Modernization Vs. Dependency Theory

LDC Advisement: Modernization Theory vs Dependency Theory

The path to modernization is one never clearly defined. The following report will attempt to analyze and critique our nation’s potential options concerning social and fiscal policy and use this information in an attempt to recommend future policy agenda.

We will be dealing with primarily two theories on national (i.e. LDC) policy - modernization theory and dependency theory. Both have their own sets of costs and benefits as well as they do policy approaches. But before we go further, we must compare the two in attempt to see if either would compromise our government’s mandate.

Currently our nation has found itself at a crossroads between the progress the western world has to offer and our own historical values and cultural integrity. We have various entities prodding us toward opposite ends of the spectrum. Our foreign investors wish only for further industrialization and perhaps political stability to further their own aims while certain conservative elements at home fear we our losing our cultural identity. A modernist approach would align itself with that of our foreign investors and MNC’s operating within our country. The theory claims that our society suffers from being traditional in so far as that we sacrifice economic and industrial progress by placing too great a focus on our cultural heritage (which largely includes religious ideals). The theory goes on to state that in order to modernize we must make further efforts to secularize our governmental processes and as have many western-industrialized nations separate church and state to as great a deal as possible#. While such an approach may satisfy foreign monetary interests we run a very real risk of a political backlash due to this cultural-imperialism of the west. If this backlash were to lead to internal instability we may not only scare off potential foreign investments but also compromise our own legitimacy to rule. This may effectively place our state in a worse position than with which we began!

The approach of the dependencistas however would allow for much greater cultural preservation though it is an approach not as much favored by the western powers-that-be. Dependency theory supports the notion that the western world wishes to impose its customs/ideals/etc. upon all - regardless of the cult...

... middle of paper ...

...e recommendation entails as follows: The country needs to set both short and long-term goals for itself, each based on a specific theory of development. In the near future we need to ensure internal political stability while adopting a modernization approach to development. Groups that may present opposition to any resulting cultural changes need to be dealt with in some way - preferably a peaceful way, as we make our country more attractive to western investment. As more revenue/educational-opportunity/technological-exposure/etc. becomes available we should begin reinvesting in the infrastructure of our nation via ISI. The increased capital and knowledge we will have gained as the result of cooperation with the west should allow us to be much more competitive in the international marketplace. Specialization in a high-tech field could help us see further autonomy in the international realm.

Education, goal-setting, and political stability will all be of top priority if our development plans wish to have a chance of succeeding. If we can maintain focus in our policy, we should be able to achieve much greater levels of development with only minimal cultural disintegration.