GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT: Theories, Poverty and Measures Flashcards
Development definition
The process by which societies change
Four methods used to measure Global Development
- Economic Measures
- Social Measures
- Humanist Measures
- Poverty Measures
Global Development definition
Often linked with human development and international efforts to reduce poverty and inequality. Improve health, education and job opportunities around the world.
What is usually used to measure Economic Measures?
GNI
What is GNI?
Gross National Income: total value of goods and services produced by a country in a financial year, divided by the population. Often given ‘per capita’.
What are some commonly used social measures?
- Education
- Health & Longevity
- Democracy
- Gender Equality
Education as a Social Measure
- % of eligible children attending school
- Literacy (% that can read and write)
Health as a Social Measure
- Child/Infant mortality
- General mortality rate
- Maternal mortality rate
- Number of hospitals/staff per 1000 people
Democracy as a Social Measure
- Are there free election?
- Can everyone vote?
- Can opposition parties speak freely and organise against government?
Gender Equality as a Social Measure?
- M/F average years in education
- M/F health and life expectancy
- Equal access to pay, voting etc
What is the HDI?
Human Development Index: created by the UN. Combines three figures to produce a score.
Three measures in HDI
- GNI per capita
- Education: Years in education by 25. Expected years in state education
- Health: Life expectancy in years and months 3
Three measure In the HDP
- Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI)
What is the HDP?
Human Development Report: alternative to HDI focused on equality and reducing poverty rather than a country’s economic or statistical success
What is the MPI?
Multidimensional Poverty Index: Looks at more kinds of poverty e.g. education, living standards etc
What is the GII?
Gender Inequality Index: Measures female reproductive health, educational attainment, government representation, and employment
What is the IHDI?
Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index: Total equality measure that is compared against the HDI. The bigger the difference the higher the score.
Three Worlds poverty definition
- between 1948-1989
- First world: industrialised, capitalist countries
- Second World: Industrialised, Communist countries
- Third World: Everyone else
North & South poverty definition
- Common in 1970s-1990s
- Northern hemisphere countries tended to be more rich/developed countries
Majority/Minority poverty definition
- Common from 2000s
- Attempt to respect other cultures in definitions
- Majority are ‘third world’, minority are ‘developed’
Developed & Underdeveloped poverty definition
- 2000s-current
- Implies that some countries have ‘missed out’ on development.
- Focus on exploitation
Economic Development poverty definition
- 2000s-current
- MEDC: More Economically Developed Country
- LEDC: Less Economically Developed Country
- LLEDC: Least Economically Developed Country
Bottom Billion poverty definition
- 2007-current
- Says most are developed or developing well
- Need to focus on those who are still in the ‘bottom billion’
What are MDGs?
Millenium development goals: set by the UN as a target for the world to achieve by the end of 2015.
What are the 8 MDGs?
- Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger
- Achieve Universal Primary Education
- Promote Gender Equality & Empower Women
- To Reduce Child Mortality
- Improve Maternal Health
- To Combat HIV/AIDs, Malaria & Other Diseases
- To Ensure Environmental Sustainability
- Develop Global Partnership for Development
What are SDGs?
Sustainable Development Goals: set by the UN in 2015 to change the focus to improve the somewhat successful MDGs
What are the 17 SDGs?
- No Poverty
- Zero Hunger
- Clean water & sanitation
- Good health & wellbeing
- Quality Education
- Gender Equality
- Affordable & Clean energy
- Decent work & economic growth
- Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- Reduced inequalities
- Sustainable cities and communities
- Climate Action
- Responsible consumption and production
- Life below water
- Life on land
- Partnerships
- Peace, justice and strong institutions
Modernisation Theory
A Functionalist, Cold War theory developed by the Capitalist nations in the 60s. Does not separate development and capitalism
What is the Marshall Plan?
(1947)
First big application of Modernisation Theory
It ensured a captive market for US goods and services. Most European manufacturing was destroyed in the War so the European countries bought US goods with US loans. Created dependency.
What year was the Marshall Plan theorised?
1960
What is the Rostow Model?
- Linked to Modernisation
- Staircase model
- Describes how Capitalism helps countries develop
- Subtitled an ‘Anti Communist Manifesto’
Who was Rostow?
An economist working for the US government. Intended to draw European countries towards the Capitalist side of the Cold War.
Who theorised the Barriers to Development?
Talcott Parsons
What are Parson’s Barriers to Development?
- Traditional values and attitudes
- Lacking a meritocratic drive
- High Birth Rates
- Lack of individual desire to compete
- Lack of modern technology
How has modernisation through Technology happened?
traditional equipment > scientific machinery
How has modernisation through Agriculture happened?
subsistence farming > commercial mass production
How has modernisation through Industry happened?
humans/animals > machines
How has modernisation through Geography happened?
farm/village > town/city
How has modernisation through Politics happened?
ascribed status > liberal democracy
How has modernisation through Society & Culture happened?
kinship groups > nuclear families
What did Hoselitz believe?
People had to accept new patterns of work. Western ideas could be spread through mass media and education. Cities act as a centre and spread to rural areas. Pattern of Empire Building.
What year was Hoselitz theory?
1952
What year was the Rostow Model created?
1960
Dependency Theory
Response to Modernisation. 1970s.Influenced by socialist ideology, Marxist ideology and Radical theory. Focused on external factors that impede development and considered development from the perspective of LEDCs and LLEDCs.
What is Frank’s Theory?
- HIghlighted exploitation that was encouraged by modernisation
- It’s in the interest of rich countries to keep poor countries underdeveloped.
- Preventing development means we can extract material and cheap labour from poor countries while also selling them our technology and expertise
What year did Frank theorise Underdevelopment?
1969
Neocolonialism
Taking charge of other countries with investment or aid and exploiting their population/natural resources.
Colonialism
Taking charge of countries with an army and exploiting their population.
What is Metropolis vs Satellite?
Rich countries keep poor countries poor. Development od the metropolis exploits the satellite. Western nations buy off of a small elite in underdeveloped countries.
World Systems Theory
Marxist theory. Describes the world as a single unified capitalist system. System is more dynamic and countries can move up or down the hierarchy.
What are the six stages of the Marxist Stage Theory?
- Primitive Communism
- Imperialism
- Feudalism
- Capitalism
- Socialism
- Communism
Primitive Communism stage
Hunter gathering. Working together in order to survive. No private properties and no classes. Most successful hunter gatherers gained power and control over others.
Imperialism stage
Strong man ruled. He owned land and granted it for military services. Land owning aristocracy.
Feudalism stage
Land owned by aristocracy that exploited working peasantry. Surplus of food which aristocracy sold to others. Class of merchants and capitalists who shared political power.
Capitalism stage
Bourgeoisie obtained political power and exploited proletariat. Proletariat become politically aware and rise up to overthrow.
Socialism stage
Dictatorship of proletariat re-distributing food, goods and services fairly according to need. Equality superior to private ownership.
Communism stage
Everyone joined together for the common good. Money and government no longer needed, and society is classless.
Who’s the main thinker for World Systems Theory?
Wallerstein
Strengths of WST
Inclusion of semi-periphery as it’s often neglected but is a key transitory phase
Weakness of WST
Neglects internal factors affecting periphery countries
Strength of Dependency theory
Gives a plausible explanation as to why wealthy countries are taking advantage of poor countries
Weakness of Dependency theory
Neoliberalists argue it is mainly internal factors, like corruption, responsible for underdevelopment, not exploitation
Strength of Modernisation theory
Describes a process common to the development of many different societies
Weakness of Modernisation theory
Ethnocentric approach and describes the only route to development as to follow the example of the USA.
Theory Impasse
No consensus among sociologists
Reasons for Theory Impasse
- Development theories failed
- Postmodernists appeared
- Globalisation posed issues for existing theories
- Environmentalism
Failure of development theories as an explanation for Theory Impasse
1980s known as the lost decade due to series of financial crashes and social problems. Couldn’t explain ‘Asian Tigers’ (Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong)
Postmodernist appearance as an explanation for Theory Impasse
Called all development theories ‘ethnocentric’ and introduced the term ‘post development’. Wanted to look beyond capitalist development and count other types.
Globalisation posing issues for existing theories as an explanation for Theory Impasse
As state lines became blurred and lost meaning, some argued old theories were out of date.
Environmentalism as an explanation for Theory Impasse
Not everyone agreed development was sustainable or desirable, if it damaged the planet
