Modernization/dominant paradigm Dependency paradigm Alternative paradigm/another development/participatory

1. Development paradigms

2. Development Paradigms
Since World War II, three major paradigms or
theories of development have emerged:
1. Modernization/dominant paradigm
2. Dependency paradigm
3. Alternative paradigm/another
development/participatory

3. Modernization/Dominant Paradigm
Origins in free trade and neo-classical
economics. Development is viewed as a kind of
social change in which new ideas are introduced
in order to provide higher per capita incomes,
GDP and higher living standards through more
modern production methods, industrialization,
trade liberalization, economic reforms.

4. Modernization/Dominant Paradigm
Rationale for modernization theory:
1. History of industrialization and economic
growth in West
2. Success of Marshall Plan in the rebuilding of
post-war Europe
3. Adoption of centralized government and
economic planning by former European colonies

5. Modernization/Dominant Paradigm
4. Cold War geopolitics and the spread of
communist ideology
5. Evolutionary theory (Social Darwinism)
6. Influence of statistics and quantitative social
sciences with the assumption that development
was neutral, comparable and measurable.

6. Stages of Economic Growth
• Walt Rostow (1964), The Stages of Economic Growth: A
Non-Communist Manifesto
• At different times in history, each society will pass through
identifiable stages of development—from primitive,
subsistence agriculture to modern, urban, industrial,
consumer-driven economy
• Economic stages are accompanied by development of
political institutions, education and civil society
• Pace of development will vary; at any point in history,
societies will be at different stages, but development is
inevitable

7. Modernization/Dominant Paradigm
Key theorists:
Daniel Lerner (1958), The Passing of the
Traditional Society
Everett Rogers (1962), Diffusion of Innovations
Wilbur Schramm (1964), Mass Media and
National Development

8. Critiques of Modernization
• Unilinear, top-down, centralized
• Favored spread of capitalism
• Social and cultural norms viewed as a barrier to
development
• Negative impacts of industrialization
• Lack of attention to media content

9. Critiques of Modernization
Credibility of “trickle-down” approach
Rising income inequality
In Brazil in 1960s, 5% had 46% of national
income, high unemployment rate vs. impressive
growth rate, power concentration among elite
(leading to inequality)
Economic indicators do not give an adequate
picture of the quality of life for individuals at the
bottom

10. Critiques of Modernization
Some religions with different value systems (e.g.
Buddhism, Hinduism) were seen as incompatible
with modern science, technology, ideology of
progress
Gender bias:
Assumed patriarchal order, and a limited role for
women in development
Overlooked women’s unequal access to
technical training, education, rights to land,
etc.

11. Basic needs approach (1970s)
• Foreshadowed human rights-based approach by
placing emphasis on adequate food, clean water,
shelter, education, security, transportation, and
participation in decision-making
• Life expectancy, infant mortality, and literacy are
indicators of quality of life (Grant, 1978)

12. UN Human Development Index
(HDI)
• Origins in annual Development Reports of the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• Devised by Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq in
1990 "to shift the focus of development economics
from national income accounting to people-centered
policies.” Worked with group including Indian
economist, philosopher and Nobel laureate Amartya
Kumar Sen to create HDI which measured:
• Life expectancy
• Adult literacy rate
• GDP per capita PPP

13. Dependency Paradigm
• Theoretical basis in neo-Marxism, which views
modernization as a continuation of colonialism
and imperialism
• The state of dependency is an external condition
that obstructs national development objectives

14. Dependency Paradigm
• Existing global economic relations, dominated by
the industrialized North, contributes to
underdevelopment
• The state of dependency the result of flow of
raw materials and resources from developing to
developed countries

15. Dependency Paradigm
• Looks ahead to critiques of globalization,
interrelated world economy and digital divide
• Developing country should disassociate itself
from world market controlled by developed
nations, and seek self-reliance, develop domestic
industry and markets

16. Dependency Paradigm
• Calls for a New World Economic Order and a
New World Information and Communication
Order (UNESCO)
• Critique of cultural and media imperialism, e.g.
Jeremy Tunstall, The Media are American

17. Critiques of Dependency Paradigm
• Over-emphasis on external factors as barriers to
development
• Ignored social inequality, corruption and internal
problems
• Like modernization, focused on economic
development

18. Alternative/Participatory Paradigm
Emerged in mid-1970s in context of civil rights,
peace, women’s and environmental movements
in the West, and liberalization in developing
countries.
Development considered as a widely
participatory process of social change
Development includes not only economic
development, but social, educational, and
cultural development

19. Alternative/Participatory Paradigm
Rejects universal, top-down, economic-based
perspectives on development
Each society, region and group should identify its
own pathway to development
Smaller, more targeted projects adapted to local
needs, addressing many areas of human
development

20. Alternative/Participatory Paradigm
Development should:
Alleviate poverty and satisfy basic human needs
Promote popular participation at all levels
Promote society’s self-reliance
Promote equal access to resources
Be sensitive to environmental concerns
Consider local cultures, values and norms

21. Alternative/Participatory Paradigm
Development needs are not only in the
developing world, but in regions of the
industrialized world
Rejects top-down, one-way approaches to
communication
Supports small-scale, two-way, interactive
participatory communication
Use of indigenous knowledge, folk media,
interpersonal channels

22. Critiques of Alternative Paradigm
•Utopian ideology
•Lack of central coordination
•Participation and advocacy are
Western concepts