ANTHR 102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 32: Dependency Theory, Neoliberalism, Modernization Theory
Anthr 102
Cultural Anthropology
Summer 2018
● Global World
○ Globalization
■ is the Reshaping of local conditions by powerful global forces on an ever-
intensifying scale. Globalization is not new, movement of people, food,
trade, culture is not new.
○ popular ideas about globalization include:
■ Interconnectedness
● Technological: transport, communication
● Economic: expansion of capitalism
● Social: migration
● Cultural: mass media, entertainment
■ Hybridity: New cultures and local practices emerge as a result of contact
○ Modernization: Cultures converge in the form of a “global culture” based on
shared technologies and values.
■ Modernization theory: assumes that all countries progress through the
same stages as they move from traditional (underdeveloped) to modern
(developed)
○ Cultural imperialism: More powerful cultures dominate globally, and displace or
assimilate smaller cultures.
■ The idea that some cultures dominate other cultures and that cultural
domination by one culture leads inevitably to the destruction of
subordinated culture and their replacement by the culture of those in
power.
○ Dependency theory: A theory that argues that the success of “independent”
capitalist nations has required the failure of “dependent” colonies or nations
whose economies have been distorted to serve the needs of dominant capitalist
outsiders.
○ World-systems theory (Wallerstein Wolf): A theory that argues that societies are
linked through a large scale economic system.it is also a rejection of
modernization theory. Also argues that capitalism incorporates various regions
and peoples into a world system whose parts are linked economically but not
politically.
■ Capitalist world-system emerged in Europe ca. 1500
■ Expanded via trade routes
■ Gradually grew to encompass the entire world, encompassing regional
systems (empires and economies)
■ Nation-state emerged to protect capital interests (political and military
power)
■ Unequal division of labour and resources
○ Core and periphery areas
■ Peripheral areas are least-developed
● Raw materials
Document Summary
Globalization is the reshaping of local conditions by powerful global forces on an ever- intensifying scale. Globalization is not new, movement of people, food, trade, culture is not new. Hybridity: new cultures and local practices emerge as a result of contact shared technologies and values. Modernization: cultures converge in the form of a global culture based on. Modernization theory: assumes that all countries progress through the same stages as they move from traditional (underdeveloped) to modern (developed) Cultural imperialism: more powerful cultures dominate globally, and displace or assimilate smaller cultures. The idea that some cultures dominate other cultures and that cultural domination by one culture leads inevitably to the destruction of subordinated culture and their replacement by the culture of those in power. Dependency theory: a theory that argues that the success of independent capitalist nations has required the failure of dependent colonies or nations whose economies have been distorted to serve the needs of dominant capitalist outsiders.
