (Costantinos 1998). As a result, there exist a strong link between developed and
developing countries. This may be true in the sense that, the modernisation theory mentions
the development gap between developing and undeveloped countries by reviling that,
developing countries must go through various stages to reach fifth stage of high consumption
where the developed countries are found. Also dependency theory reveals the gap by
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postulating that, there are developing countries which are found at the periphery and
developed countries at the core. This clearly shows that both theories acknowledge a
development gap between developing and developed countries.
Furthermore both theories state that the experience of developed countries is followed by
developing and undeveloped countries, which basically develop in the same direction as
developed countries but still they cannot catch the latter up and remain in the rearguard of the
world development. In stark contrast, developed countries play the key role in the
development of the entire world and the integration of all countries of the world in the global
economy is one of the major ways of interaction between developed and developing countries
and both theories agrees that this interaction constantly increases. At the same time,
both Modernization and Dependency theories underline that the relationships between
developed and developing countries is unequal and there exist a kind of dependence of
developing countries on developed ones, though the views on this dependence vary
considerably. Nevertheless, both theories underline the dominant position of Western
countries in the modern world and leave little room for the alternative ways of the
development but the western one, which is viewed as the only way of the development of the
future world in the context of the global economy. It is worthy of mention that both theories
are ethnocentric in a way because they practically ignore the possibility of the alternative
development of developing countries but, instead they insist that the development of western
countries will be still on top.
Therefore, modernisation theory assumes that undeveloped countries remain so because they
have not been industrialised, countries such as Great Britain and France. Societies are
treated as structural functional whole. As such, they are adaptive systems and progress from
one evolutionary stage to another. In particular, there is a need for special entrepreneurs or
elite able to offer solutions to the new range of problems. And the stronger the elite the
greater the progress. (Harrison, cited in Costantino 1998) .This contrasts with dependency
theory which can be seen to form its basis in historical materialism and its critiquing of
political economy. Historical materialism criticizes the class divisions it claims are inherent
within the capitalist system, which comprises of workers and the owners of the means of
production. Historical materialism states that the colonized countries were bought into the
global capitalist system as dependencies of their former colonial masters therefore cannot
enter the global capitalist system such as modernization theory suggests. This demonstrates a
clear contrast in the two theories.
Page 6 of 11

Furthermore, these theories are similar in the sense that, they all state that, the experience of
developed countries is followed in terms of development by developing and underdeveloped
countries which basically develop in the same direction as developed countries but still they
cannot catch the latter up and remain in the rearguard of the world development. More so,
there is a notable likeness in both theories because they both give valid and just explanations
for development and underdevelopment. Mole reveals that, modernization and dependency
theory make the mistake of treating LDC'S as homogenous that is as having the same
characteristics. They failed to understand the issues value systems and institutions and tends
to be cultural specific Mole (1999). For example, Ethiopia and Somalia may be neighboring
countries but their cultures are different from each other. And may require different programs
that suite their needs. Hussein et al [1981] highlights that the modernization is an
evolutionary theory. It states that societies go through different stages of development which
happen to be the economic backwardness of Third World countries. On this point they
drastically shifted the focus of political analyses from the domestic to the international and
from idiosyncratic to the structural .The dependency theorists up hold the view that linkages
between LDC and developed countries are harmful since they are exploitative and retard the
development of the former.
Matunhu (2008) postulate that, the relations between dominant and dependent states are
dynamic because the interactions between the two sets of states tend to not only reinforce but
also intensify the unequal patterns. Moreover, dependency is a very deep-seated historical
process, rooted in the internationalization of capitalism. Ellis and Biggs(2001) alluded that
underdeveloped States needs to design policies which are meant to raise the standard of living
of the poor often consist of disseminating knowledge and information about more efficient
techniques of production. Modernisation agriculture process which includes encouraging
farmers to try new crops, new production methods and new marketing skills be viewed as a
good example. In support, Smith (1973) pointed out that modernisation is about exchanging
of older agriculture practices with something more recent. However, Prebisch and his
colleagues viewed it differently. Their argument is based on the fact that economic growth in
the advanced industrialized countries did not necessarily lead to growth in the poorer
countries. Hence they argue that economic activity in the richer countries often led to serious
economic problems in the poorer countries.
Mar (2009) availed that, modernisation theory takes a holistic approach contrasting with
dependence theory that focus on critiques of political and economic features of modernisation
Page 7 of 11

and western development. Therefore, that the very blue print for development that
modernisation theory requires underdeveloped countries to adhere to is the original cause for
their underdeveloped state and the cause of their inability to modernise in the way
modernisation theory requires.
The major impacts brought by each of these theories regarding development may assist us in
explaining and demonstrating the next contrasting theme. Therefore, Modernisation requires
a transformation from traditional to modern society which made it possible by institutional,
change from the top down. In addition, Modernisation theorists saw traditionalism and
modernity as two poles and in zero-sum relationship with one another (Calvert & Calvert,
2007). This contrasts with dependency theory, which is concerned primarily with the political
and economic functionality of modernisation theory and its impacts on the developing
countries. From this essence it can be argued that, dependency theory does not argue against
a shift from traditional to modern society. This means all theories are parallel in this fact.
Therefore, Modernisation theory shows structural inequality as a natural part of the organic
body of society with Industrial revolution serving as a historical demonstration of the power
of modernisation. One can argue that, the creators of modernisation theory envisioned the
developing countries adopting the same. The principles of historical materialism specify that
societies become capitalist before they can go through a further revolutionary transformation
to socialism, but dependency theory is based upon the argument that Europes colonies were
brought into the capitalist economic system as dependencies during the colonial period.
(Spybey, 1991).
Another commonality shared by both theories that both make absolute statements regarding
the relationship between the developed and the developing world. This commonality is
however, a crucial element in understanding development theory in the context of the twenty
first century. Both theories construct their arguments based upon a mirror of changing
economic and social capacities, priorities and choices. (Pieterse, 2009). This can be shown
because of the way modernisation theory has nuanced over the last 60 years to adapt to the
rise of neo-liberalism; the growing influence of Multinational Companies the World Bank,
IMF and the industrialisation in developing world. This commonality can be exposed as an
observation of development theory in a more general sense, rather than a commonality in the
content of either theory. The role that paradigms has to play in deciding what the possible

Page 8 of 11

future of impoverished people across the globe might be, offers the opportunity to place
dependency theory into a slightly more historical context.
In conclusion modernisation and dependency are two sharply different perspectives seeking
to explain the same reality. Modernisation theory posits that counties go through evolutionary
stages and that industrialisation and improved technology are keys to forward movements.
Dependency on the hand sees modernisation theory as Eurocentric and patronising. They
provide valuable insights into underdevelopment. They provide a cautionary take in the
dangers of attempting to create universal theories. Dependence theory depends on classical
economic theory that individuals are rational economic actors different in their behaviour and
situation and the modernisation theory is dependent on a theory that all nations follow a
predetermined historical path.

Page 9 of 11

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