Modernisation

Dependency theories

The focus is on the political; Cultural changes; Imposition of western values and policies.

The focus is on the totality of society & social system periphery.

The problem of underdevelopment lies in the un-industrialization.

The problem of underdevelopment lies in the First World and Imperialism.

This theory views development as a systematic process.

This theory makes use of the elements of neo-Marxist theory

Inequality is explained by differing value systems and ideas and immaturity of systems

Inequality is explained by regions and structural conditions.

They are criticised for the assumption that all traditional societies will without question/ conflict accept western values, norms and lifestyles, the paradigm does not seem to see any form of conflict

The dependency theory has been criticised for inadequately accounting for unexpected capitalist successes in the periphery

Modernization is a process of social, economic and cultural transformation in which a country “evolves” from pre-industrial or the underdeveloped status to a modern society following the prescriptions of the More Developed Countries (MDCs) like Western Europe and North American countries.

Dependence - a situation in which the development and expansion of one economy (metropolis) is at the expense of another economy (satellites) to which the former is subjected. The development status of MDCs can have either a positive or a negative effect on the immediate development of LDCs.