World Politics in a New Era Development

What Development Means Developed and developing states have different views The goals of development are constantly shifting Measuring development is problematic Example: China

Human and Social Development The UN’s Millennium Development Goals for 2015 Poverty Education Gender equality Child mortality Maternal health HIV/AIDs and other diseases Environmental stability International campaign to reduce the poorest countries’ debt burdens G-8 leaders agreement at the 2005 Gleneagles

Civil Society and Development Politically active, issue-organized public Internationally civil society is comprised of NGOs, MNCs, and other nonstate actors Domestically civil society includes all kinds of groups other than government itself Several theories focus on the impact civil society has on development

Modernization Theory Economic, political, and cultural conditions within states LDCs will develop only by shedding their traditional social, political, and economic institutions The fundamental obstacle to development is traditional culture Trade is seen as the engine of growth

Modernization Theory Social impact Demographic transition and urbanization Views urbanization as an essential step in development The city becomes the focus of the diffusion of new ideas, of science and technology, and of social mobility

Critiques of Modernization Theory Questions concerning the duplication of earlier paths Traditional social and political institutions are difficult to change The theory is Eurocentric The current international economic system is biased towards developed states

Political Development Takes a more narrow view of development Lack of consensus on which regime type is considered the most developed Use of democratization as measure Political rights and civil liberties Political beliefs and values represent a social framework

Political Development Almond and Verba (1963) Individual’s behavior was socialized Additional theories of political culture Patterns of individual orientations (behavioralism) Material interests and social class (materialism) Culture as a consequence of rational decisions Identity politics

Political Development Ronald Inglehart Link between economic development and democracy Robert Putnam Development of civil society Amy Chua Development leads to adjustments in political culture Constructivists Unified understanding and interpretation of politics among states’ elites Political culture drives the process of development

Economic Development Dependency theory Systemic level of analysis The structure of the world economy Inherently biased against poor countries Developing countries are dependent on exports of primary products Economies are highly vulnerable to price fluctuations

Economic Development Dependency Theory Unequal terms of trade Complaints against MNCs MNCs avoid paying their share of taxes Inappropriate technology transferred to the region MNCs do not bring capital into LDCs Control and manipulate the production of primary commodities Creating a neocolonial situation

Economic Development Critiques of Dependency Theory It has been proven false The plight of primary product exporters may not be as bad as originally claimed It ignores factors within the developing countries

Domestic-Economic Development Theories Import-substitution Industrialization (ISI) Encourages domestic production of goods traditionally imported Export-led industrialization Promotes industrialization through trade The Washington Consensus “Shock therapy” Rapid economic growth followed for many but at certain costs Sent many countries on a roller-coaster ride

Systemic-Domestics Structural adjustment programs (SAPs) Focus of the World Bank Intended to lower LDCs’ government debts Failed to take into account domestic economic, social, and political concerns Failed to consider the environmental impact of their policies SAPs were replaced with the Comprehensive Development Framework

Development Today The World Bank and the IMF have implemented “greener” policies Institutions and states are turning to two factors: Technology Opportunities for economic and political development Examples: mobile phones and the Green Revolution Microfinance Promotes development from the bottom up Focuses on the poorest of the poor

Corruption versus Courage Corruption stifles development Institutionalized (Example: Russia) Socialized (Example: Colombia) Always comes down to the individual (Example: Mohamed Suharto) Spans economics, politics, security, and human welfare