183k views
1 vote
Which theory do most anthropologist fully support today (modernization or dependency)?

User Mike Godin
by
7.4k points

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

Dependency theory is the more widely supported framework among anthropologists and sociologists for understanding global inequality, critiquing modernization theory as Eurocentric and oversimplified.

Step-by-step explanation:

Most anthropologists and sociologists today tend to support dependency theory when examining issues of global inequality. This theory argues that global stratification is largely a result of exploitative relationships between core nations and less developed peripheral and semi-peripheral nations. Unlike modernization theory, which promotes the idea that all societies progress through similar stages of development, dependency theory highlights the imbalances in the global economy created by the historical exploitation and continuing manipulation of poorer countries by the wealthier ones.

It's acknowledged, however, that perspectives can vary and that the topic is complex and multifaceted. Dependency theory's critique of modernization theory as Eurocentric and overly simplistic is particularly influential in contemporary discussions about global stratification and the cycle of dependence. While some researchers argue for the potential benefits of modernization, the majority stance tends to favor dependency theory as a more accurate representation of the complexities of the global economy.

User Pimaster
by
8.4k points