Development: Theory and practice

Essay , 2003 , 16 Pages , Grade: Honours

Politics - Other International Politics Topics

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the development successes and failures of certain countries taking into account whether specific development theories have been applied successfully or not. In order to do so, I will briefly outline the tenets of the main development theories focussing on their constructive aspects without silencing the criticism held against them. Subsequently, I will discuss the different understandings of the term “development” which will be followed by country-specific analyses of development successes and failures in the light of development theory for which East Asia, Nigeria and Cuba will be used as case studies. Lastly, I will discuss whether reality really proved the predictions of development theory wrong. Generally speaking, the spirit of Peter W. Preston’s attitude expressed in his article Development Theory: Learning the Lessons and Moving On1 forges the entire essay.
Modernisation theory, the first main development theory of the post-World War II and decolonisation era, clearly reflects Cold War patterns and, as Ronaldo Munck put it, “was an expression of the then-hegemonic US imperialism” [Kirby: 1997, p. 45]. In the wake of the successful implementation of the Marshall Plan, the rest of the world should also be modernised and, by doing so, convinced to join the capitalist system. The Soviet Union, in turn, applied its “rubel diplomacy” to support several national liberation movements to get their share of the world. Unfortunately, the idiosyncrasies and special needs of development countries were not taken into consideration. Despite the fact that the modernisation ideas promoted by Durkheim, Weber, Parson, Rostow and McClelland do entail opportunities for general advancement, it is hard to imagine how they should have been compatible with societies predominantly based on a collectively oriented, rural socio-economic structure. Nevertheless, I believe that even today some aspects of this theory could be partly recycled without sacrificing the traditional societal tissue; however, the idea that development can only be guaranteed through industrialisation would need to be discarded.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Modernisation Theory
• Dependency Theory
• Neo-classical Counter-revolution
• Development: A Multifaceted Concept
• Case Studies: East Asia, Nigeria and Cuba
• Conclusion
• Bibliography

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This paper aims to analyze the development successes and failures of specific countries, examining whether particular development theories have been applied effectively. The analysis will focus on the main development theories, their strengths, and criticisms, followed by an exploration of different interpretations of "development." Case studies of East Asia, Nigeria, and Cuba will be used to illustrate development successes and failures in the context of development theory. The paper will conclude by discussing whether reality has indeed contradicted the predictions of development theory.

• Modernization Theory and its limitations
• Dependency Theory and its critiques
• The Neo-classical Counter-revolution and its impact
• Different understandings of "development"
• Case studies of development successes and failures

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The first chapter delves into Modernization Theory, a prominent development theory of the post-World War II era. It explores the theory's origins, its core tenets, and its potential for promoting general advancement. The chapter also examines the criticisms leveled against Modernization Theory, particularly its ethnocentric and elitist nature, and discusses the theory's limitations in addressing the specific needs of developing countries.

The second chapter focuses on Dependency Theory, a counter-revolutionary theory that emerged from the South. It examines the theory's origins, its key arguments, and its critique of the international economic system. The chapter also discusses the limitations of Dependency Theory, including its failure to adequately address internal structural problems and its lack of practical solutions for improving the situation of developing countries.

The third chapter explores the Neo-classical Counter-revolution, a return to the core principles of Modernization Theory. It examines the factors that contributed to this shift, including the debt crisis of the 1980s, the limited success of nationalization and inward-looking measures, and the rise of globalization. The chapter also discusses the potential dangers of the Washington Consensus, a set of economic policies associated with the Neo-classical Counter-revolution.

The fourth chapter examines the multifaceted nature of the term "development." It explores different interpretations of development, including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund's focus on economic growth and the United Nations Development Programme's broader approach that considers extra-economic factors such as life expectancy and literacy. The chapter also discusses the challenges of defining common developmental goals and the potential dangers of a Westernized notion of development.

Schlüsselwörter

The key terms and focus themes of this text include development theory, modernization theory, dependency theory, neo-classical counter-revolution, development, economic growth, social development, inequality, globalization, case studies, East Asia, Nigeria, Cuba, and the Washington Consensus. The paper explores the successes and failures of development theories in different contexts, examining the challenges of achieving sustainable development in a globalized world.

• College: Dublin City University
• Grade: Honours
• Author: Iris Schoenauer-Alvaro (Author)
• Publication Year: 2003
• Pages: 16
• Catalog Number: V112831
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640124527
• ISBN (Book): 9783640124978
• Language: English
• Tags: Development, Theory