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How does modernization theory explain underdevelopment?

How does modernization theory explain underdevelopment?

Modernisation theory explained the underdevelopment of countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America primarily in terms of cultural ‘barriers’ to development’, basically arguing that developing countries were underdeveloped because their traditional values held them back; other modernisation theorists focused more on …

What is the main argument of modernization theory?

Modernization theory suggests that traditional societies will develop as they adopt more modern practices. Proponents of modernization theory claim that modern states are wealthier and more powerful and that their citizens are freer to enjoy a higher standard of living.

Why does Frank say that developed countries were undeveloped and not underdeveloped?

Dependency theory by Andre Gunder Frank As a result of the unequal distribution of power and resources, some countries have developed at a faster pace than others. Frank rejects the idea that underdevelopment stems from an individual country’s isolation from the larger world.

What are the main assumptions of modernization theory?

The principal assumptions of modernization theory as understood here—often enough made explicit by those who use this approach—are (1) that modernization is a total social process associated with (or subsuming) economic development in terms of the preconditions, concomitants, and consequences of the latter; (2) that …

What are weaknesses of modernization theory?

Perhaps the most crippling weakness of the modernization theory is its oversimplified view of social change (Coetzee et al., 2007: 101). Human nature has a propensity to resist change in favour of the status quo. Change is resisted because it brings in elements of uncertainty.

Why might dependency theorists criticize modernization theory?

Why might dependency theorists criticize modernization theory? They would point out that traditional societies are typically low income because of a history of colonialism and oppression. Wealth and income are both important determinants of social class.

How does modernization affect society?

Modernization brings technology that consumes energy and leads to such things as air pollution and climate change. Another negative effect is (arguably) on our society. Modernization breaks up the social ties that bound people together in traditional societies.

Who developed the theory of underdevelopment?

Paul Baran, in his work The Political Economy of Growth (1973, first published in 1957), pioneered the theory of underdevelopment.

Who developed the concept known as the development of underdevelopment?

First proposed in the late 1950s by the Argentine economist and statesman Raúl Prebisch, dependency theory gained prominence in the 1960s and ’70s. According to dependency theory, underdevelopment is mainly caused by the peripheral position of affected countries in the world economy.

How does modernization theory explain how low income countries improve their global economic standing?

According to modernization theory, low-income countries are affected by their lack of industrialization and can improve their global economic standing through: An adjustment of cultural values and attitudes to work. Industrialization and other forms of economic growth (Armer and Katsillis 2010)

Why did modernization theory failed in Africa?

The model rejects the mainstream growth (modernity) and dependency paradigms because they exacerbate poverty and fail to appeal to the African value system. In the process of modernizing Africa, the people of the continent lost their identity and development path.

How does Modernisation contribute to development?

Modernisation theory underpinned the idea of development as growth, with modernisation defined as a linear path towards a developed industrial society. Economic development through industrial transformation would lead to economic growth, allowing poorer countries to catch up with industrial countries.

Why are developing countries underdeveloped in modernisation theory?

Modernisation theory explained the underdevelopment of countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America primarily in terms of cultural ‘barriers’ to development’, basically arguing that developing countries were underdeveloped because their traditional values held them back; other modernisation theorists focused more on economic barriers to development.

How does modernization theory relate to dependency theory?

Modernization theory shows a high inclination towards the state as having an important role in selecting the transnational influences, which even the dependency theorists assert. Globalization has brought about development, but the kind of development it has brought is capitalist development.

Which is the best version of modernization theory?

The most well-known version of modernization theory is Walt Rostow’s 5 stages of economic growth. Rostow (1971) suggested that following initial investment, countries would then set off on an evolutionary process in which they would progress up 5 stages of a development ladder.

How is globalization related to the development of underdevelopment?

And globalization as understood as the globalization of capital, underdevelopment in turn is seen to be associated with the development of capitalism on a world scale. Studies on the issues of development, underdevelopment has been a consequence of the development of capitalism.

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