Dependency Theory (ft. China and Africa)



Dependency theory explains the failings of unindustrialized countries to develop despite financial aid from more developed countries, as well as how the Modernization theory may fall flat. Instead of pointing out internal factors of the countries’ society and/or culture and blaming those for the lack of development, dependency theory focuses on external factors; the primary ones being the relationships between different countries and how they interact with each other. The dependency theory argues that no matter what developing countries do to copy industrialized 1st world countries, whether it’s using western aid to build infrastructure, developing industries, or adopting western values, it’s ultimately all in vain. Due to the perceived power disparities built into the global economic systems, the undeveloped countries are held in a rat race, and stay stuck in the same dynamics. It’s clear to see the Marxist influence in the theory. The concepts of how social/economic/structural inequality is rooted in an unequal system as opposed to being blamed on the faults of the individual (whether that be of a state or a person), as well as the opinions that the only way to shift the power imbalance is through radical change. One of the solutions of over throwing the country’s leaders who have ‘betrayed’ it is heavily derivative of Marx’s beliefs around the necessity of the proletariat overthrowing the bourgeoisie. I can understand the prevalence of concepts from this theory of many people in my generation’s ideologies. At a time when there’s disappointment in how our own economy and governments letting us down, people are motivated to adopt more marxist ideas. Thus, the willingness to accept marxist ideas and criticize the powers that be, combined with a more globalized world in which people have more access to understanding the lives of people from underdeveloped nations and their stories of oppression through colonialism lead to young people agreeing with much in the dependency theory. 

An interesting, recent example of this theory is China’s exploitation of African countries and their resources with investments that end up making the country poorer due to debt. What’s a bit different in this example is that China is neither a western country, or a first world country, however it is ahead enough of these african countries to assume a similar role as colonizers in the past. This follows the idea of the dependency theory that developing countries will begin duplicating the global system of relations (including the core and periphery) among themselves. China benefits from these countries by gaining access to their valuable natural resources such as crude oil, iron ore, and cotton, as well as gaining more influence through the soft power of trading with these countries. The issue is that the african governments are racking up huge debts to Beijing, forcing them to be dependent on China’s economy.

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