Dependency Theory Revisited (Routledge Revivals)

This title was first published in 2001. An important critical study of the theories of dependency both past and present. Since the theories of dependency are based on the Marxian notion of exploitation and backwardness, the book starts with the elaboration of the Marxian theory of development and underdevelopment. The book analyses various concepts and precepts of dependency as well as critically discussing the individual theories of Baran, Frank, Amin, Emmanuel, Prebisch and Singer. The contributions of more recent writers including Furtado, Kay, Wallerstein and Marini are also considered. The main focus of the book lies in the thorough analysis of all the important traditional as well as modern theories of dependency. The main message of the present book is that the phenomenology of dependency is still relevant as a methodology of study of development and underdevelopment. The book incorporates some pressing contemporary issues to give fresh flavour to the old dependency debate. A special feature of the book lies in the critical appraisal for each of the theories studied. The book is designed to serve as a valuable compendium for students of economic development and political economy and for those interested in the study of the economic backwardness of the Third World countries. Contents 6 List of Figures 9 List of Tables 10 Prefatory Note 11 1 The Ontology of Dependency 16 2 Karl Marx on Development and Underdevelopment 31 3 Paul Baran’s Analysis of Economic Backwardness and Economic Growth 43 4 Andre Gunder Frank’s Analysis of Development of Underdevelopment 56 5 Samir Amin On Unequal Development 72 6 The Structuralist Models 86 7 The Theories of Unequal Exchange 98 8 The Peripheral Writers on Dependency 117 9 Contemporary Issues in the Dependency Debate 148 Bibliography 183 Index 189