Week 4 Journal

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Week 4 Journal

“Ubuntu”

is an ancient South African term that describes the interconnectedness of

humanity, the idea that the individual is who they are because of the humanity

they are surrounded by. This view of

society is unapparent in many of the development theories we studied this past

week, which raises questions as to how development projects can ever truly be

successful if they are not geared towards the betterment of the humanity that

they serve.

Theories

considered include the Modernization Theory, which is rooted in capitalism,

attempts to modernize underdeveloped countries to cure them of poverty. It

would come in the form of “policies intended to raise the standard of living of

the poor, often consists of disseminating knowledge about more effective

techniques of production” (Matunhu, 65). The downfalls of this theory are that

it is based on Eurocentric beliefs and how Western development came about, this

ideas cannot be as easily applied to South Africa, which has an economy based

around agriculture, raw materials and tourism.

The Modernization Theory does not take into account that “fighting

Africa’s poverty involves much more than simple displacement of the traditional

society by modern society”(Matunhu, 66). Another theory explored was the

Dependency Theory, something I found particularly interesting because it

addresses the parasitic nature, created by colonization, of Western

modernization and development with African underdevelopment and poverty. It was

noted in our readings that Europe’s development can be attributed to Africa,

and the same process that developed Europe underdeveloped Africa (Matunhu, 68).

A third theory on African development is

the African Renaissance Theory, which emphasizes internal efforts from within

the continent to focus on social justice, inequalities and sustainability as a

means of improving economically and developmentally.

Furthermore,

we discussed the economic theories that relate to the above development

theories. I noticed the dramatic variance in outcomes when capitalistic

theories and Marxist theories on economy structure thus implicating development

decisions. Most notably relevant to the South African economy is Adam Smith’s

“Absolute Advantage Theory” that would support the Colonial –Britain

exploitation of South Africa as an economy specialized in the extraction of

gold and diamonds (Sapsford, 75). David Ricardo’s presumptions (in his “Law of

Comparative Advantage”) that the exchange between South Africa and other

countries when trading is “mutually beneficial” is a grossly misguided

assertion because the price of raw materials is consistently less than the

profits made off of manufactured goods. These development and economic theories

once again relate back to a history of Colonialism, and demonstrate the

interconnectedness of many of our current-age’s issues with poverty, peace and

conflict, and economic crisis. As South Africans would say, Ubuntu, we are what we are because of

the people who shaped us.

Works Cited:

Matunhu, J. “A Critique of Modernization and Dependency

Theories in Africa: Critical Assessment”. African Journal of

History and

Culture. 3.5 (2011): 65-72. Web. 11 Oct. 2014." title="Link: http://www.academicjournals.org/article/article1381858116.>">http://www.academicjournals.org/article/article1381858116.>.

Sapsford, David. “Smith, Ricardo and the world marketplace

(1776-2007)”. The Companion

to Development Studies. Ed.

Vandana Desai and Robert B. Potter. 2 ed. London: Hodder Arnold Group, 2008. 75-80. Print.

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