Critique of Dependency Theory

1. Criticisms of Dependency
Theory
 Some countries which have close links with the North
have recently shown economic development. For
example, Taiwan, South Korea and Brazil
 Some countries such as North Korea, Cuba, China and
Tanzania have tried to break off links with the North but
they have not succeeded since they still depend on the
North in one way or another. For example, these
countries use technology imported from the North
 It is difficult for small countries to raise enough
investment capital on their own to break off links with
the North

2. Criticisms of Dependency
Theory
 If countries break away from the North they will lose all
the benefits of international trade
 If developing countries produce all the goods they need,
this will probably be a less efficient use of resources
because when using resources we must conserve and
leave some for future generations.
 In a global world economy, which is linked together in
several ways it is impossible to cut off all links with the
north
 People often aspire and admire the Northern lifestyle,
therefore they object when their governments do not
allow them to import western manufactured goods.

3. Strengths of Dependency
Theory
 It looks at both political and economic aspects of
development
 It treats the world as one system and show; the
importance of linkages between countries
 It helps us to understand some of the bad effects of
colonialism
 It makes it clearer that even when the colonies
became independent, economic and political powers
remained with the countries of the north.