Final answer:
Dependency theory, which posits that rich nations exploit poorer nations leading to a cycle of dependence, aligns with the belief that global inequality is driven by core nations' exploitation of peripheral and semi-peripheral nations.
Step-by-step explanation:
A person who believes that rich nations exploit poor nations is indeed more likely to favor dependency theory over modernization theory. Dependency theory argues that global inequality is largely the result of exploitation by core nations (high-income) of the peripheral and semi-peripheral nations (middle-income and low-income). This exploitation creates a dependency where peripheral nations rely on core nations for economic growth, yet never achieve it due to segmented labor markets and control over capital and trade by the core nations.
Dependency theorists argue that policies such as import substitution and becoming less reliant on core nations for economic development are necessary for peripheral countries to progress. Dependency theory challenges the notion of free trade, positing that it actually deepens the wealth gap between rich and poor nations, often to the detriment of the latter. Conversely, modernization theory suggests evolutionary economic development through industrialization and technological advancement but is criticized for being Eurocentric and patronizing.
While modernization theory emphasizes internal factors in a country's development, dependency theory looks at the structure of the global economy and how external forces, especially those originating from the core nations, hinder the economic growth of poorer countries.