COUNTER-INDUSTRIAL THEORY

Question 1

What does it argue?

Answer 1

• They remind us that we shouldn’t measure inequality in solely economic terms.
• Argue that we also need to focus more closely on environmental and social inequalities. E.g poorer countries have less capacity to mitigate the impact of climate change, a problem that has been primarily caused by western industrial capitalism.
• Argues that the development policies used to tackle inequalities in the developing world should be environmentally and socially sustainable; that improvements should not compromise the ability of future generations to support themselves.
• Buddhist economics; argues that conventional arguments on development tend to assume that higher consumption = happier people.
• intermediate technologies are important - half way between traditional and ‘high’ technologies.
• Microcredit is important - these are loans targeted at individuals and communities allowing them to invest in intermediate technologies rather than governments.

Question 2

Strengths?

Answer 2

• They provide a timely reminder that development can never be measured in solely economic terms
• They emphasise the importance of sustainable development
• Ideas such as ‘intermediate technologies’ and ‘micro-credit’ offer practical solutions and empower people in developing countries. - less harm to the environment

Question 3

Weaknesses?

Answer 3

• Initatives such as micro-credit and intermediate technologies may have limited impact and only bring about piecemeal improvements
• Critics argue that these perspectives want to deny people in the developing world the improved standards of living that follow industrialisation