Transcript Introduction to World Sociology Defining development

Introduction to World Sociology
Introduction to
World Sociology
Defining
development
What are the definitions of development and how do they
reveal value judgements? (Adapted from S Moore)
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Introduction to World Sociology
Introduction to World sociology
World sociologists focus on
the relationships between and
within countries, especially
economic and social
differences.
e.g. in 1997 the richest 1/5th
of the world’s population had
an income 78 times as great
as the poorest 1/5th.
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Introduction to World Sociology
The industrialised world is the richest(i.e. North America, Western
Europe, Japan and Australasia.)
The non-industrialised world is the poorest(i.e. most of Africa, South and
Central America, Indian subcontinent and most of East Asia)
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Introduction to World Sociology
The following characteristics have been used to rank
countries in terms of development or progress
Ranking into Separate Worlds
•
First world. (Western capitalist countries)
Second World (former communist countries)
Third World (the developing world)
Disadvantage: dated because of the collapse of the
USSR and we are all in one world!
Geographical ranking:
North and South
• Advantage - this is a quick rule of thumb
• Disadvantage - it is geographically incorrect as there are
many industrialised countries in the south e.g. Australia.
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Introduction to World Sociology
Countries ranked according to wealth
Rich countries
Poor countries
Advantage - it shows inequalities of wealth between countries.
Disadvantages –
i) it conceals inequalities of wealth within countries.
ii) does not show social progress e.g. increases in life
expectancy even if not a wealthy country.
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Introduction to World Sociology
Economic & industrial ranking of development or progress
MEDC’s NIC’sFCC’s LEDC’s
LLEDC’s -
Most Economically Developed Countries
Newly Industrialised Countries
Former Communist Countries
Less Economically Developed Countries
Least economically Developed Countries
Feminist ranking of development or progress:
Fourth World - this includes all women in a patriarchal world
(Radical Feminist).
Fifth World – this includes women who are used as a cheap labour
force (Socialist Feminist).
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Introduction to World Sociology
Two main ways of measuring development
1. Development as economic
wellbeing.
2. Development as social well
being.
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Introduction to World Sociology
Development as economic wellbeing eg GNP
Gross National Product :
Used by economists, functionalists, policy makers and New Right to
indicate position of countries in terms of development.
Advantages - allows for comparisons between countries.
Disadvantages –
1. Data can be unreliable (and thus not comparable).
2. Overlooks domestic production for home consumption and the
informal economy.
3. Conceals inequalities within countries.
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Introduction to World Sociology
Measuring Social Wellbeing
The United Nations devised the Human Development Index (HDI)
measures e.g. adult literacy rates, life expectancy at birth etc.
Those at the top of this index are seen as the most developed in
terms of social well-being, e.g. USA life expectancy is 76.4 years
and Nigeria was only 51.4 years.
But it is possible for countries to have a low GNP but a high HDI
e.g. Cuba.
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Introduction to World Sociology
Western influence on definitions and perceptions
of development or progress
Development is arguably influenced by western, industrial,
capitalist, patriarchal views because it is:
1. Ethnocentric,
2. has a negative view of cultural values of developing countries.
(e.g. extended families),
3. sees western industrialisation as perfect and ignores its own
problems such as poverty & pollution,
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Introduction to World Sociology
4
sees western Democracy as better than socialist models of
development,
5
creates problems in the developing world e.g. loss of homeland
and internal inequalities,
6
applies a ‘blanket approach’ to developing countries and
ignores diversity between and within them,
7
is seen by critics as a sham because its main aim is to exploit
and subjugate rather than assist the developing world. Thus
the widening gap between rich and poor countries .
(But the Asian Tiger economies do appear to have successfully
followed western development model)
© 2015 – WJEC / CBAC
Introduction to World Sociology
Alternative models of
development/progress
Those rooted in the religious beliefs of the
developing world, e.g. Islam.
Those who see liberation from the West as
the main way of development or progress.
Rejection of western-style democracy and
economics, e.g. Socialist countries such
as Cuba.
People centred/local models of
development, where the local community are
given a voice and power regarding their
progress.
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