GEOG 1HB3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: World-Systems Theory, Walt Whitman Rostow, Dependency Theory
12 Dec 2018
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What is development: the world is marked by striking spatial variations in terms of well being : the haves and have nots. We refer to these variations in well-being in terms of levels of development: a continuum. Development: a process of improvement in the material conditions of life. Typically, we think of development in mostly economic terms (standard of living), and this is usually measured in terms like gdp, gni, etc. Countries/regions are assessed by their economic power; their accumulation of wealth. Development can also be thought of more holistically: quality of life, equality, and well-being. We generally think about development as a continuum between two points. South vs. north: third world vs. first (capitalist) and second (socialist, underdeveloped vs. developed, developing vs. developed. Characteristics of the less developed world (ldw) in relation to the mdw: higher poverty rates, higher mortality; higher fertility, lower literacy, less industrialization, etc. Following the major de-colonization movements of the 1960s: colonies achieved political independence.
