Topic 1: Theory Impasse

Question 1

What does “theory impasse” mean, and where did it originate?

Answer 1

By the 1980s, both modernisation theory and dependency theory were unable to explain how the world was changing.
David Booth wrote of a theory impasse in 1985 - as the Cold War came to an end and the increase in globalisation, it was clear the old theories could not hold.

Question 2

Reasons for the impasse:

What do they mean by failure of development?

Answer 2

1960s + 70s: Countries made economic growth and social dev (literacy rates and life expectancy).
However, development slowed and even reversed in the 1980s (the lost decade).
Modernisation theory couldn’t explain this failure to take off, and dependency theory couldn’t explain the Asian Tigers.

Question 3

Reasons for the impasse:

How did the growth in postmodernism affect this?

Answer 3

Postmodernist ideas began to undermine the metanarratives and the idea of development itself.
The theories of the time carried assumptions about social evolution based on Western principles.
This questioning led to post-development.

Question 4

Reasons for the impasse:

How did the discussion of globalisation lead to impasse?

Answer 4

Despite not all social scientists accepting it as a real phenomenon, the concept opened up new debates that overlapped with development.
Schuurman, 2002.

Question 5

Reasons for the impasse:

How did environmentalism cause impasse?

Answer 5

Growing concern that development meant industrialisation.

This would cause environmental damage and not be sustainable.