Frank and Amin

International Journals

  • Content accessed from: JSTOR on 11 Oct 2019.

  • Author: Naraine Persaud

  • Article: "Conceptualizations of Development and Underdevelopment: The Works of Frank and Amin".

Overview of Development and Underdevelopment Theories

  • Works of Andre Gunder Frank and Samir Amin have significantly influenced the study of development and underdevelopment.

  • The analysis explores their theories as comprehensive approaches rather than isolated ideas.

  • The interrelation of power and control in shaping histories of development.

Frank's Contribution

  • Frank introduced the thesis of "the development of underdevelopment", arguing that underdevelopment is a product of capitalism.

  • Critiques the sequential developmentalist model that prevailed post-World War II, emphasizing the importance of historical context.

  • Identifies contradictions in the capitalist system that contribute to unequal development:

    • Expropriation/appropriation of surplus.

    • Metropolis-satellite polarization.

    • Continuity in change amidst structural inequalities.

  • Argues that underdevelopment persists when metropolitan capital is absent, but regions may grow independently during metropolitan economic downturns.

Amin's Perspective

  • Samir Amin emphasizes the importance of understanding inequalities as deeply rooted in global capitalist structures.

  • Describes the center-periphery relationship as hierarchical, where surplus extraction benefits the core at the expense of the periphery.

  • Highlights:

    • The necessity of understanding accumulation processes on a world scale.

    • The role of the state in reproducing conditions for capital accumulation and ongoing exploitation.

Key Concepts

  • Underdevelopment: Not a static state but a process of becoming influenced by capitalist dynamics.

  • Unequal Exchange: Capitalism perpetuates global inequalities through an exploitative system of trade between core and peripheral nations.

  • Historical Structure: Societies are interconnected in a global capitalist framework; their development isn't independent but relational.

Critique and Discussion

  • Both theorists have been critiqued for economic determinism, with some scholars arguing they overlook internal factors influencing development.

  • They provide comprehensive critiques of traditional development models, arguing against Western-centric views of modernization.

Conclusion

  • Frank and Amin’s works advocate for reevaluating historical processes shaping development, emphasizing the complexity of capitalist relations globally and the necessity for a critical lens to understand modern inequalities.