Modernisation according to Reyes (cited by Shareia 2015:79), is a theory that uses a systematic process to move underdeveloped countries to a more sophisticated level of development. The country evolves to be more like Western countries which are More Developed Countries. Dependency Theory was created to address and fix the issue regarding lack of development, which the Modernisation Theory was unable to address. The Modernisation Theory formed in response to the prescriptions of development economists that failed according to Rapley (cited by Shareia, 2015:79). The Dependency Theory formed because of the failing Modernisation Theory. Modernisation Theory focuses on the importance of political development in the economic growth of a country, and it also focuses on social and cultural reforms. The old cultures are changed in order to allow for development in Lower Developed Countries. This theory is applicable to political development and differs from development economics which is based on a basic first world country model. Dependency theory focuses on the entirety of society and system periphery. This can help to visualise the differences in the underdeveloped and developed countries. The world economic system of capitalism is used, and this decreases economic growth causing inequality with regards to income. Modernisation Theory explains inequality by looking at different values and beliefs held by different countries. It also explains that some countries are poor because they lack economic development. Some countries are poor because they are exploited by developed countries. Both the Modernisation Theory and the Dependency Theory focus on the development of underdeveloped countries into developed countries. Both theories also look at the gap between developed and underdeveloped countries. Developed nation ways of doing things are followed in both theories. Both theories deal with inequality.

Shareia, B.F. 2015. Theories of Development. International Journal of Language and Linguistics. 2(1):78-90.