The political economy of africa and dependency theory 67 patrick bond 9. Dependency theory originates with two papers published in 1949 one by hans singer, one by raul prebisch in which the authors observe that the terms of trade for underdeveloped countries relative to the developed countries had deteriorated over time. There are a number of propositions, all of which are contestable, which form the core of dependency theory. Dependency theory, which originated in the 1950s, has singer and prebisch as the progenitors. The underlying theory of development for my course in the graduate faculty was based.
Dependency theory germinated from the two publications in 1949 by hans singer and paul prebisch singer. Underdevelopment is a condition fundamentally different from undevelopment. Andre gunder frank 1971 argues that developing nations have failed to develop not because of internal barriers to development as modernization theorists argue, but because the developed west has systematically underdeveloped. Dependency theory, which originated in the 1950s, has singer and prebisch as the progenitors and emerged as a result of the growing dissatisfaction with modernity theories that had propounded. The dependency and worldsystems perspectives on development. The central propositions of dependency theory there are a number of propositions, all of which are contestable, which form the core of dependency theory. Mar 15, 20 there are certain criticisms of the dependency theory by certain scholars.
Similar ideas were also being formulated by a british economist hans singer. I wish to thank raul prebisch, hans singer, enrique iglesias, and the ecla staff in santiago, chile, for their kind assistance in my research for this paper, and albert hirschman for a critique of it. The singerprebisch thesis propounded by hans singer and raul. This theory is dependency can be defined as an explanation of the economic development of a state in terms of the external influencespolitical, economic, and culturalon national development policies. In conclusion, dependency theory is influential in explaining the international inequality in terms of economy. Assuming such a prohibition could be achieved, poor, undeveloped nations would have to be banned from engaging in any sort of incoming economic exchanges with more powerful nations. According to this theory, there is an internal link between media, audience and large social system. More specifically, this theory holds that the richer nations increase in wealth at the expense of the poorer nations. The answer as he perceived it, was to promote structural change and industrialization in his own country.
Structuralism and dependency 423 given argentinas position in the vanguard of exportled growth, it is not surprising that the most in. Posted on october 30, 20 november 2, 20 by md alauddin. Dependency theory is one theory as to why some countries are poor and others are rich. Distinctions and critiques posted on october 30, 20 november 2, 20 by md alauddin since the world war ii development and underdevelopment words have been frequently used in the economic and political literature. The origins and interpretation of the prebischsinger thesis core reader. Dependency theory today 72 miguel angel centeno 10. A remedy for dependency theory or foreign dependency would likely require global coordination and agreement. It holds that the poverty of countries of the south countries of latin america, africa, and parts of. From this, the theory also forecast a long trend to slow down production and to speed up income polarisation. The opinions and errors herein are, of course, my own.
The origins and interpretation of the prebisch singer thesis john toye and richard toye the prebisch singer thesis is generally taken to be the proposition that the net barter terms of trade between primary products raw materials and manufactures have been subject to a longrun downward trend. Sir hans singer economist who saw how terms of trade marginalised the worlds poorest people. Dependency theory forecast that the world system will tend to concentrate production in the hands of relatively few transnational corporations, making the world an oligopoly market. Dependency theorists sought to explain persistent levels of underdevelopment in latin america by situating national economies within their global economic context. Dependency theory originates with two papers published in 1949 one by hans singer, one by raul prebisch in which the. Conversations on dependency theory institute for new economic. Donor aid has emerged as a symbol of dependency, supporting the argument on the relevance of dependency theory. Mar 26, 2014 presentation made by ibhl geography students at ism. This theory has been highly influenced by the work of hans singer and raul prebisch. Raul prebisch april 17, 1901 april 29, 1986 was an argentine economist known for his contributions to structuralist economics such as the prebischsinger hypothesis, which formed the basis of economic dependency theory. Dependency theory and chinese special economic zones in africa 93 honita.
It rationalized state dominance high import barriers, a closed economy, and a general demotion of the market. Dependency theory is also associated with prominent marxist. Dependency theory is also associated with prominent marxist scholars, such as andre gunder frank, paul a. Dependency theory this concept originated from latin america. What are advantages and disadvantages of dependency theory. It is, broadly speaking, a marxist theory of development. Just like any other theory, dependency theory has its share of strengths and weaknesses. Rising nazi violence and the murder of his father prompted singer to flee to istanbul in 1932.
In their papers, raul and singer explain the terms of trade between the developed and the underdeveloped countries. Dependency theory, an approach to understanding economic underdevelopment that emphasizes the putative constraints imposed by the global political and economic order. Latin american dependency theory global south studies, u. Pdf on oct 15, 2017, scott nicholas romaniuk and others. The origins and aims of dependency theory ukessays. As a concept, dependency is widely used by social scientists to explain the unequal relationship between the third world and the metropolitan nations. After a long and illustrious career, sir hans singer passed away quietly in. While dependency theory as a conscious, explicit approach to development can be considered a. It is viewed as an opposing view to the notion of a free market economy as it points out deficiencies in that system. Most of the dependency theorists use the centreperiphery paradigm for this purpose. So division of social science, hong kong university of science and technology, clear water bay, hong kong keywords. Development, dependency, modernization, social change, gunder frank, the third world, developing countries, capitalism, imperialism, worldsystems. The terms of trade would always move against the periphery, and this would act as a form of exploitation. Hans singer, enrique iglesias, and the ecla staff in santiago, chile, for their kind assistance in my research for this paper, and albert hirsch.
Dependency theory is alive in different guises 86 matias vernengo 12. The dependency theory is expanded from the theory of uses and gratification. Home accounting dictionary what is the dependency theory. If univeralism is seen as the projection of norms that acquire a global standard, it is not by chance that. From durkheim to the international monetary fund imf, we have, time after time, come to witness. Dependency theory developed in the 1960s to explain the problems of development in the third world. It is termed the hans singer raul prebisch thesis and was born in 1949. Raul prebisch and the origins of the doctrine of unequal. Prebisch found that increases in the wealth of the richer nations appeared to be at the expense of the poorer ones.
Singer studied under joseph schumpeter and spiethoff at the university of bonn. Thereafter, raul prebisch published another work that explained the dependency theory and its shortcomings. The more things change, the more they stay the same 79 ian taylor 11. This theory gained credibility in explaining ghanas development after 1981. Dependencia rules the traditional statecontrol approach to markets in latin america before the late1990s was greatly influenced by what was known as dependencia, or dependency theory. Donor aid has emerged as a nuanced form of dependency on western countries.
Raul prebisch 19011986 was known primarily for his work as a scholar specializing in international and development economics and for his leadership as an executive in various agencies of the united nations. This is done using a variety of means such as political and economic interventions. Raul prebisch april 17, 1901 april 29, 1986 was an argentine economist known for his contributions to structuralist economics such as the prebisch singer hypothesis, which formed the basis of economic dependency theory. This term is used to indicate countries that are less economically developed than the united. What are the 5 main assumptionspropositions of dependency theory 1 from pols 232 at colorado state university. Dependency theory is the notion that resources flow from a periphery of poor and underdeveloped states to a core of wealthy states, enriching the latter at the expense of the former.
Dependency theorydependency theory became popular in the 1960s as a response to research by raul prebisch. The dependency theory states that rich countries have used resources from poor countries to become more rich. Ahiakpor examines the theory, and points out its failure, not only in ghana, but elsewhere. It refutes the western, capitalist, theory of the basis of unequal development between the west and the rest of the world after the second ww2, as rationalized by the west, led by america esteva, 1992. He does quote hans singer, and some other structuralist authors, in passing. His greatest contribution to economics is known as the prebisch thesis. Studies by hans singer documented a secular deterioration.
The dependency theory offers a very interesting and penetrating analysis of politics in the underdeveloped countries and also of the nature and scope of relations between them and the developed countries. This post is a brief summary of the dependency theory view of development and underdevelopment. Finally, dependence theory encompasses certain scholars such as karl marx, friedrich engels, vladimir lenin, fernand braudel, giovanni arrigi, samir amin, hans singer, frank gunder and raul prebisch. Hans singer and raul prebisch, the prominent dependency theorists, observed that the terms of trade for underdeveloped countries, relative to the developed. Choose from 271 different sets of dependency theory flashcards on quizlet. Raul prebisch was born on april 17, 1901, in tucuman, argentina. Matias vernengo technology, finance and dependency 6 evident.
The idea was developed by raul prebisch and hans singer in the late 1940s. Theyre often referred to as the prebisch singer thesis. Referring the conclusion of hans singer and raul prebisch, they brought the idea of declining terms of trade for the developing countries in international exchange. Vincent ferraro, mount holyoke college south hadley, ma july 1996 background dependency theory developed in the late 1950s under the guidance of the director of the united nations economic commission for latin america, raul prebisch. Economic commission for latin america unecla, and development economist hans. The dependency and worldsystems perspectives on development alvin y.
It is a central contention of dependency theory that poor states are impoverished and rich ones enriched by the way poor states are integrated into the world system. Dependency theory is the notion that resources flow from a periphery of poor and. Singerprebisch thesis would not only form the cornerstone of dependency theory and later world systems theory. But before coming to the question of the relevance of dependency theory. Presentation made by ibhl geography students at ism. Latin american radical political economy in retrospect pdf. Wealthy nations are able to control poorer nations and make them dependent. Feb 04, 2017 history of dependency theory dependency theory originates with two papers published in 1949 one by hans singer, one by raul prebisch in which the authors observe that the terms of trade for underdeveloped countries relative to the developed countries had deteriorated over time.
Feb 28, 2006 sir hans singer economist who saw how terms of trade marginalised the worlds poorest people. Global south studies latin american dependency theory. Baran, and paul sweezy, and world systems theorists, such as immanuel wallerstein. Learn dependency theory with free interactive flashcards. Economic structuralism raul prebisch extra material coursera. The latter term simply refers to a condition in which resources are not being used. History of dependency theory dependency theory originates with two papers published in 1949 one by hans singer, one by raul prebisch in which the.
The first documented information on dependency theory was published in 1949 by hans singer. The origins and interpretation of the prebischsinger thesis core. Dependency theory and modernization theory dependency theory is a mixture of various theories, including world systems theory, historical structure theory, and neomarxist theory. The dependency theory, introduced by raul prebisch in the late 1950s, is an economic concept that identifies a financial dependence between the rich and the poor nations. The political economy of africa and dependency theory. Just like any other theory, dependency theory has its share of strengths and. The origins and interpretation of the prebischsinger thesis john toye and richard toye the prebischsinger thesis is generally taken to be the proposition that the net barter terms of trade between primary products raw materials and manufactures have been subject to a longrun downward trend. Of german jewish extraction, hans wolfgang singer was born in elberfeld, in the rhineland, germany. He revisited his theory of declining terms of trade, to give more attention to the part played by.
A common term used in the news and social media today is the developing world. Wealthy nations are able to control poorer nations and make them. Excerpt from commanding heights by daniel yergin and joseph stanislaw, 2002 ed. Regional powers in a changing world by andres rivarola puntigliano introduction it has been said that universalism, is a gift of the powerful to the weak 1.