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Dependency And Underdevelopment In Africa: The Nigerian Experience
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 4]
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Understanding Dependency Theory
The
debates among the liberal reforms (prebisch). The Marxist (Andre Gunder
Frank) and the world system theorists (Waller Stein) was rigorous and
intellectually
quite challenging. There are still points of serious
disagreement among the various strains of dependency theories and it is a
mistake to think that there is only one unified theory of dependency.
Nonetheless, there are some core propositions which seems to underline the analysis of most dependency theorists.
Dependency
can be defined as an explanation of the economic development of a state
in terms of the external influences, political economic and cultural on
national development policies.
Dependency also is a historical
condition which shapes a certain structure of the world economy such
that it favours some countries to the detriment of others and limit the
development possibility of the sub-ordinate economies, a situation
include the economy of a certain group of countries is conditional by
the development and expansion of another economy to which their own is
subjected
an example of this could be traced from the colonial history. These
European came to Africa, introduced us to cash crops, which led us to
the moneterization policy, and at this level things started being
difficult, and people work so hard to get money this time. This
monetarization policy now led to debt crisis as a result of the
inability to meet up to this standards, and the debt crisis issue, now
resulted to brain drain and poverty in Africa and also the level of our
underdevelopment. Now with this example, it is noted that dependency is a
historical condition that shapes a certain structure of the world
economy that if favours some countries to the detriment of others and
limits the development possibilities of the sub-ordinate economies.
There
are three common features of these definition, which most dependency
theorists share, first, dependency characterizes the international
system as comprised of two sets of states, variously described as
dominant, dependent, center/periphery or metropolitan/satellite.
The
dominant states are the advanced industrialized nations in the
organization of economic co-operation and development (OECD). The
dependent states are those states of Latin America, Africa, Asia which
have low per capital GNP’s and which rely heavily on the export of a
simple commodity for foreign exchange earnings.
Second, both
definitions have in common the assumption that the external forces are
of singular importance to the economic activities within the dependent
states. These external factors includes multinational corporations,
international commodity markets, foreign assistance, communications and
any other means by which the advanced industrialized countries can
represent their economic interests abroad.
Third, the definition of
dependency all indicate that the relations between dominant and
dependent states are dynamic because the interaction between the two
sets of states tend to not only reinforce but also intensify the unequal
patterns. More over dependency is a very deep-seated historical
process, rooted in the internationalization of capitalism.
As such,
dependency theory here explains the present underdeveloped states of
many nations in the world by examining the patterns of interactions
among nations and by arguing that inequality among nation is an
intrinsic part of those interactions.
1.6.1 Method of Data Collection
The
method of data collection in this research work is the secondary mode
of data collection, first as stated in the research proposal. The
secondary mode of Data
collection here implies visiting of libraries, extraction of information from journals, newspapers and books.
1.6.2 Method of Data Analysis
Since
the method of data collection was the secondary mode of data
collection, or rather the non-reactive method of data collection, the
method of data analysis here, is the qualitative method of data
analysis. It is more explanatory in nature.
1.7 Hypotheses
1. There is a strong link between dependency and underdevelopment in Africa.
2. Foreign aid appears to be responsible for the underdevelopment of Africa.
3. Accountability and transparent leadership are capable of a gendering development in Nigeria.
1.8 Scope and Limitations of the Study
The
scope of this study centers around the dependency status of Africa,
particularly, how the dependency status endangers the economic
development of most African states. The scope of this study also
emphasis on how a sustainable development can be attained inspite of the
dependent nature of Africans and particularly Nigeria.
Limitations
Too
many factors stood as limitations to this research study, insufficient
finance, was one major problem faced during this research work. This
study also suffered the problem of data collection and management.
1.9 Operationalization of Concepts
In this study, some political concepts will be adopted or rather applied in relation to the study and they includes as follows
Oligarchy:
Government by the few, the logically exclusive categories of government
by one, the few or the many that have been widely deployed, but the
terminology has varied for example, aristocracy, is a form of government
by the few, Aristotle distinguished between rules who govern in their
own interests (Oligarchy). Sociologists have made claims about a
necessary connection between organization and oligarchy.
Hegemony:
When social class, exits power over others beyond that accounted for by
coercion or law, it may be described as meaning hegemonic, drawing on
the Greek word “hegemony†meaning chieftaincies. Thus she bourgeois was
regarded as hegemonic within capitalists society by gramsic, who
believed their power depended on the permeation by bourgeois values of
all organ of the society.
Elite: Privileged minority, a small group
of people within a larger group who have more power, social standard,
wealth or talent then the rest of the group restricting powers and
privileges in a society to a member of one small favoured group, and the
belief that this arrangement is justified by their support.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 4]
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]Dependency and underdevelopment in Africa is our main thrust which we try to relate the above to the Nigerian context. Dependency as we all know is a product of underdevelopment which is prevalent in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. It is certain that Nigeria is an independent nation, but it does not reflect in all the facts in the society since the super structures that form the society and state are dependent on foreign policy and factors. As we can see in this research work, we ob ... Continue reading---
