Underdevelopment of countries
Dependence on underdevelopment
Dependent development
Lack of development
Dependence on economic and social underdevelopment
Economic and social underdevelopment
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| Nature | |
Underdevelopment occurs when some resources are not used to their full socio-economic potential, with the result that local or regional development is slower than it might be. As a system of self-reproducing hard-core poverty and stagnation, it is a complex system of mutually supporting internal and external factors that allow the less developed countries only a lop-sided development process. It hinges on the industrialized world's uneven economic conditions and the changes in the structure of the international division of labour since the Second World War; includes the division of the world into rich and poor countries as well as the disparities with in poor countries between their rich and poor inhabitants; and is convolutedly linked to the developing countries' deteriorating trade position The economic and social development of many developing countries is being held back by backward economies and social systems in which peasants and intermediate urban strata predominate. Almost all the developing countries suffer from large-scale hidden and partial unemployment exacerbated by an increase in population due to the decrease in child mortality. Their unequal trade situation stems from their dependence upon primary products (usually not more than three) for their export receipts. These commodities are often: in limited demand in the industrialized countries (for example: tea, coffee, sugar, cocoa, bananas); vulnerable to replacement by synthetic substitutes (jute, cotton, etc); or are experiencing shrinking demand with the evolution of new technologies that require smaller quantities of raw materials (as is the case with many metals). Prices cannot be raised as this simply hastens the use of replacement synthetics or alloys, nor can production be expanded as this rapidly depresses prices. Consequently, the primary commodities upon which most of the developing countries depend are subject to considerable short-term price fluctuation, rendering the foreign exchange receipts of the developing nations unstable and vulnerable. Development thus remains elusive
| Incidence | |
Underdevelopment severely affects potential growth and stability for virtually all the world's developing countries (which include the majority of independent countries in Central and South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia; the main exceptions being South Africa, mainland China, Taiwan, and Israel). Most of these countries were colonies or semicolonies of the the imperialist powers or were dependent on them
| Claim | |
As the industrialized countries continue to rely on their economic superiority and on their monopoly associations in the developing countries, they take advantage of the growing indebtedness of the underdeveloped nations (particularly as regards the scientific and technological advancements the underdeveloped countries are so eager to participate in) and try to keep them in a subordinate, underdeveloped position by strengthening the system of neo-colonialism Counter-claim The core problem is not the lack of development or stagnation, rather there has been too much development of an inappropriate kind
| References | |
Between Underdevelopment and Revolution: a Latin American perspectiveClimate and World Order: an inquiry into the natural cause of underdevelopmentOn Capitalist UnderdevelopmentDevelopment and Underdevelopment in Historical Perspective: population nationalism and industrialization
| Organizations | |
| Broader | |
Deterioration of development processUnpreparedness
| Narrower | |
Socio-economic povertyUnderemploymentSocial underdevelopmentEconomic underdevelopmentRural underdevelopmentWeakness of socio-economic infrastructureDeficiencies of developing countriesInadequate lawsRegional underdevelopmentVulnerability of least developed countriesTechnological underdevelopmentInadequacy of governmental decision-making machineryTraditionalismUnderutilization of potential in local communitiesLack of modernizationCultural underdevelopmentPolitical immaturity
| Related | |
ComplacencyPsychological alienationIncreasing unsustainability of global developmentDesert nomadismDomination of countries by transnational corporationsMinimal export promotion by transnational corporationsUnderproductivityNon-development of countries
| Aggravates | |
Military and economic hegemonySocial insecurityRegional disparitiesLack of international cooperationBurdensome cost of religious ceremoniesDeteriorating quality of life
| Aggravated by | |
SuperstitionCorruptionIgnoranceUnsustainable population levelsSocial stratificationMultiplicity of languages in a national settingCaste systemTrade barriers against developing countriesNet outflow of capital from countriesEconomic imperialismUnderprivileged linguistic minoritiesInadequate international map of the worldAnimal worship as a barrier to developmentInequality in distribution of energy resources among countriesInadequate research and development capacityBilateralism in aidIneffective population controlObscurantismInadequate international judicial systemLack of social mobilityTotemismNomadismMediocrity of government leadersLack of long-term development assistanceFailure of development policiesApathyUnrecognized needs for growth
| Reduces | |
Destruction inherent in development
| Reduced by | |
SocialismCommunismCapitalism
| Strategies | |
Developing information technologyDeveloping environmental leadershipPromoting investment in developing countriesApplying science sustainablyExpanding trading opportunities for developing countriesAccelerating sustainable development in developing countriesSupporting technical cooperation among developing countries on poverty reductionIncreasing technical assistance to developing countries to design and operate efficient tax systemsCompensating developing countries for shortfalls in commodity export earningsDeveloping nuclear methods in agricultureEnhancing export supply capabilities of developing countriesIncreasing incomeReforming domestic trade policyMaintaining democratic political foundationProviding adequate financial resources to developing countriesImproving efficiency of tradeSupporting developing country effort to provide shelter to the poorDeveloping technical competence in dryland agricultureFacilitating access of developing countries to pollution control knowledge and technologiesDeveloping codes of conduct for politiciansDeveloping water pollution control technologiesDeveloping sustainable agriculture in humid areasStrengthening scientific and technological capacityPromoting community self-determinationDeveloping pollution control technologiesPromoting sustainable development through world trade agreementsDeveloping efficient draught animal powerIncreasing aid to developing countriesOrganizing community spaceDemonstrating modern farm technologyDeveloping home power supplyRestricting production in primary commodities in developing countriesStrengthening cooperation between developing countriesDeveloping corporate leadership rolesDeveloping grassroots political voiceForging community-oriented curriculumDeveloping agricultural devicesDeveloping better community marketsDeveloping community power accessProviding community servicesDeveloping marketable tinned foodsEngaging in national developmentDeveloping diversified wood productionDeveloping practical business leadersEncouraging saving in developed countriesCultivating landSupporting sustainable development of small island developing countriesDeveloping community leisure activitiesDeveloping gracious leisure spaceDeveloping effective home managementDeveloping available community resourcesDeveloping community teaching facultyDeveloping socio-physical community structuresDeveloping community management schemeDeveloping grassroots leadership networkDeveloping external tradesDeveloping expanded political contextDeveloping community leadershipDeveloping leadershipDeveloping new social institutionsImproving existing communitiesDeveloping agricultureDeveloping economically and sociallyDeveloping political systemsReducing vulnerability of arid developing countriesRemoving trade barriers against developing countriesSupporting developing countriesUsing underdevelopmentMinimizing disadvantages of improved food production in developing countriesImproving food production in developing countriesProviding export incentives for developing countries productsReducing disparities among developing countriesReducing disparity between industrialized and developing countriesBalancing exports and imports of land-locked developing countriesUnbalancing exports and imports of land-locked developing countriesImproving public debt relief for developing countriesIndustrializing developing countriesImproving capacity of developing countries to organizePreserving social inequalityStabilizing shifting agricultureProviding sufficient developmentAbstaining from developmentProviding sufficient formal education in developing countriesProviding sufficient integration of transport systems among neighbouring developing countriesLimiting exchange of skills among developing countriesIncreasing exchange of skills among developing countriesExposing effective negative loans from development banks to developing countriesDeveloping democracyEstablishing new industries
| Human development | |
| Values | |
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