Examine the debates between modernization and dependency theory. Which one is more compelling?

This essay will analyze the definitions of modernisation and dependency theory, the similarities and differences between them and it will evaluate which one is more convincing.
Modernization is an imposing theory around many different disciplines for the reason that it attempts to explain how society develops and what variables are involved in the development and how society react to these changes looking at internal factors such as social and cultural structures. As Diana Kendall mentions, "Urbanization accompanied modernization and the rapid process of industrialization." (Kendall 2007)
Modernization theory has developed in three different parts; the first part appeared in the 1950s and 1960s, when the dominance of materialistic western, individualist culture and individual achievement became the influential and dominant way of life during this period of time. The second part of modernization theory is part of the “idea of progress” that was accepted in the 1980s with the thought of people themselves could develop and transform their society. The last part of modernization theory takes place in the 1990s and it tries a more neutral approach without being in favor or against western modernization. Rather it attempts to expose the disagreements in the modernization process and to explain the consequences of modernity for individuals in contemporary society (Giddens, 1991a, 1991b). Giddens showed that traditional society is based on direct interaction between people living close to each other. Modern societies stretch further and further across space and time using mass media and interactive media. Disembedding mechanisms (modern artefact objectified and made real) such as money and other symbolic means.
As many theories modernization theory has critics, this includes that model is based on American and European history and defines the American norm of high mass consumption as integral to the economic development process of all industrialized societies. Modernization is often related with development aid from the developed countries. However, this relation tended to beneficiate the more developed nations more than the countries receiving the aids for example African countries. (Jaquette 1982)
Sergey Gavrov argues that globalization has a significant relation to the modernization theory because of the process of trading with other countries and the spread of different cultures and languages. Modernisation theory often looks at the globalization critically, analysing its negative consequence. For example some theorists within modernization theory points out globalization appear to be leading to a greater gap between the rich and poor. As societies transform, modernization theory points out that they leave behind the old agriculture lifestyle in favour of modern industrial or technological lifestyles, losing the ability to feed them directly and having to risk the well being with the conditions of the free market in a capitalist society. (Gavrov 2004)
However, modernization theory also looks at the positive benefits of nations modernizing; in other words, new technologies bringing about positive changes to medical, education for the greater good of society. To illustrate, countries such as Malaysia, and Thailand opened up their market resulting on economic development of the trading with more developed nations.

Dependency theory is a theory of how developing and developed nations interact. It was formulated in the 1950s, drawing on a Marxian analysis of the global economy. Dependency theory believes that developed nations rely on developing nations at the expense of developing nations own health. In dependency theory the rich nations actively keep poorer developing countries in an inferior position by guidelines and regulations set by western intuitions including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. In addition, the trade between poorer nations and more advanced nations are one that highlights the inequality between them. For example poorer nations would export primary goods such as plutonium and the advance nation will use this main ingredient to produce a good like a mobile phone and then resell it worldwide and also sell it back to the poorer nations which means they will be paying more and will be in a more financially poorer situation than before the transaction. (Scott 1995)
Developed nations such as China consistently invest in poorer nations including African countries in order to not only make use of their influence in the region but to also make capital. Poorer nations trade their only resources and more advanced nations help them build infrastructure. Furthermore, china’s interest in Africa due to Africa’s immense holdings of natural resources such as oil, china’s ignorance of democracy and regime change demonstrates that it’s only there for business. In exchange of resources china offers cheap labour and short term loans to poorer nations. An example of where there has been a lot of interest to china is Tanzania which china has heavily invested in social infrastructure. Unlike other investors such as US and UK, they don’t mind trading with dictators, even though some of the leaders the west trade with are seen as dictators. (Schelkle 2000)

There are similarities between modernization theory and dependency theory. First, dependency theory was a response and critic of modernization theory. Both theories point out quite clearly the gap between developed nations and developing nations. They both also agree that the west’s perception of world development is the dominant way and leave small room for an alternative method in the context of the global economy.
Also the leadership of western states hold more influence on the world stage, than those who govern undeveloped states.
The dependency theory also highlights the fact that corporations have a big role in inequality such as when BP explores oil in poor nations bringing their own workers which does not help locals in terms of employment, this due to the fact that the locals don’t have the necessary skills to take part. Also the externalities they cause to the environment do not help the situation. Locals suffer from pollution flooding because of the low environment standard these multination companies operate in.
There are also differences between them. Modernization theory shows how cooperation and trade help to improve standards of living and progress, whereas the dependency theory suggests that underdeveloped states are imposed by more advanced nations who simply want to benefit from their primary good such as oil.
Dependency theory is more precise and accurate; an example is Djibouti a small east African nation, which depends on France quite heavily militarily, with France having its only base there, or economically in terms of trade. This is an example of dependency which some could describe as economic colonialism or neo colonialism.

Most imports from Djibouti are from France which is used domestically; also Djibouti security relies on French forces in the country. For France this is seen as trade with a poorer nation and to influence politics in order to benefit from its highly important geographical position along the red sea. (Ernest 1966).
I incline myself towards dependency theory because of the extent of dependence poorer states have on richer states, the role of world institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and world bank and its position in the relationship between underdeveloped states and developed nations which is one in more favour for richer states, giving poorer states short term loans further indebting them. In other words, even though high developed nations or global north countries make an effort to justify their actions with social development, it is clear that the main reason in which these projects are put into practice is the pursuit of a greater reward for natural resources and other personal interests that drives the whole idea to trade and relate with other nations that often seek help with infrastructure and lack of technological tools to improve the standard of living of their citizens.
In conclusion it depends on which way it’s viewed; there are similarities and differences of the theories and they both also have advantages and disadvantages. Dependency theory is one which makes more sense to me and highlights the injustice of what poorer nations go through in order to follow the apparent steps of development.

Bibliography

Ernest A. (1928). A history of Ethiopia, Nubia and Abyssinia, Taylor & Francis.
Gavrov, S. (2004). Modernization of the Empire. Social and cultural aspects of modernization processes in Russia
Giddens, A. (1991a). The Consequences of Modernity. Stanford: Stanford University Press, Oxford: Basill Blackwell, Cambridge: Polity Press.

Giddens, A. (1991b). Modernity and SelfIdentity; Self and Society in the Late Modern Age. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Gilman, N. (2003). Mandarins of the Future: Modernization Theory in Cold War America.
Johns Hopkins University Press.
Jaquette, J. (1982). Women and Modernization Theory. World Politics 34 (2): 265-270.
Kendall, D. Sociology in Our Times (2007) p. 11
Schelkle, W. (2000) Paradigms of social change: Modernization, development, transformation, evolution. New York: St. Martin's Press.
Scott, C.(1995). Gender and development: Rethinking modernization and dependency theory. Rienner Publishers.