“Dependence is dead, long live dependence and the class struggle” thus the title of an article by the dependency theorist André Gunder Frank, published in 1974 in Latin American Perspectives. Indeed, it has often been stated that dependency theory has lost its significance in explaining underdevelopment and has thus been “relegated to footnote status in the field of development studies”. Yet, in recent years, a lot of scholars have attempted to refute this statement, claiming that dependency theory still has its use in development studies, even though they have identified a number of flaws.
Emerging in parallel with other development theories in the 1950s, dependency theory mainly focuses on Latin America, the most important authors being Prebisch, Furtado, dos Santos, Frank and finally Cardoso and Faletto, whose theory this paper concentrates on. Most of the different approaches within dependency theory share several Marxist core assumptions, such as the construction of base (means and relations of production) and superstructure (the political, cultural and social consequences of these means and relations of production). On the international level, all politics, whether external or domestic, takes place within the framework of the capitalist world economy which determines the behavior of actors as well as patterns of interaction between them. In this paper, the question of whether dependency theory as presented by Fernando Henrique Cardoso and Enzo Faletto is still useful in explaining underdevelopment will be examined considering as example the events occurring in a typical example of an underdeveloped Latin American economy – Bolivia. The election of the left-wing populist Evo Morales potentially represents a paradigm shift for one of the poorest Latin American countries – a shift away from the neoliberal ideology towards a still capitalist regime with a socialist flavor to it (if one is to believe the declarations of Morales’s vice president Alvaro García Linera). Applying Cardoso and Faletto’s approach to the case of Bolivia reveals its strengths, but also some methodological as well as textual weaknesses. In order to show this, the first section will present their theory as exhibited in their publication Dependency and Development in Latin America and in an article published by Cardoso in the New Left Review in 1972. The second section focuses on the events in Bolivia, pointing at strong and weak points of the approach. Section four concludes.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Cardoso and Faletto's Dependency and Development in Latin America
- 2.1. Dependency Theory in International Relations
- 2.2 Dependency and Development in Latin America
- 3. Dependency and Development - The Case of Bolivia
- 3.1. The Economic Policies of the 1980s and 1990s
- 3.2. The success of social movements
- 3.3 The Government of Evo Morales
- 4. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the continued relevance of Fernando Henrique Cardoso and Enzo Faletto's dependency theory in explaining underdevelopment, using Bolivia as a case study. It analyzes whether the theory, despite its criticisms, offers valuable insights into the socio-economic evolution of a peripheral nation, particularly in light of recent political and economic shifts.
- The relevance of dependency theory in contemporary development studies.
- An analysis of Cardoso and Faletto's theoretical framework.
- The application of dependency theory to the specific case of Bolivia.
- Examination of Bolivia's economic and political trajectory, considering the impact of neoliberal policies and social movements.
- Evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of dependency theory in explaining Bolivia's development.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by addressing the often-repeated claim that dependency theory is outdated. It highlights the ongoing debate surrounding its relevance, referencing André Gunder Frank's work and the persistent interest in its application to understanding underdevelopment. The chapter introduces Cardoso and Faletto's theory as the central focus, outlining the paper's objective to assess its utility through a Bolivian case study, specifically focusing on the implications of Evo Morales's election and its potential departure from neoliberal policies.
2. Cardoso and Faletto's Dependency and Development in Latin America: This chapter delves into the theoretical underpinnings of Cardoso and Faletto's dependency theory, contextualizing it within the broader field of development theories emerging post-World War II. It distinguishes between the Neo-Marxist and structuralist approaches within dependency theory, highlighting the common thread of a center-periphery model and the exploitation inherent in the relationship between developed and underdeveloped nations. The chapter then introduces Cardoso and Faletto's work, Dependency and Development in Latin America, outlining its structure and methodological approach, emphasizing their comprehensive social science perspective that integrates socio-political factors with economic analysis.
3. Dependency and Development - The Case of Bolivia: This chapter applies Cardoso and Faletto's theoretical framework to the Bolivian context. It analyzes the economic policies of the 1980s and 1990s, the influence and success of social movements, and finally, the rise of Evo Morales's government. The chapter assesses the strengths and weaknesses of dependency theory in explaining Bolivia's development path, considering both the successes and failures of its application in this specific case.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Dependency theory, underdevelopment, Latin America, Bolivia, Cardoso and Faletto, Neo-Marxism, structuralism, center-periphery model, neoliberalism, social movements, Evo Morales, economic policies, political economy.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this academic paper?
This paper examines the continued relevance of Fernando Henrique Cardoso and Enzo Faletto's dependency theory in explaining underdevelopment, using Bolivia as a case study. It analyzes whether the theory, despite its criticisms, offers valuable insights into the socio-economic evolution of a peripheral nation, particularly in light of recent political and economic shifts.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include the relevance of dependency theory in contemporary development studies; an analysis of Cardoso and Faletto's theoretical framework; the application of dependency theory to the specific case of Bolivia; examination of Bolivia's economic and political trajectory, considering the impact of neoliberal policies and social movements; and evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of dependency theory in explaining Bolivia's development.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured into four chapters: An introduction establishing the context and objectives; a chapter dedicated to explaining Cardoso and Faletto's dependency theory; a chapter applying the theory to the Bolivian case study, analyzing its economic policies, social movements, and the Evo Morales government; and a concluding chapter. The paper also includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What is Cardoso and Faletto's Dependency Theory?
The paper delves into Cardoso and Faletto's dependency theory, situating it within post-World War II development theories. It highlights the theory's Neo-Marxist and structuralist aspects, emphasizing its center-periphery model and the inherent exploitation between developed and underdeveloped nations. The paper analyzes their comprehensive social science perspective integrating socio-political factors with economic analysis.
How does the paper apply dependency theory to Bolivia?
The paper analyzes Bolivia's economic policies of the 1980s and 1990s, the influence and success of social movements, and the rise of Evo Morales' government. It assesses the theory's strengths and weaknesses in explaining Bolivia's development path, considering both successes and failures of its application.
What is the significance of Evo Morales's government in this analysis?
Evo Morales's election and its potential departure from neoliberal policies are central to the paper's assessment of dependency theory's utility in explaining Bolivia's development. The paper examines whether his government represents a significant shift away from the patterns predicted by dependency theory.
What are the key criticisms of dependency theory addressed in the paper?
The paper acknowledges the frequent criticism that dependency theory is outdated. It addresses this by examining whether the theory, despite its criticisms, continues to provide valuable insights into underdevelopment in the context of Bolivia's recent history and political changes.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
The keywords include: Dependency theory, underdevelopment, Latin America, Bolivia, Cardoso and Faletto, Neo-Marxism, structuralism, center-periphery model, neoliberalism, social movements, Evo Morales, economic policies, political economy.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Nora Anton (Autor:in), 2006, Cardoso and Faletto's "Dependency and development in Latin America" - A Bolivian perspective, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/85362
