"I can win an argument on any topic, against any opponent. People know this, and steer clear of me at parties. Often, as a sign of their great respect, they don't even invite me."
Dave Barry
US columnist and humorist
Dave Barry
US columnist and humorist
Let me begin this development-focused entry with an unrelated digression. Six days ago, leading aircraft manufacturer Boeing unveiled its newest creation, the magnificent Boeing 747-8. Long awaited as Boeing's response to the full length, double deck Airbus A380, the new and improved 747-8 is the result of years in the making. Though earlier versions of the aircraft have already been tested, the newest member of Boeing's aerial fleet is the first non-cargo aircraft in the series. Though the 747-8 does not have the same capacity as the behemoth A380, it is more efficient in terms of both its weight and fuel usage per passenger. I would further like to add that it is a beautifully designed aircraft, and if visual aesthetics were a key determinant in measuring the performance of an aircraft, the 747-8 would far outclass its larger and more hideous counterpart, with a sleek design that is accentuated even more dramatically when compared with the bloated manatee of an aircraft that is the A380. It should be noted that Airbus has a tradition of producing ugly, or at least comically abstract looking aircraft. To illustrate, I kindly refer the reader to observe the Airbus Beluga, aptly named for its appearance that does, in fact, resemble a beluga whale. Somewhat ironically, the Beluga is used to transport parts of aircraft to an assembly center in Spain, where the EADS facility pieces them together. The official website for the new 747-8 can be found here.
Now then, on to theories of economic development. In the current field of economic development, there are three primary theories into which nearly all others can be grouped. They are given below:
I. Modernization
II. Dependency
III. Post Development
Modernization Theory holds that countries can be categorically divided into the realm of modern societies and slower moving, backward societies. The distinction between the two focuses mainly on the technological capabilities of each individual country, and the correlated structure of their respective economies. Modern societies, viewed as technologically advanced, fast moving, and highly adaptive, have assumed a dominant position within the contemporary global economic framework, while backward countries are viewed as primitive and often subordinate to these modern societies. Modern societies are heavily correlated to Western societies, with the exception of Japan. The assumption in modernization theory is that backward countries will pursue policies that will enable them to lessen the gap between themselves and the modern societies, thereby achieving a more influential role in dictating the global economy.
Dependency theory is similar to modernization theory, insinuating that underdeveloped countries are economically dependent on developed countries. The decisions made by the state governments of dependent countries are unimportant, as the economic structure of that individual state is based on the economic policy of developed nations with which the underdeveloped state may trade. Underdeveloped states in this scenario legitimize their own economic role through the interests of countries that are economically influential. States classified as developing would correspond to the dependent group, while developed economies would fall under the independent category.
Contemporary theories on economic development have matured greatly since US President Harry Truman proclaimed a new “era of development.” Having expanded from the more narrow views of Gross Domestic Product and per capita income, the primary focus of development has moved away from centering on an aggregate rise in prosperity and the current contextual framework includes acknowledgement, if not full consideration, of additional concepts such as capabilities and distinctions in implementation strategy due to cultural variance. Nevertheless, from the perspective of the Post Development school of thought, contemporary developmental practices and theories remain heavily and impartially skewed toward the Western conceptualization of socio-economic advancement and the realities of its experience in attempting to introduce such methodologies to the developing world.
Scholars such as Arturo Escobar and Wolfgang Sachs have criticized the existing lens of development, specifically highlighting the widespread perception of the global North as being superior and progressive to the global South, which in turn is viewed as backward and basic. Post Development Theory states that countries in the developing world have been arbitrarily classified as impoverished, and have been compelled to adopt Western methodologies in order to reduce poverty. It also states that the Western definition of development, and furthermore the lifestyle characteristics of Western society, may not be applicable, desirable, or even possible for other countries to achieve. The adoption of Western values will lead only to the erosion of indigenous culture, thereby narrowing the scope of human existence.
It is this last theory that most interests me. A strong case can be made for proving the disproportionate influence of Western thought in the current understanding of development. In the context of my current studies in India, we have already observed large scale Westernization within the emerging generation of India, a trend that is likely to continue to grow as aggregate prosperity increases. The consumption mentality, once alien to most of the world, is becoming a mark of societal advancement and economic maturity. Especially within the youth, secularism and materialism have taken over from Hindu or traditional Indian thinking, with the effect that Indian culture is beginning to more closely resemble that of the United States.
When one steps back to consider the larger picture, the essential question remains whether the objectives that many citizens of the United States hold are applicable to individuals from other societies in diverse and far away parts of the world. Do Indians really care about living in a suburb with a five bedroom house and a two car garage? Is it realistic to expect the fulfillment of India's economic development to create another, larger version of the United States? No one individual can authoritatively answer these questions, but the fact remains that the social mentality of India is rapidly becoming assimilated with that of the West. Simply because it is impractical to own a luxury sedan in India does not mean that such vehicles are not desired. Furthermore, the economic disparity in India dwarfs the gap between the US rich and poor. While in the US, CEOs on average earn around 400 times the salary of their employees (meaning that they earn more in one day than their employees do in one calendar year), in India the bottom rungs of society extend much deeper. Impoverished families in rural India live in a way more akin to the peasantry of bygone centuries rather than citizens of the contemporary global community.
Post Development theory is not perfect. Though it makes strong criticisms of current ideas, it offers no feasible solutions of its own. The inherent problem is that no strategy exists for incorporating traditional values into a process that simultaneously prepares a national economy for a liberalized and global trade regime. Until there is a methodology through which the intrinsic value of traditional values can be quantitatively measured and subsequently infused into a developmental policy, the Western influence will continue to have significant and far reaching impacts on the developing world without any means of the developing nation to facilitate improvements in its economic framework. The greatest fallacy in this phenomena, in my view, is that India represents a unique opportunity to challenge the Western conceptualization of economic development. That it is not doing so could potentially lead to the quasi-universal institutionalization of Western values in the region of South Asia, eliminating the best chance that humanity has for freeing itself from its present, narrow minded orientation.
I. Modernization
II. Dependency
III. Post Development
Modernization Theory holds that countries can be categorically divided into the realm of modern societies and slower moving, backward societies. The distinction between the two focuses mainly on the technological capabilities of each individual country, and the correlated structure of their respective economies. Modern societies, viewed as technologically advanced, fast moving, and highly adaptive, have assumed a dominant position within the contemporary global economic framework, while backward countries are viewed as primitive and often subordinate to these modern societies. Modern societies are heavily correlated to Western societies, with the exception of Japan. The assumption in modernization theory is that backward countries will pursue policies that will enable them to lessen the gap between themselves and the modern societies, thereby achieving a more influential role in dictating the global economy.
Dependency theory is similar to modernization theory, insinuating that underdeveloped countries are economically dependent on developed countries. The decisions made by the state governments of dependent countries are unimportant, as the economic structure of that individual state is based on the economic policy of developed nations with which the underdeveloped state may trade. Underdeveloped states in this scenario legitimize their own economic role through the interests of countries that are economically influential. States classified as developing would correspond to the dependent group, while developed economies would fall under the independent category.
Contemporary theories on economic development have matured greatly since US President Harry Truman proclaimed a new “era of development.” Having expanded from the more narrow views of Gross Domestic Product and per capita income, the primary focus of development has moved away from centering on an aggregate rise in prosperity and the current contextual framework includes acknowledgement, if not full consideration, of additional concepts such as capabilities and distinctions in implementation strategy due to cultural variance. Nevertheless, from the perspective of the Post Development school of thought, contemporary developmental practices and theories remain heavily and impartially skewed toward the Western conceptualization of socio-economic advancement and the realities of its experience in attempting to introduce such methodologies to the developing world.
Scholars such as Arturo Escobar and Wolfgang Sachs have criticized the existing lens of development, specifically highlighting the widespread perception of the global North as being superior and progressive to the global South, which in turn is viewed as backward and basic. Post Development Theory states that countries in the developing world have been arbitrarily classified as impoverished, and have been compelled to adopt Western methodologies in order to reduce poverty. It also states that the Western definition of development, and furthermore the lifestyle characteristics of Western society, may not be applicable, desirable, or even possible for other countries to achieve. The adoption of Western values will lead only to the erosion of indigenous culture, thereby narrowing the scope of human existence.
It is this last theory that most interests me. A strong case can be made for proving the disproportionate influence of Western thought in the current understanding of development. In the context of my current studies in India, we have already observed large scale Westernization within the emerging generation of India, a trend that is likely to continue to grow as aggregate prosperity increases. The consumption mentality, once alien to most of the world, is becoming a mark of societal advancement and economic maturity. Especially within the youth, secularism and materialism have taken over from Hindu or traditional Indian thinking, with the effect that Indian culture is beginning to more closely resemble that of the United States.
When one steps back to consider the larger picture, the essential question remains whether the objectives that many citizens of the United States hold are applicable to individuals from other societies in diverse and far away parts of the world. Do Indians really care about living in a suburb with a five bedroom house and a two car garage? Is it realistic to expect the fulfillment of India's economic development to create another, larger version of the United States? No one individual can authoritatively answer these questions, but the fact remains that the social mentality of India is rapidly becoming assimilated with that of the West. Simply because it is impractical to own a luxury sedan in India does not mean that such vehicles are not desired. Furthermore, the economic disparity in India dwarfs the gap between the US rich and poor. While in the US, CEOs on average earn around 400 times the salary of their employees (meaning that they earn more in one day than their employees do in one calendar year), in India the bottom rungs of society extend much deeper. Impoverished families in rural India live in a way more akin to the peasantry of bygone centuries rather than citizens of the contemporary global community.
Post Development theory is not perfect. Though it makes strong criticisms of current ideas, it offers no feasible solutions of its own. The inherent problem is that no strategy exists for incorporating traditional values into a process that simultaneously prepares a national economy for a liberalized and global trade regime. Until there is a methodology through which the intrinsic value of traditional values can be quantitatively measured and subsequently infused into a developmental policy, the Western influence will continue to have significant and far reaching impacts on the developing world without any means of the developing nation to facilitate improvements in its economic framework. The greatest fallacy in this phenomena, in my view, is that India represents a unique opportunity to challenge the Western conceptualization of economic development. That it is not doing so could potentially lead to the quasi-universal institutionalization of Western values in the region of South Asia, eliminating the best chance that humanity has for freeing itself from its present, narrow minded orientation.
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