World system theories and the modernization theory

Madalitso Mlava Mbendera

LAYOUT OF THE PRESENTATION

Introduction World system theories by Immanual Wallerstein Brief history to the modernization process Modernization theory by Walt Roslow The validity of modernization theory in the contemporary world

How did the modern world come to be??

The World System Theories was developed by Immanual Wallerstein in the 1970s The modern world system, essentially capitalist (Remember Karl Marx) in nature followed the crisis of the feudal system Wallerstein developed this theoretical framework to understand the historical changes involved in the rise of the modern world and why modernization had such wide-ranging and different effects on the world It helps explain the rise of Western Europe to world supremacy

The Core, Periphery, semi-Periphery

THE PAST AND THE PRESENT WORLD SYSTEM

THE CORE - benefited the most from the capitalist world economy THE PERIPHERY They lacked strong central Government THE SEMI-PERIPHERY They were either core regions in decline or peripheries attempting to improve their relative position in the world economic system

In today's global hierarchy, some states are transitioning upward while others are moving downward in terms of status and influence
The capitalist world system shows that it has brought about a skewed development in which economic and social disparities between sections of the world economy have increased rather than provided prosperity for all.

THE MODERNIZATION THEORY

HOW MODERNIZATION CAME TO BE

World War 2 has ended (1939 1945), The soviet union still around 1947 Cold war - western bloc dominated by USA and eastern Bloc dominated by Soviet Union These are two super powers with different ideologies when it comes to their economic and political agendas (soviet Union Communism and USA Capitalist) The rapid de-colonisation of Africa and Asia In came in the liberal democracy and the market based capitalist over the socialism and global communism Countries suffer greatly and try to recover Meanwhile the USA emerge as the richest of them all and becomes the most powerful country in the world Poor countries were still poor and the western embarked on a mission to bring the gap between the poor and rich. Less developed countries to assume the characteristics of the developed countries the west.

Development meansBecoming more like us!!

Modernization Theory
1960 Walt Roslow an America economic historian scholar Development should be viewed as a revolution process in which poor countries progress the development radar until they become developed like the western countries All countries go through the same path of development. Therefore Countries should model themselves after the West, aspiring to a "modern" state of capitalism and a liberal democracy According to Roslow, Societies can be divided into 5 different stages of development

ROSLOWS 5 STAGES
Traditional society Few technologies Less savings, no investments, Agricultural based Pre-conditional for Take off Pressure for change Rise of investments, better transport networks Take-off -Urbanization, Economic growth, commercialization of agriculture, ideas of modernization industrial, Maturity technology innovations, national economy growth, international trade Mass production for mass consumption - Real income rises, social welfare, security welfare

Singapore
Singapore became independent in 1965, it did not seem to have any exceptional prospects for growth. It however industrialized early, developing profitable manufacturing and high-tech industries. Singapore is now highly urbanized, with 100% of the population considered urban people. It is one of the most sought-after trade partners in the international market, with a higher per-capita income than many European countries

HOWEVER.
Modernization theory is subject to criticism originating among socialist and free-market ideologies, world-systems theorists, globalization theory and dependency theory among others The dependency theory states that poor countries like most countries in Africa were never developed. They were underdevelopedcolonisation made it worseslave trade, mineral extraction, destroying traditions and culture issues can only be solved it the countries break away from the global market de-links itself, as they are being exploited by the powerful nationsFor example Mining Industry in Malawi

Something to think about

The idea of development stands like a ruin in the intellectual landscape. Delusion and disappointment, failures and crimes have been the steady companions of development and they tell a common story; it did not work. Moreover, the historical conditions which catapulted the idea into prominence have vanished. Development has become outdated. But above all, the hopes and desires which made the idea fly are now exhausted. Development has gone obsolete Wolfgang sachs The development dictionary