Introduction

The essay looks at how the countries can development and what ways they can use to
development. There are different theories that came up with difference ways of how the
countries can development more especial underdeveloped countries and the impact of the state
on the development of the nation. This essay is based on three theories of development which
are Modernisation theory, Dependency theory and Capabilities Approach. The essay is
organised as follows, firstly it outlines the modernisation theory as how it conceptualise the
development and the role of the state on the development. The second paragraph is based on
the dependency theory which came as a result of modernisation theory. On this paragraph the
dependency theory conceptualised the development in opposition to modernisation theory as
well as the role of the state on the development. This is followed by the capability approach
which looks at freedom as development and the state as something that is democracy to
everyone. Lastly is the conclusion which summarises everything that is being said in the
content.

Modernisation theory
Modernisation theory argued that economic development for underdeveloping countries
depends on developed countries. The modernisation theory conceptualise the development as
the economic growth. The economic growth rises as a result of technological advancement or
change. For the country to be said it is modernised it has to take in modern and advanced
technologies. According to modernisation theory, for the country to be developed it must first
change its institutions, traditional attitudes and values. It claims that if the country stick to
culture and traditional customs it will remains underdeveloped of which is the reason why the
underdeveloped countries did not develop as compared to developed countries. Under
modernisation theory the state is very important. In other for the country to develop needs a
strong central state that can gather enough capital to invest in the country for the economy that
is necessary for development (Isbister, 2006). According to Walt Rostow lack of technology,
science and investment were the reason behind underdeveloped countries finding themselves
not developed as compared to developed countries. He outlined five stages of economic growth
that the country needs to undergo in order to get highest economic development. This model
of Rostow’s was criticised on the fact that it did not grant that the development of one nation

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could be at the expense of another for in case through imperialism and colonisation (Rostow,
1960).

Dependency theory
Dependency theory criticised the sense of stage theories stating that the history was not taken
into considerations. History shows that underdevelopment is not traditional or original also that
neither the presence nor the past of underdeveloped countries resembles any important respect
the past of the now developed countries (Frank, 1966). Dependency theory conceptualise the
development as relational process. It sees underdevelopment as the process as opposed to
modernisation theory which sees it as a state. The situation that can be seen on the world is the
outcome of that process (Rodney, 1973). They did not specifically write about the role of the
state or government. They suggested that in order for the country to development it must delink
the economy from global economy of which is where the role of the state comes in.
Government or the state should step in by supporting local markets. They said that global
economy is exploitative and creates dependency. De-linking is also defined as the process of
pulling out from export and import activities in international trade markets, emphasising about
trying to grow the internal markets of developing countries. This is in contrast with the
modernisation theory as it promotes external solutions in the form of investment and foreign
aid (Frank, 1966). He argue that as a result of delinking developing countries did experience
high economic growth. The process of delinking is criticised as if there is no process of
importing and exporting local markets might find themselves in the situation whereby they
cannot deliver in time or at all as time goes. It also means that they cannot sell their products
to other countries.

Capabilities approach
Capabilities approach as compare to other theories brought together a range of ideas that were
earlier not included from traditional approaches to the economics of interests. As different to
accumulating assets it understands capabilities in respect of the substantive freedoms that
people have. Sen argues that there is effectiveness between various kind of capabilities and
kind of development ends that people want to achieve. The heart is based on what people can
be able to do or what are they capable of. Sen’s conceptualised the development as the
expansion of people’s capabilities. He argued that lack of substantive freedoms results in
economic poverty as they are the constituent components of development (Sen 1999, 4). He

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argued that in order for development to increase there must be removal of major sources of
unfreedom, e.g. poverty (Sen 1999, 3). In terms of the state he spoke of democracy which he
said that democracy is not about elections and voting. He said that before the focus was based
on how the state can achieve the economic growth, but new research says that democracy or
education makes it easier to achieve economic growth. He argued that education and
development ideas play a vital role in economic growth. Investing on education can produce
more growth that can solve problems (Sen, 1999). He argue that the state must also take into
considerations knowledge and ideas as this will results in economic growth. He said that
democracy is part of development or what people are trying to achieve. It is something that
increases the effectiveness of achieving other forms of development. Democracy can have both
evaluative and effectiveness outcomes. He saw democracy as government by discussion.
Looking at past famines, he highlighted the significance of freedom of the people and
democracy. The means and ends of development called for putting the viewpoint of freedom
at the middle of the stage. People have to be actively involved. Both society and the state have
vital roles in protecting and increasing people capabilities. The major objective of development
should be based on creating the environment that will allow people to healthy, creative lives
and to live longer. Capability approach argues that the crucial ends of social comparisons are
capabilities of people. This shows that it measures policies and other changes based on their
impact on the capabilities of people and their real functionings. He argued that substantive
freedom must be used in measuring freedom (Sen, 1999).

Conclusion
Theories said difference things about the development and the role of the state but what is
common to them is that they all realised the gap between developed and developing countries.
Modernisation argued that developed countries are not developed because they stacked to
traditions and cultures. It also argued that countries can achieved development simultaneously.
Dependency theory opposed what was said by modernisation theory saying that the developing
countries are not developed not because of traditions but because there was an inequality
between developed and developing countries. Developed countries used developing countries
to increasing their wealthy. Capabilities approach came with the concept of freedom saying
that development is all about freedom and recognition of people’s capabilities. Modernisation
theory saw the state as something that is very important for the country to develop while in
dependency theory was not that much importance. Capabilities approach argue that the role of

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the state is to invest in education as well as ideas and knowledges as this will results in the
economic growth.

References
Frank, A. G. (1966). 'The Development of Underdevelopemnt’, Ch. 1 in Latin America:
Underdevelopment or Revolution. New York: Monthly Review , 3-17.
Isbister, J. (2006). Promises Not Kept: Poverty and the Betrayal of Third World
Development. Bloomfield, CT: Kumarian Press , 32-48.
Rodney, W. (1973). How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. London and Tanzania: Bogle-
L’Ouverture Publications. Selection from Chapter 1 .
Rostow, W. (1960). ‘The Five Stages of Economic Growth – A Summary’, Ch. 2 in The
Stages of Economic Growth: A Non-Communist Manifesto. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge
University Press.
Sen, A. (1999). Development as Freedom. New York: Anchor Books , 3-34.

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