Understanding Development Theories in the Third World

1. Lecture GEOG 270 Fall 2007 Sept 28, 2007

2. GEOG/SIS 335Geographies of the Developing World What (the heck) is development?

3. Today’s Plan: • Where is the Third World, anyway? • What is development? • What is theory, and why do we care?

4. What and Where is the “Third World?”

5. Poor countries underdeveloped countries developing countries LDC Non-industrialized countries LIC non-aligned countries global South backwards less advanced Majority World “two-thirds world” Synonyms?

6. Three Worlds

7. Third & Fourth Worlds

8. World Systems

9. Human Development Index

10. World Bank GNP Map

11. Least Developed Countries

12. Degree of Food Deprivation

13. Although the term is not satisfactory, I will tend to use “Third World” in this class…

14. What is Development?

15. Defining Development “Gradual unfolding, fuller working out; growth; evolution…; well grown state, stage of enhancement; product; more elaborate form….” - Oxford English Dictionary (adapted in Potter et al, 2004) “Development is a founding belief of the modern world….In development, all the modern advancements in science, technology, democracy, values, ethics and social organization fuse into the humanitarian project of producing a better world” (Peet & Hardwick 1999) “for two thirds of the people of the earth, [the] positive meaning of the word ‘development’ - profoundly rooted after two centuries of its social construction - is a reminder of what they are not. It is a reminder of an undesirable, undignified condition. To escape from it they need to be enslaved to others’ experiences and dreams.” (Esteva 1992)

16. Development actors/subjects • Who “does” Development? (Development Actors)

17. Development actors/subjects • Who has Development “done” to them? (Development Subjects)

18. We must always keep in mind when you use the term “development,” most people will understand it differently than you intend…

19. What is a theory and why do we care? • “…a system of assumptions, accepted principles, and rules of procedure devised to analyze, predict or otherwise explain the nature or behavior of a specified set of phenomena.” ( American Heritage Dictionary) • A foundation upon which we base our beliefs and actions

20. Theory (Continued) • Even when we do not recognize or acknowledge it, we are acting (speaking, writing, mapping) under some form of theory. • For instance, the way we assess our actions or those of others (i.e., “progress” in development) depends on the theories we deploy.

21. Some Development Theories(but certainly not all …)

22. Modernization Theory • Most pervasive theory in development, even today • Characterizes societies as “traditional” or “modern”.

23. Rostow’ 5 Stages of Growth 5) Age of High Mass Consumption (Hurray!) 4) Drive to maturity 3) Take-off 2) Preconditions for Take-off 1) Traditional society

24. Dependency Theory • Economic and political systems different: Core and Periphery • Structures of production not equal • History is significant • Scale

25. Cornucopian Theory There is an abundance – a nearly inexhaustible supply – of material resources, guaranteed by market mechanisms and ever-improving technology. “Horn of Plenty” -- a curved goat's horn overflowing with fruit and ears of grain that is used as a decorative motif emblematic of abundance. (Merriam Websters)

26. Take home messages • The Third World is hard to define in a manner that all can agree upon. • Development is also difficult, if not impossible, to define satisfactorily – it’s a “chameleon” word… • Therefore we need to be aware of theory as it underpins and constructs the meanings of these terms for various actors and subjects of development