DependencyTheorie

Dependency Theory is a body of social science theories that broadly states that economic development of some countries is "dependent" on the exploitation of richer countries. It emerged as a critique of modernization theory, which posited that all countries would develop in a similar, linear fashion. Dependency theorists argue that the underdevelopment of some nations is not a stage of development but a direct result of their integration into the global capitalist economy on unfavorable terms.

The core idea is that the global economic system is structured in a way that benefits the core, or developed, countries at the expense of the periphery, or developing, countries. Periphery countries often export raw materials and cheap labor, while importing manufactured goods. This unequal exchange, along with historical factors such as colonialism, perpetuates a cycle of dependency. Various strands of dependency theory exist, including Marxist dependency theory, which emphasizes class struggle and exploitation, and world-systems theory, which analyzes the global economy as a single integrated system with a core, semi-periphery, and periphery.

Critics of dependency theory point to its deterministic nature and argue that it can overlook the agency of developing nations and internal factors contributing to underdevelopment. Despite criticisms, dependency theory has been influential in understanding global inequalities and the historical relationship between developed and developing countries.