Comparative Analysis: Modernization Theory and Dependency Theory

This essay provides a comparative analysis of Modernization Theory and Dependency Theory, two prominent sociological frameworks for understanding global development. Modernization Theory posits that societies evolve through stages, with Western nations as the model for progress, focusing on economic growth, industrialization, and the adoption of Western values. Dependency Theory, in contrast, critiques Modernization Theory, arguing that global inequalities stem from historical power imbalances and the exploitation of developing nations by developed ones, often through colonialism and neocolonialism. The essay explores the similarities and differences between these theories, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses, and their relevance to contemporary global issues. It examines how both theories view the roles of developed and developing countries, the dynamics of their interactions, and the potential for economic growth and development in various contexts. The essay also discusses the ethnocentric nature of both theories and concludes by examining the implications of these theories for understanding global development and the challenges faced by developing nations.

COMPARISON AND CONTRAST OF MODERNIZATION
THEORY WITH DEPENDENCY THEORY

Table of Content
Introduction:...............................................................................................................................................2
Conclusion:..................................................................................................................................................7
Reference:...................................................................................................................................................8

Introduction:
The prime function of any theory is to provide a logical explanation of the various social
phenomena. A theory can be understood as established relationship between two or more
concepts. Theories explain why and how an event occurs.( Gereffi & Wyman, 2014). In this
regard, through the following assignment we will try to understand two major theories of
sociology, the modernization theory and the dependency theory. In addition to that we will try to
strike a comparison between the two by evaluating the pros and cons of the same and establish
its importance in the current global situation.
Modernization theory underlines the processes of transformation or transition of oriental
backward societies to modern societies. In other words modernization theory states the actions
taken by the countries of South America, Africa and Asia to develop its social political and
economical system modeled on those developed by the North American and the other European
countries back in the nineteenth century. Since 1950s, the Modernization theory has been one of
the major sociological yardsticks to gauge a nation’s development or underdevelopment.
Modernization theory tries to understand and analyze the ways backwards societies have become
modernized with the course of time, especially their economic modernization. For this purpose
development in their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is taken into consideration. In addition to
GDP, industrial growth and mechanization too are taken into consideration. (Larrain,
2013). Modernization theorists try to unearth the social economic and political consequence of
economic growth and also try to understand phenomena congenial for economical development.
Modernization Theory does not mean a society must aim to become “current”, but objectifies to
understand the particular societal change that may occur as the society moves towards national
development.
Many a time modernization, industrialization and development are erroneously considered as
synonymous words. For example industrialization, is an element of modernization. It is the use
of inanimate objects to increase the pace of production, accelerate manufacturing process, job
diversification and increase in wage labor. Industrialization may or may not exist in relation to
social, political or cultural modernization. (Pennycook,2017).

Development, like industrialization implies economic growth, however modern methods of
manufacturing or other components stated by the modernization theory may not be necessary for
this growth. For example modernization theory define modernization in relation to economic
outcome per capita, other theories may define economic modernization in terms of self
dependent production capabilities, equal wealth distribution or the ability to meet the basic
economic need of survival.( Ragin, 2013). While modernization theory may attribute democratic
or capitalist institution as major elements of modern society other theories may not. For example
Dependency theory focuses attention on the upliftment or development of the less privileged.
Modernization theory states that the process of modernization of a society takes place through an
evolutionary process. The evolutionary process is based on various patterns of social
differentiation and reestablishment of different structural and cultural elements necessary for the
maintenance of the society. According to this theory contemporary society are at a premodern
level of the evolutionary process. Gradually such countries will achieve their economic growth
and move on to change their social, political and cultural structure in lines to those of the
European countries.( Peet, Hartwick, 2015). As the process accelerates, technologies from these
western countries will be imported by the developing countries to push forward the evolutionary
process. The theory holds that as technology not only leads to economic growth but also
contributes to the various cultural social and other structural change of the society.
Owing to the modernization theory and other related theory a notion has spread its roots in the
mind of the commoners. This notion states that economic growth and development of every
nation must follow or at least be modeled on the growth structure developed by the European of
North American countries. People fail to realize that every county may follow diverse process to
achieve economic growth and that the term itself can be relative. For example, a county may
hold the growth of its indigenous industries as the icon of economic development against the
popular belief of modern mechanized production.( Thapa & Sæbø,2014). This relative idea of
economic development and the belief that there can be diverse ways of attaining it led
sociological theorists to formulate the dependency theory.

Developed in the 1950, under the leadership of United Nations Economic Commission, Raul
Prebisch, Dependency Theory aimed to understand the causes behind the poor economic
conditions of the developing countries.( Coronil,2015). Prebisch and his colleagues were
disturbed by the fact that economic development of the advanced countries did not did not lead
to the same for the poorer nations. In contrary to that, economic prosperity of the rich counties
often unleashed negative consequence for the developing counties, leading to their downfall.
Dependency theory holds historical economic events have encouraged developing or backward
countries to fall back on the advanced ones. It is this dependency of the developing nation on the
developed ones which prevent the former from formulating structures and institutions necessary
for their transition to industrial countries. Dependency theory underlines colonialism which
resulted due to the unequal power structure between the developed and the less developed
countries. During this period new industrialized colonies spread out in the areas which were not
under the rule of the major colonial giants.( Nagoda,2015).
The major impact of colonization was that the new colonies gained more power and influence at
the cost of the developing countries, rendering them poor and powerless.
Though colonialism met with its downfall after the Second World War, its legacy continues
under the name of neocolonialism. The so called backward economies were now dominated in
the name of international finance and capitalism. As a result some developing counties own a
large amount of money to their advanced counterparts, whereas others are obliged to make
market for the finished products of the advanced countries.
The theory finds its base on three major beliefs. Firstly, the theory divides the international state
into two blocks- the dominant and the dependant, center or the periphery, metropolitan or the
satellite. The dominant estates are the advanced countries (North American and European
countries) and the dependant one are those countries of Africa, Asia or Latin America. Secondly
the theory holds that external elements or forces are of prime importance for the economic
activities within the country. The external forces may include the operations of various
multinational organizations, foreign economic assistance, communication, international goods
market and multiple other ways by which the dominant economies can fulfill their economic
interest in foreign countries. Finally the theory holds that the relationship between the dominant

and the dependant states are dynamic in nature since the communication between them not only
underlines but intensifies unequal power distribution. Moreover the roots of the theory run very
deep in the sands of history particularly in the process of “internationalization of capitalism”
Dependency theory was developed as a response of the absolute criticism of the Modernization
theory. Thus this lays the foundation of the multiple differences that these two theories might
have. However there are a fair few similarities between the two as well.
The most important similarity between the two theories is that both hold that the European or
North American countries are the leaders of the world. Owing to their great technological
development they have been able to achieve social, economic and political advancements. They
are way ahead of the developing economies of the third world countries. Both the theories agree
that the experiences and history of the developed countries are imitated by those of the
developing countries.( Fägerlind, & Saha, 2016). However, the later still fails to catch up to the
level of development achieved by the former and remain in the backdrop of the world
development. On the other hand the developed countries have a major role to play in the
integration of all the countries into a global platform. This platform encourages the interaction
between the developed and the developing countries. Both the theories opine that this interaction
is dynamic in nature.
Both the theories agree to the fact that the developing counties depend heavily on the developed
ones and that there exists an unequal power relation between the both. They also agree that it is
the Western world which holds a dominant position in the contemporary world; thereby limiting
the scope of other ways of development from coming to the forefront. Both the theories are
ethnocentric in nature, as they both ignore the possibility of methods, other than the ones
followed by the western country, for the economic development of the developing countries.
Both the theories believe that economic development of other countries will come by only if the
western methods of economic developments are followed. However there are other ways in
which development can be brought about. For example China has developed its economy
without the use of methods and structures used by the Western countries.( Zeng & Fang,2014).
Though both the modernization theory and the dependency theory have a lot of common
platforms they agree on, both of them diverge in a few points. Firstly Modernization theory

states that the developed and the developing countries are possibly equal which are right now at
different stages of development. In other words, this theory holds that the oriental world must
blindly copy the steps for economic development taken by the occident as there are no other
successful ways of ensuring economic growth. In order to do this, the developing countries must
keep all forms of communication channel and cooperation platforms open. These include
economic, social, political and educational spheres. It is the duty of the western countries being
in the advanced stages of development to assist the developing countries with technical
assistance and educational consultancy to achieve a high level of economic development. In
const to the opinions held by the modernization theory, Dependency theory states that the
relationship between the developed and the developing counties are not based on cooperation but
on modeling their development on that of the developed ones.( Wade,2017). The developing
counties follow the steps taken by the developed ones not because they want to neither because
they feel it is right. They imitate the steps taken by the western world to ensure that they are not
isolated in the world community and to prevent the western intervention in their domestic policy.
Thus from the above discussion it can be understood that modernization theory is easy to
understand. It gave people a direction to look towards. However this theory upholds the ideas of
colonialism. It ignores and looks down upon the ways by which developing countries have
achieved economic growth. The merit of the dependency theory lies in the fact that it
acknowledges the idea that certain economies are not progressing due to imperialism. It also
shows that advanced nations ensure that under developed nations stay that way. Though this
theory addresses the drawbacks of the modernization theory, it fails to touch upon other major
societal aspects.
Though there are few critics of the modernization theory, this theory is the most prevalent one in
the current context. This theory has proved to be effective in the development of backward
countries such as Tanzania. (Malatesta & Smith,2014).
The theory vouches for the diversification of economy. This means that income generation of
the country should not be dependant only on a particular sector. Tanzania is an agricultural
economy. Though there is an industrial sector, it is quite small focusing only on the production
of small scale consumer goods. Though the agriculture is the backbone of the country’s
economy, it is still quite underdeveloped lacking mechanization, storage facilities and poor

climatic conditions. All these factors thus make agricultural activities an irregular affair. Thus it
is important that Tanzania diversifies its economy by including mining, tourism and industrial
sector.
The theory also holds that adequate investments must be made in the social infrastructure.
According to the theory, the nation must make scope for the future generation by modernizing its
education system and incorporating equal formal education. In this respect Tanzania has a
teacher student ration of 49:1 which makes its unequal education distribution explicit. In addition
to education, health facilities must also be provided to the population. In this aspect too Tanzania
lags behind.( Rosa,2014). With a total of 6321 health facility all over the country, Tanzania is
incapable of providing state of art welfare facilities to the large population it shelters. Following
the attributes of the modernization theory, if Tanzania develops a better social infrastructure, it
will give rise to a healthier and education population.
Economic development is the key feature of the modernization theory. Thus major focus must
be diverted to this end by Tanzania. One way of achieving economic development is by
establishing an effective transport system. As effective transport facility helps in the smooth
transfer of raw materials to the manufacturing units and also ensures an effective transportation
of the finished products to the markets. (Marsh, 2014).Tanzania must develop its road facilities
as per international standards. The country must also make an effort to improve its road
conditions by distributing it equally throughout the country. Even though the county has airports,
there are inadequate planes to transports goods and frets to and fro the country. The inadequacies
of the transport facility have led to a slow growth of the industries by reducing the level of
exportation to other countries. Tanzania has to import more thus an unequal trade balance has
come into being.
Most of the developed countries have an established political secularism. In Tanzania there are
multiparty though the most dominant one is the CCM. The various parties have diverging
opinion leading to regular political conflict. It is important that the country addresses this
political concern at the quickest possible to move forward in the stage of development.
(Kyong,2017).

Conclusion:
Though critics opine that western influence is not the only path to development, other ways have
not proved to be very effective so far, through the example of China is well celebrated. The
bottom line of any theory is human development, thus till a theory more effective than
modernization theory is developed it is advisable to follow this tried and tested method.
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