GPHC 2019-2020

Dependency theory is a theory popularized in the mid 20th century that criticizes modernization theory. The theory gained popularity around the time that many former colonies of western powers were gaining their independence, and is rooted in marxism. Dependency theory assumes that newly independent and underdeveloped nations (the periphery) are disadvantaged in the global economy, and that richer nations (The centre) will benefit off of that. The centre gained power by exploiting the periphery, and this unequal economic relationship still remains today. The theory is rooted in the idea that the centre and the periphery will ever be able to hold equal influence in the world, and that the periphery will keep being exploited.  The centre can keep them down due to lots of economic interaction with the centre and the periphery being in favor of the centre though it may not look like it. For example, a centre country may provide aid to a periphery country in the form of things such as i...

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help." - Ronald Reagan     Neoliberalism is an economic and social theory that rose to preeminence throughout the late 20th century, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom. Inspired by many of the principles of  classical liberalism, neoliberalism is generally hostile to government intervention, and views "the free market" as the most efficient method of resource allocation. This can be contrasted with the Keynesian consensus that existed during the post-war era, which was less skeptical of government regulation and taxation. In the United States, the Keynesian era was marked by steep progressive taxation and sweeping government programs like the New Deal, which entailed direct government presence in the economy. The neoliberal era, on the other hand, was a time of privatization, deregulation, and so-called liberalization. A mixture of the...

Callista Wilson  Mr. Roddy  Global Politics and Historical Contexts 8 December 2019 The dependency theory of development is rooted in the idea that developing countries will be unable to become equally powerful and influential as many of the western capitalist countries.This is because the economic relationships they form will not be designed in their favor. In other words, countries which are in the process of building their economies hold less of a stance in terms of negotiation, so other countries are able to benefit at the expense of developing countries through tariffs, and by providing aid in the form of infrastructure. Although it may seem like providing developing countries with roads, railways, and other means of modern transportation would help them, it can help their economies, however it also hurts the people living within those countries. Many developing countries have raw materials which they do not have the economic or technical means to e...

Discuss one theory of development - your choice!  Include research into one example of this theory in action, somewhere in the world now or in history. The dependency theory evolved from colonialism that began in the 15th century and become popular during the 1960's and 1970's. Its basis relied on the model of developed, prospering countries, and enforced the ideal that all  underdeveloped countries had to do was follow the same steps of development that their developed peer countries had followed. In this system of belief countries are divided between those that thrived during the period of colonialism and those that were conquered and lagged behind. Much of the Dependency Theory revolves around the idea that the West has exploited underdeveloped countries and that is how they hold onto power in present day. Much of this theory relies on developed countries taking advantage of the cheap resources, like labor and raw material that the...

Emily Routbort  Mr. Roddy GPHC 7 December 2019 Modernization Theory On 25 September 1980 the One Child Policy was implemented into the China’s norms. It was in 1950 when the population growth started to grow larger than the food supply that China had at the time. China started promoting birth control and in 1958 a plan to rapidly modernize China’s economy was implemented. This modernization that China tried to accomplish was called, Mao Zedong’s Great Leap Forward. This resulted in a horrible famine which further resulted in the deaths of millions of Chinese people. Once the famine was over, the government still continued to promote birth control and they promoted the postponing of having children. This became more serious and eventually a law which resulted in the one child policy in the 1980s.  As explained we can see that the one child policy was the result of an attempt of modernization.  We can also see that the one child policy somewha...

Zoey Weinstein Mr. Roddy GPHC 12/6/19 GPHC HW: Blog Theories of Development This blog will discuss the definition, implications and critiques and examples of the modernization theory. The modernization theory came to be in the 1950’s to explain how developed countries like the U.S. and other Western nations developed successfully. By the end of WWII, many African, Asian and Latin American countries didn't develop and modernize like said Western nations. There was also a fear amongst these Weatern nations that communism would spread to these countries at the expense of the U.S.’s power. Thus, the modernization theory emerged, aiming to provide a non-communist resolution to worldwide poverty. The idea was to do this by specifically industrialized capitalist way of development, heavily including the promotion and spread of democratic and other Western values. There are two aspects to this theory: an understanding of why these poorer countries are undeveloped and a solution...

Izabella Curtis  Mr. Roddy  GPHC 24 December 2019  Future of work- Blog GRAPHS: Exhibit One- Graph one shows the economic performance of unique outlooks of job growth after the Great Recession in different financial environments. This graph is based in 25 major cities with high-growth hubs including their own unique urban vibes, the graph indicates that two-thirds of job growth in the last decade. The graph also contrasts cities with little to no job opportunity growth.  Exhibit Two- Graph two shows how population growth is also a factor of job growth. Many residents have been moving out of mega cities due to the population spike from high-growth hubs and even urban peripheries. Part of this spike is due to immigrants entering the domestic population but they merely scratch the surface. The growing economic hubs would expect more people to move from distressed areas to thriving job markets.  Exhibit Three-Graph three shows how the wave of...