Comparison, Contrasts and Similarities Between the Modernization and the Dependency Theory

Introduction

 With the world growing rapidly all across the globe and the enhanced integration of countries there has been very brisk development in the past six decades. Development has seen significant haste after the World War II (Rapley, 2007). John Rapley (2007) too has tried to explain that the new theories like Modernization Theory and Dependency Theory form the past try to explain the relationship existing between various countries in the world and why there exist a difference between the Third World countries and the developing countries.In this context only we refer to the Modernisation Theory and the Dependency Theory which do have some similarities although the contrasts are more between them. Both the theories throw light on their views regarding the   modern world and the existing relationships and differences between the Third World nations and developing countries (Liddlw, 1997).

With the help of effective comparison between both these theories it would be simple to explain and understand the recent trends in the international relationships and the outlook of future world. Along with this these theories help in assessment of the current situation along with the relationships which exist between the undeveloped and developing nations in objective manner because of the differences which exist between the two countries.

Comparison and Contrast between Modernization and Dependency Theories

There exist very substantial differences between the Modernization Theory and The Dependency theory. It has also been found sometimes that both the theories are antagonistic to each other regarding their views about the international relationships and the development of the world too. There are major differences between the two theories especially in relation to the connection between the developed and developing nations. In fact it has been noticed that the major differences between the Modernization Theory and Dependency Theory exist from the origin of the Dependency Theory itself which have been created in response to the Modernization Theory (Theory, Dependency Theory v. Modernization, 2007). When we do the analysis of the differences between the two theories the major difference which is found is that the Modernization Theory views the world development and the association between the developing and the developed countries is that of potentially equal countries and these countries are at different stages of development at present. To state it more accurately Modernization Theory specifies that and is very much fixed about the fact that the Western nations are well- developed. According to the Modernization Theory the western ways of development are found to be very successful and thriving and it supports the perspective that there is no other alternative way of development which exists. This is the reason why the supporters of Modernization theory emphasise the importance of developing a mutual cooperation between developing and developed countries so that the developing nations can come closer to the developed countries. Thus the fact which is stated over here is that Modernization Theory underlines and states the inevitability of scrounging the experience possessed by developed countries in the West by the developing Third World Nations (Scott, 1995). Basically the need of the hour is that the Third World nations should blindly follow the developed western nations as examples in order to achieve prosperity economically, socially and culturally too. In order to achieve this goal it is mandatory for the developing countries to develop cooperation in all the spheres of life which should include culture, social, economic, education and politics relations with the western nations. On the other hand the western countries being much more advanced than the developing countries should assist them to achieve highest level of development through various aspects of technical assistance, consulting and education to the Third World countries. Therefore according to the Modernization Theory, the modernisation of the developing countries politically and socio-economically taking examples of western countries as examples is the only key to solve the problem of backwardness of the developing or poor countries. The reason being the western ways of development according to the Modernization Theory is the right way to achieve prosperity (Modernization theory and Dependency theory, 2005).

 While the Dependency Theory stands in striking contrast to the Modernization Theory and highlights the fact that association between the developed and developing nations is not simply based upon the mutual assistance between them which keeps on growing rather it is based upon reliance of developing nations on the Western nations. To elaborate the fact according to the Dependency Theory it is evident that the Western countries are much more developed and superior than the Third World nations. The developing countries are thus being forced to choose this way of development however they are not willing choosing to follow the developed countries as examples of development. They do so to become the part of the world community and to avoid the isolation of the nation or this is even more drastically seen as high level intervention of developed nations in their policies. Therefore the supporters of Dependency Theory believe that Western countries impose their politics and rules on the developing nations. This depicts that the Third World countries are being forced to follow and accept the western norms and standards and nay kind of disobedience by the developing nations can lead to cancellation of economic sanctions or worse still it can also result in military intervention by the developed nations (Schelkle, 2000). Thus the Dependency Theory completely denies and opposes any development in western manner as a cure for any kinds of problems existing in developing countries. They believe that such kind of growing dependence of the developing countries on the developed countries makes the socio-economic breakthroughs impossible.Similarities between the Modernization theory and Dependency Theory

It has been found that the Dependency theory grew due to the criticism of the Modernisation Theory by the supporters of Dependency Theory. The first main similarity which exists between the two is that both discuss about the prominent gap present between the developed and developing countries. Both the Dependency Theory and Modernization Theory state that the  due to very high development in the Western countries they stand out as  world leaders,  which impacts all the aspects and spheres of life if we analyse it practically , covering economic, social , political and  cultural lives too (Leys, 1996) . Therefore there is a strong bond between the developing and developed nations.

 Furthermore the similarity between the two theories states that the experiences of the western nations are being followed by the developing and undeveloped countries. These experiences start developing in the same way as that of developed nations, but then too they are unable to catch-up with the fast development trends of developed countries and therefore lag behind in the world of development.

 Another fact which both theories state is that there exist an unequal relationship and association between the developed and developing countries. Although their views regarding the dependence of developing nations on the developed countries are a bit contrasting, but both the theories basically point towards the dominant position and ranking of western countries which leaves very less space for the others to adopt for development except for their own western way of development.

 Therefore it becomes imperative to mention that both the theories are very ethnocentric in some or the other way because both of them ignore any other practical way of development of the Third World nations. Instead both always keep on stating that the western countries development is the only example which the developing countries need to follow whether willingly or forcible, while on the other hand they do not look for any alternative ways for the development of Third World countries (Preston, 1996). It becomes all the more important to mention the case of China over here which is progressing fatly economically and that too without following the dominant western way of development. But China does not meet the basic assumptions of both the theories (Rapley, 2007).

Conclusion

Thus from the above discussion it is evident that the Modernization and the Dependency Theories are quite similar in their views related to the modern world. That is both the theories accept the fact that the western ways of development makes the western nations the leaders of the world. This is the reason why the developed countries rule the modern world. While the developing nations are considered to be examples of socio-economic and political backwardness. Both the theories agree to the fact that the mutual cooperation between the developing and western countries is growing leading to integration. Modernization Theory believes that social equality is the result of material growth while Dependency Theory believes that eth dependent country enhances social inequality which can lead to political authoritarianism (Modernization theory and Dependency theory, 2005).However the Modernisation Theory visualises this integration and cooperation as the conscious and voluntary actions which are being taken by the developing nations because they believe that the western style of modernisation is the only solution to overcome their backwardness. On the other hand the supporters of Dependency Theory believe that the developed nations impose these integration and cooperation on the developing countries  because they simply try to achieve maximum benefits from such kind of cooperation’s which they create with Third World countries (Gilman, 2003). The developed nations use westernisation as a simple tool to gain control over and enhance the dependency of the developing nations on the developed ones.

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