Dependenztheorie

Dependenztheorie, also known as Dependency Theory, is a social science framework that analyzes the relationships between developed and developing countries within the global economic system. Originating in the 1960s and 1970s, it challenges traditional modernization theories by emphasizing the structural inequalities and historical processes that perpetuate poverty and underdevelopment in certain regions.

The theory asserts that the economic development of poorer nations is often hindered by their dependent relationship on wealthier, industrialized countries. These core countries exploit peripheral nations through mechanisms such as trade imbalances, foreign investment, and control over technological innovation. This dependency restricts the peripheral nations' ability to achieve autonomous growth and perpetuates a cycle of underdevelopment.

Key proponents of Dependenztheorie include scholars such as Raúl Prebisch, Andre Gunder Frank, and Immanuel Wallerstein. Prebisch focused on the unequal terms of trade between core and peripheral nations, while Frank emphasized how colonialism and capitalist expansion created a global division of labor that disadvantages poorer countries. Wallerstein expanded the analysis into world-systems theory, viewing the global economy as an interconnected whole with a core, periphery, and semi-periphery.

Critics argue that Dependency Theory overemphasizes structural constraints and underestimates the agency of developing nations to overcome their underdevelopment. Nevertheless, it has significantly influenced development studies, prompting debates about global inequality, economic sovereignty, and policies aimed at achieving sustainable development.

Overall, Dependenztheorie offers a critical perspective on international economic relations, highlighting the importance of structural changes and global justice in development processes.