Sociological Development Theory

Sociological development is associated with the budding concern for political and economic development of the post-colonial world (McMichael, 2008). The social theories of development provide an analysis to societies (usually third world countries) which are undergoing a delayed transition to capitalist industrialisation (McMichael, 2008). This essay will show that there are diverse ways of conceptualising development, which has resulted to contrasting understandings of the role that trade and international relations play in development. Specifically, the social theories that will be discussed and contrasted are the modernisation theory and the dependency theory (Isbister, 2006). Both of these social theories conceptualise development differently

In this epoch, trade and international relations emerged between Europe and non- European societies. The contact between Europe (first world) and the countries they traded with (third world), moulded the construction of third world countries (Isbister, 2006). The impact of colonialism disorganized non-European societies, by restructuring their labour systems and exposing non-Europeans into slavery and handling cheap labour (McMichael, 2008). European countries essentially manipulated non-European countries with the implications of trade and international relations therefore, setting back the development of the non-European countries. The emergence of development was therefore, a necessity of non-European countries to advance politically and economically which started taking place in the post-colonial period (McMichael, 2008). Moreover, social theories have thought about the concept of development differently and have contrasting views of why the implications of trade and international relations set back the development of the third world

Dependency theorists are perceived as socialist and revolutionary compared to modernisation theorists being liberal and procapitalist (Isbister, 2006). Dependency theory stresses that economic development in the advanced capitalist countries essentially generated third world poverty (Isbister, 2006). This is in contrast to the modernisation theory, which implied that the capitalist countries in fact aided the development of third world countries. Dependency theorists say that third world countries have been changed for the worse as poverty did not happen accidentally but rather, the capitalist countries moulded third poverty rendering it incapable of having a steady development (Isbister, 2006). Dependency theory postulates that capitalism has been closely immersed for centuries in which has set up the source of deterioration in third world countries (Isbister, 2006). This is unlike the modernisation theory as they postulate that capitalism was an innovative force that was accountable for the growth of both developed and developing countries (Isbister, 2006). Moreover, dependency theorists such as Frank, see the capitalist countries as a central barrier to the security of the poor. However, modernisation theorists see capitalist countries as being the redemption of the poor (Isbister, 2006). Therefore, dependency theorists conceptualise development