International Development: Theories of Modernization, Dependency, Globalization Essay Example
Minhchau Truong
ID 125
Prof. Kevin Maclean
Midterm Exam
Citation
Black, Maggie. The No-Nonsense Guide to International Development. (London: New Internationalist Publications Ltd, 2007).
Naim, Moises. Illicit: How Smugglers, Traffickers, and Copycats are Hijacking the Global Economy. (New York: Anchor Books, 2005).
Reding, Nick. Methland: The Death and Life of an American Small Town. (New York: Bloomsbury, 2009).
Thurow, Roger and Scott Kilman. Enough: Why the World’s Poorest Starve in an Age of Plenty. (New York: Perseus Books, 2009).
1.) Modernization Theory was used to justify the process of decolonization and intervention by the United States, which had the ulterior motive of gaining access to new markets and thus boosting the national economy. The U.S. separated this theory from Cold War ideologies with the distinguishing feature that it emphasized GNP and technical measures. The theory is ethnocentric and is posited in the belief that there is a ceaseless struggle against scarcity and that underdeveloped nations must overcome this natural state. The role and ability of the developed state was framed by the teleological doctrine that began with preconditions to “take-off”, which was recognition that economic progress was necessary to move from “tradition” to “modernity” to the final “take-off”, to the “drive to maturity” (which was expected to be completed in 1-2 generations), to the “age of high-mass consumption” (similar to the historical patterns of the U.S.). The strengths of Modernization theory included its organized capitalism, integration into the world economy, and outlook of economic expansion. These changes were to be achieved through institutions and a shift from earlier colonial hierarchy and integration into the United Nations family (a de jure equality). However, the weaknesses overpower benefits. The theory naturalizes “underdevelopment” as something that can be changed
ID 125
Prof. Kevin Maclean
Midterm Exam
Citation
Black, Maggie. The No-Nonsense Guide to International Development. (London: New Internationalist Publications Ltd, 2007).
Naim, Moises. Illicit: How Smugglers, Traffickers, and Copycats are Hijacking the Global Economy. (New York: Anchor Books, 2005).
Reding, Nick. Methland: The Death and Life of an American Small Town. (New York: Bloomsbury, 2009).
Thurow, Roger and Scott Kilman. Enough: Why the World’s Poorest Starve in an Age of Plenty. (New York: Perseus Books, 2009).
1.) Modernization Theory was used to justify the process of decolonization and intervention by the United States, which had the ulterior motive of gaining access to new markets and thus boosting the national economy. The U.S. separated this theory from Cold War ideologies with the distinguishing feature that it emphasized GNP and technical measures. The theory is ethnocentric and is posited in the belief that there is a ceaseless struggle against scarcity and that underdeveloped nations must overcome this natural state. The role and ability of the developed state was framed by the teleological doctrine that began with preconditions to “take-off”, which was recognition that economic progress was necessary to move from “tradition” to “modernity” to the final “take-off”, to the “drive to maturity” (which was expected to be completed in 1-2 generations), to the “age of high-mass consumption” (similar to the historical patterns of the U.S.). The strengths of Modernization theory included its organized capitalism, integration into the world economy, and outlook of economic expansion. These changes were to be achieved through institutions and a shift from earlier colonial hierarchy and integration into the United Nations family (a de jure equality). However, the weaknesses overpower benefits. The theory naturalizes “underdevelopment” as something that can be changed