SOCI 1101 Dependency Theory Notes

Dependency theory lecture Notes:

I. Introduction
A. Definition of Dependency theory
- Dependency theory is a theoretical framework that seeks to explain the
persistent economic disparities between the wealthy developed countries and the
poorer developing countries. It suggests that the wealth of the developed
countries is derived from the exploitation of the resources and labor of the
developing countries, which are often referred to as the "periphery" in the core-
periphery model of Dependency theory.
- The importance of understanding Dependency theory lies in its potential to
provide insight into the root causes of global inequality and underdevelopment.
By examining the ways in which the developed countries benefit from the
exploitation of the developing countries, Dependency theory can help to shed
light on the mechanisms that perpetuate the gap between the rich and the poor.


B. Importance of understanding Dependency theory

- The importance of understanding Dependency theory lies in its potential to
provide insight into the root causes of global inequality and underdevelopment.
Dependency theory suggests that the wealth of the developed countries is
derived from the exploitation of the resources and labor of the developing
countries. This exploitation, in turn, hinders the ability of the developing countries
to develop their own economies and improve the living standards of their
populations.
- By examining the ways in which the developed countries benefit from the
exploitation of the developing countries, Dependency theory can help to shed
light on the mechanisms that perpetuate the gap between the rich and the poor.
This understanding can be useful in developing strategies for reducing global
inequality and promoting more equitable and sustainable development.
- Additionally, Dependency theory can provide a critical perspective on the policies
and actions of the developed countries, particularly in regards to their

, relationships with the developing countries. It can help to highlight the ways in
which the developed countries may be contributing to the ongoing exploitation
and underdevelopment of the developing countries, and can serve as a basis for
advocating for more equitable and just global policies.




II. Background of Dependency theory
A. Historical origins of Dependency theory
- The historical origins of Dependency theory can be traced back to the colonial
period, when the European powers colonized and exploited the resources and
labor of the countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The economic and
political dominance of the colonizers over the colonized created a legacy of
dependence and underdevelopment that has persisted in many of these
countries even after the end of colonial rule.
- In the post-World War II period, Dependency theory emerged as a response to
the failure of the modernization theory to adequately explain the persistent
economic disparities between the developed and developing countries.
Modernization theory argued that all countries could progress towards
development through a similar process of industrialization and modernization, but
Dependency theory challenged this assumption by highlighting the role of
external factors, such as exploitation and inequality, in hindering the development
of the developing countries.
- Some of the key contributors to the development of Dependency theory include
Latin American scholars and economists, such as Raúl Prebisch, André Gunder
Frank, and Fernando Henrique Cardoso, who were among the first to
systematically analyze the economic relationships between the developed and
developing countries from a Dependency perspective.



B. Key contributors to the development of Dependency theory