Critical Visions of Development Actor Flashcards
What was the development experience of the East Asian Tigers (Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore)? What effect did this have on notions of state lead development?
The East Asian Tigers had extremely positive development experience using the state as a risk taker and investor rather than private individuals like a neo-liberal state would. This success could not be explained by neo-liberalism and cast doubt on the so called “inefficiency” of state lead development.
North, Acemoglu, Robinson, Rodrick, and Ostrom are all associated with which period of development? (If possible) list their beliefs as well.
These scholars are all associated with the fall of neoliberalism in the 2000s - present.
North believed in using institutions to ensure market safety overtime and increase global cooperation.
Acemoglu and Robinson argued that institutions, rather than free markets, were what created long term economic development.
Rodrick believed there was no one single recipe for a country to develop. He rejects the idea that neo-liberalism can just be applied anywhere and reap gain.
Ostrom believed in the ability for local institutions to play greater roles and rejected the state vs market duality.
What were the beliefs of Karl Marx? (1843-1883)
Marx viewed history as a constant struggle between those with power, land, money etc (bourgeoisie), and those under them without such luxuries (bourgeoisie). He claimed workers were being exploited by capitalists as the surplus value the workers creator was going directly to the capitalists instead of them. He argued that inequality is generated and deepened by the operations of free markets.
What was the focus of early imperialist thinkers? (1900-1930)
The early imperialism thinkers focused on the alleged crisis of capitalism at home and saw imperialism or colonization as a means to sedate the economic instability capitalism was creating. They underlined concerns about the lack of social and economic conditions in the colonies as well.
John Hobson, Rosa Luxembourg, and Vladimir Lenin are all associated with which period of development? (If possible) list their beliefs as well.
These scholars are all associated with Imperialism (1900-1930)
Hobson studied the UK and believed the overproduction and under consumption of goods were forcing UK capitalists to export to their colonies to make business viable.
Luxemburg believed that exploiting the natural resources of new land was a requirement for capitalism to stay afloat.
Lenin added international relations to Hobson’s beliefs. He believed that as capitalist growth slows down, the competition for investment opportunities to continue growth becomes a race for colonies and spills into war.
Dependency theory (1950s-1970s) was the first first theoretical approach to development to emerge from the Third World. It is associated with what two main points?
Unequal exchange: Developing countries export commodities (raw material like sugar, unrefined metals, etc) and import manufactured goods (finished products like vehicles, clothing, etc).
Declining terms of trade: Over time the price of commodities falls relative to manufactured goods. Meaning over time their exported commodities continue to fall in value while their imported manufactured goods continue to increase in cost.
Who created the World Systems Theory and what does it entail?
Immanuel Wallerstein created the Worlds Systems Theory.
It claims the international community is divided into the core, semi-periphery, and periphery.
Core - large wealthy countries that reap the benefits of global trade (U.S, UK, Australia, etc).
Semi-periphery - countries that provide cheap means of labor, often in Asia according to Wallerstein (Brazil, Argentina, India, etc).
Periphery - countries which export their raw goods to be transformed elsewhere (Haiti, Nigeria, Philippines, etc).
Walter Rodney, Arthur Manel, and Immanuel Wallerstein are all associated with which period of development? (If possible) list their beliefs as well.
These scholars are all associated with Dependency theory (1950s-1970s)
Walter Rodney - Wrote “How Europe underdeveloped Africa”, created a balance sheet of colonialism that was negative for former colonies.
Arthur Manel – Worked with internal colonization, like indigenous peoples being dispossessed of their land and rights by the colonizers.
Immanuel Wallerstein – created the Worlds Systems Theory.
What were the two major criticisms of dependency theory?
Its focus on de-linking failed during real world attempts at Import substitution industrialization (ISI) and state-led development.
It also failed to explain the success of East Asian Tigers that were all highly integrated into the world capitalist system.
What is the theory of accumulation by dispossession and who created it?
David Harvey founded the theory by drawing on Luxemburg (1913) to focus on how modern capitalism uses violence and fraud to create “wealth” by stealing commonly held assets from disadvantaged people.
This includes the privatization of public goods and exploitation of mineral resources often done by multinational corporations located in developed countries.
What is post-modernism and post-colonial theory? What were they a response to?
Post-modernism: rejected the notion that there is universally applicable ideas like modernization, science (scientific knowledge), progress or development.
Post colonialism: A rejection of the of the colonial way of thinking in favor of different or locally appropriate ways like indigenous practices.
Both were originally a response to the widely perceived “failure of development” in the 1980s due to the lost decade and debt crisis.
What is discourse within development studies?
In development studies discourse is a set of knowledge, world views, practices and ideology used to dominate and transform the Third World.
What alternative to development do post-development scholars often point to and why?
Post-development scholars often point to grassroots alternatives created by social movements as they reject superiority of industrial capitalism, assert non-Western identities, values and world-views.
What are the four major critiques of post-development thinking?
1) Romanticizing grassroots movements neglects to address features of domination and exploitation within these communities (particularly of women).
2) Underplays the achievements of development (rising incomes, life expectancy, personal liberty and choice, etc).
3) Cultural relativism allows elites to justify oppressive/ repressive practices as just “cultural” practices.
4) Development could be seen as “westernizing” the world but it could also been seen as asserting the right for everyone globally to participate in global politics and enjoy an improved standard of living.
