Alternative Theories to (Under) Development: How Relevant to Africa?

Alternative Theories to (Under) Development: How Relevant to Africa? by Ben Naanen

Objectives:
- Juxtapose and synthesize theories of modernization and dependency.
- Examine their relevance in explaining African underdevelopment.
Scope of the article: Focus on central comparable features of modernization and dependency theories.
Terminology: Terms like theory, perspective, and school are used interchangeably.
Thesis:
- Modernization approach fails to satisfactorily explain African underdevelopment and poverty due to faulty causal analysis.
- Dependency theory doesn't offer clear solutions for underdevelopment but provides explanatory insight.
Propositions evaluated:
- World Bank's "Berg Report" (modernization revival).
- Organization of African Unity (OAU) Lagos Plan of Action (LPA) (dependency framework).
Conclusion: LPA shows promise but faces inherent contradictions hindering successful implementation.

Modernization as both a concept and a theory:
- Difficult to define explicitly due to broad assumptions.
- Viewed as a transition from pre-modern to modern states.
A.G. Hopkins' definitions:
- Samuel Huntington: "A multifaceted process involving changes in all areas of human thought and activity."
- Alex Inkeles: Associated with rationality characterizing modern industrial societies.
Central theme:
- Desirable change from "irrationality" to "rationality."

Dichotomy: Traditional vs. modern value systems.
Influential sociologists:
- Max Weber:
- Industrial societies characterized by rational, individualistic, and achievement-oriented values.
- Malinowski:
- Non-industrial societies marked by kinship, communal loyalty, and social ends.
Assumption: Traditional values contribute to underdevelopment.
Development equated with Westernization; implies an evolutionary trajectory for societies.
- Walter Rostow's five stages of economic growth:
- Traditional society, pre-conditions for development, take-off, maturity, mass consumption.
Common indicators of progress:
- Gross National Product (GNP) as a measure of societal advancement.

Conceptual limitations:
- Problems with defining "tradition" and "modern."
Superficiality in distinguishing between traditional and modern.
Empirical evidence challenges the assumptions laid by modernization writers.
Notable criticisms:
- "Vicious circles" are descriptive rather than causal; poverty cannot be simplified to lack of savings.
Modernization theorists often overlook the potential of positive traditional structures.
Evidence suggests that societies do not uniformly follow a set developmental path.

Contrasts with modernization theory:
- Attributed underdevelopment to external factors rather than solely internal constraints.
Historical approach:
- Dependency must be understood as a historical phenomenon, emphasizing the external origins of underdevelopment.

Ronald Chilcote's four strands:
- Development of underdevelopment (Andre Gunder Frank).
- New dependency (Theotonio Dos Santos).
- Dependent capitalist development (Fernando Henrique Cardoso).
- Class-based theories of imperialism (Anibal Quijano).
Importance of external links within the global system, particularly post-colonial contexts.

Inequality in the global economy:
- Centre-periphery dynamics result in economic backwardness in peripheral nations.
- Core states benefit at the expense of underdeveloped regions.
Dependence vs. dependency:
- Dependence indicates ordinary interdependence between countries, while dependency denotes inequitable power dynamics and historical processes.

Simplistic attribution of underdevelopment to external factors without considering internal conditions.
Failure to recognize successful capitalist developments in certain Third World countries.
Dependency does not provide practical solutions to the issues it analyzes.

Discontent with modernization leads to interest in dependency perspectives (e.g., Samir Amin, Walter Rodney).
Underdevelopment traced back to colonial exploitation.
Examination of the national bourgeoisie's role in economic development, particularly in Kenya and Nigeria.
Counterarguments regarding the potential for capitalist transformation in these states.

Varieties of strategies discussed among critical Africanists and dependence theorists:
- Socialist options favored by many as a solution for overcoming underdevelopment and poverty.
- Calls for reform within established systems versus more radical shifts (self-reliance, cooperative strategies).

Emphasizes self-reliance, recognizing failures of past development strategies.
Focus on industrialization and agricultural development for internal consumption rather than cash crop export.
Advocates coordination of economic policies and supranational unity to bolster resource efficiency.
Contrasts with the "Berg Report" (World Bank) emphasizing internal constraints over external influences.

LPA viewed as audacious but idealistic; lacks practical implementation details.
Potential conflict with existing global economic structures and hegemonic interests.
Reliance on international cooperation raises questions about the feasibility given historical patterns of exploitation.
Internal contradictions among African states complicate unified action.

Ongoing debate illustrates the complexities of underdevelopment narratives in Africa.
Both modernization and dependency theories have limitations in understanding the African context.
Dependency theory provides valuable insights into global inequalities, yet proposals for action often lack effectiveness.
Structural transformations remain crucial yet problematic amid existing power dynamics.

Full citations and references to original works mentioned will require individual attention based on specific excerpts and footnotes referenced in the text.