DVA1501 ASSIGNMENT 2
FOR SEMESTER 1 2025
WRITE IN YOUR OWN WORDS!
FEND TUTORIALS
, Question 1: Provide an explanation of modernisation theory and decolonial
theory and the context in which they emerged. (10 marks)
Modernisation Theory emerged in the post-World War II era, particularly in the 1950s
and 1960s, as part of the broader development discourse. Its proponents, such as Walt
Rostow, suggested that societies progress through a linear sequence of stages, from
traditional to modern. According to this theory, the process of development mirrors the
path taken by Western industrialized nations, with economic growth, technological
advancement, and social modernization serving as indicators of progress. It was based
on the assumption that all countries could and should follow the same trajectory of
development, which was grounded in Western ideals of industrial capitalism, political
democracy, and economic prosperity.
On the other hand, Decolonial Theory emerged in response to the effects of
colonialism and imperialism, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s, as countries gained
independence from colonial powers. Scholars such as Aníbal Quijano and Walter
Mignolo critiqued the Eurocentric foundations of development theories, arguing that
colonialism had distorted local knowledge systems and ways of life. Decolonial theorists
advocated for an epistemic break from Western development models and emphasized
the importance of recovering indigenous knowledge and local practices. Unlike
modernisation theory, which sought to impose a one-size-fits-all model of development,
decolonial theory stresses the need for a pluralistic approach that takes into account
diverse histories, cultures, and geographies.
Both theories emerged within specific historical contexts: modernisation theory
developed in the post-WWII context of Western dominance and the Cold War, while
decolonial theory arose in reaction to the postcolonial realities of countries seeking to
establish identities free from colonial domination.
Question 2: Discuss how decolonial theory challenges modernisation theory. (5
marks)
1|Page
FOR SEMESTER 1 2025
WRITE IN YOUR OWN WORDS!
FEND TUTORIALS
, Question 1: Provide an explanation of modernisation theory and decolonial
theory and the context in which they emerged. (10 marks)
Modernisation Theory emerged in the post-World War II era, particularly in the 1950s
and 1960s, as part of the broader development discourse. Its proponents, such as Walt
Rostow, suggested that societies progress through a linear sequence of stages, from
traditional to modern. According to this theory, the process of development mirrors the
path taken by Western industrialized nations, with economic growth, technological
advancement, and social modernization serving as indicators of progress. It was based
on the assumption that all countries could and should follow the same trajectory of
development, which was grounded in Western ideals of industrial capitalism, political
democracy, and economic prosperity.
On the other hand, Decolonial Theory emerged in response to the effects of
colonialism and imperialism, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s, as countries gained
independence from colonial powers. Scholars such as Aníbal Quijano and Walter
Mignolo critiqued the Eurocentric foundations of development theories, arguing that
colonialism had distorted local knowledge systems and ways of life. Decolonial theorists
advocated for an epistemic break from Western development models and emphasized
the importance of recovering indigenous knowledge and local practices. Unlike
modernisation theory, which sought to impose a one-size-fits-all model of development,
decolonial theory stresses the need for a pluralistic approach that takes into account
diverse histories, cultures, and geographies.
Both theories emerged within specific historical contexts: modernisation theory
developed in the post-WWII context of Western dominance and the Cold War, while
decolonial theory arose in reaction to the postcolonial realities of countries seeking to
establish identities free from colonial domination.
Question 2: Discuss how decolonial theory challenges modernisation theory. (5
marks)
1|Page
