MODERNIZATION AND DEPENDENCY THEORY

Modernization and Dependency Theory

Modernization and Dependency Theory

Modernization Theory

A theory designed to explain the process of modernizing societies. The theory considers the internal factors of development of any country, based on the installation, that the "traditional" countries may be involved in the development the same way as are the developed countries. Modernization theory endeavors to recognize the social variables that add to social development and expansion of society, and will attempt to elucidate the procedure of social development. Although none of the scientists does not deny the process of modernization of society (the transition from traditional to industrial society), the theory itself has undergone considerable criticism from both Marxists and the representatives of free-market ideas, and supporters of the theory depend on the reason that is a simplified representation of the historical process.

The basic structural changes in this phase of modernity clear four elements:

a.Differentiation of the bureaucratic structure (social complexity)

b.Secularization of political culture (democracy)

c.Increasing the capacity of the political system of a society (bureaucracy)

d.Promoting practices of capital accumulation (growth and self-reliance)

One of the key factors in the modernization theory is the belief that development requires developed countries to assist developing countries to benefit from the progress on their own. In addition, it was thought that the least developed countries, and can grow faster than developed countries to catch up, and it is possible for development on an equal footing, which will be reached.

Dependency Theory

A Social theory whose base is the assertion that helps the resources to flow away from the "periphery” (the poor, undeveloped, underdeveloped, developing, and dependent countries) in the "core" (the rich, developed countries). This central position of dependency theory that the poor (underdeveloped) countries get poorer and the rich (developed) are getting rich with the fact that integrated into the global economic system. The dependency theory is a theory of the field of social sciences (sociology, history, economics and political science) who argues that poverty, political instability and underdevelopment of the South is the result of historical processes set up by the Northern countries has resulted in the economic dependence of developing countries.

The inability of developing countries to develop was contradicted by a temporary economic take-off of four dragons in the 60's which were followed later by the Asian economic crisis. Against an obvious example is that of China and India since the 80's, however, these countries are still far from the front runners in terms of human development index (HDI), and the fact that these countries are developed does not mean the absence of obstruction. The black African countries are much less happy, accumulating in pretty much all HDI lowest, in the world.

This theory has a certain proximity to the concept of neocolonialism. It is clear that the proponent of this theory to follow the model of developed countries does not make sense, because their development occurred under certain historical conditions that are impossible to recreate in the southern countries. In addition, this model shows that this condition of poverty favors developed countries, and; therefore, ...