LectureLecture

GEOG 270GEOG 270

Fall 2007Fall 2007

Sept 28, 2007Sept 28, 2007

GEOG/SIS 335GEOG/SIS 335Geographies of the Developing Geographies of the Developing WorldWorld

What (the heck) is development?

Today’s Plan:Today’s Plan:

1.1. Where is the Third World, Where is the Third World, anyway?anyway?

2.2. What is development?What is development?

3.3. What is theory, and why do we What is theory, and why do we care?care?

What and Where is the What and Where is the “Third World?”“Third World?”

Synonyms?Synonyms?

► Poor countriesPoor countries► underdeveloped underdeveloped

countriescountries► developing developing

countriescountries► LDCLDC► Non-industrialized Non-industrialized

countries countries ► LICLIC

► non-aligned non-aligned countries countries

► global Southglobal South► backwards backwards ► less advancedless advanced► Majority WorldMajority World► ““two-thirds world”two-thirds world”

Three WorldsThree Worlds

Third & Fourth WorldsThird & Fourth Worlds

World SystemsWorld Systems

Human Development IndexHuman Development Index

World Bank GNP MapWorld Bank GNP Map

Least Developed CountriesLeast Developed Countries

Degree of Food DeprivationDegree of Food Deprivation

Although the term is not satisfactory, I Although the term is not satisfactory, I will tend to use “Third World” in this will tend to use “Third World” in this class…class…

What is What is Development?Development?

Defining DevelopmentDefining Development

““Gradual unfolding, fuller working out; growth; evolution…; Gradual unfolding, fuller working out; growth; evolution…; well grown state, stage of enhancement; product; more well grown state, stage of enhancement; product; more elaborate form….”elaborate form….”

- Oxford English Dictionary (adapted in Potter et al, 2004)- Oxford English Dictionary (adapted in Potter et al, 2004)

““Development is a founding belief of the modern world….In Development is a founding belief of the modern world….In development, all the modern advancements in science, development, all the modern advancements in science, technology, democracy, values, ethics and social technology, democracy, values, ethics and social organization fuse into the humanitarian project of organization fuse into the humanitarian project of producing a better world”producing a better world”

(Peet & Hardwick 1999)(Peet & Hardwick 1999)

““for two thirds of the people of the earth, [the] positive for two thirds of the people of the earth, [the] positive meaning of the word ‘development’ - profoundly rooted meaning of the word ‘development’ - profoundly rooted after two centuries of its social construction - is a after two centuries of its social construction - is a reminder of what they are not. It is a reminder of an reminder of what they are not. It is a reminder of an undesirable, undignified condition. To escape from it they undesirable, undignified condition. To escape from it they need to be enslaved to others’ experiences and dreams.”need to be enslaved to others’ experiences and dreams.”

(Esteva 1992)(Esteva 1992)

►Who “does” Development? Who “does” Development? (Development Actors)(Development Actors)

Development actors/subjectsDevelopment actors/subjects

Development actors/subjectsDevelopment actors/subjects

► Who has Development “done” to them? Who has Development “done” to them? (Development Subjects)(Development Subjects)

We must always keep in mind when you We must always keep in mind when you use the term “development,” most use the term “development,” most people will understand it differently people will understand it differently than you intend…than you intend…

What is a theory and why What is a theory and why do we care?do we care?

► “…“…a system of assumptions, accepted a system of assumptions, accepted principles, and rules of procedure devised to principles, and rules of procedure devised to analyze, predict or otherwise explain the nature analyze, predict or otherwise explain the nature or behavior of a specified set of phenomena.” or behavior of a specified set of phenomena.” ( American Heritage Dictionary)( American Heritage Dictionary)

► A foundation upon which we base our beliefs A foundation upon which we base our beliefs and actionsand actions

Theory Theory (Continued)(Continued)

►Even when we do not recognize or Even when we do not recognize or acknowledge it, we are acting (speaking, acknowledge it, we are acting (speaking, writing, mapping) under some form of writing, mapping) under some form of theory.theory.

►For instance, the way we assess our For instance, the way we assess our actions or those of others (i.e., actions or those of others (i.e., “progress” in development) depends “progress” in development) depends on the theories we deploy.on the theories we deploy.

Some Development Some Development TheoriesTheories

((but certainly not but certainly not all all …)…)

Modernization TheoryModernization Theory

►Most pervasive theory in development, Most pervasive theory in development, even todayeven today

►Characterizes societies as “traditional” Characterizes societies as “traditional” or “modern”.or “modern”.

1) Traditional 1) Traditional societysociety

Rostow’ 5 Rostow’ 5 Stages of Stages of GrowthGrowth

2) Preconditions 2) Preconditions for Take-offfor Take-off

3) Take-off3) Take-off

4) Drive to 4) Drive to maturitymaturity

5) Age of High 5) Age of High

Mass Mass Consumption Consumption (Hurray!)(Hurray!)

Dependency TheoryDependency Theory

•Economic and political systems different: Core and Periphery

•Structures of production not equal

•History is significant

•Scale

Cornucopian TheoryCornucopian Theory

There is an abundance – a nearly inexhaustible supply – of material resources, guaranteed by market mechanisms and ever-improving technology.

“Horn of Plenty” -- a curved goat's horn overflowing with fruit and ears of grain that is used as a decorative motif emblematic of abundance. (Merriam Websters)

Take home messagesTake home messages

►The The Third WorldThird World is hard to define in a is hard to define in a manner that all can agree upon.manner that all can agree upon.

►DevelopmentDevelopment is also difficult, if not is also difficult, if not impossible, to define satisfactorily – it’s impossible, to define satisfactorily – it’s a “chameleon” word…a “chameleon” word…

►Therefore we need to be aware of Therefore we need to be aware of theorytheory as it underpins and constructs as it underpins and constructs the meanings of these terms for various the meanings of these terms for various actors and subjects of developmentactors and subjects of development