The missing link: Implications of the modernisation theory and the dependency theory in Africa’s quest for development.

Abstract

The problem of underdevelopment in Africa can neither be underscored nor over-emphasised. As such, Africa’s economic, political and social crises have been and continue to be a topical issue. This paper seeks to establish the missing link in Africa’s quest for development. African countries are trying to redress the effects of imperialism (a relation of dominance) which produced chronic conditions for perpetual poverty and underdevelopment. This paper argues that development is not purely an economic phenomenon, instead, development must encompass more than the financial and material aspects of life. It (development) must be perceived as a multi-dimensional process involving the re-organisation and re-orientation of entire economic and social systems. The paper also argues that the adoption of the former coloniser’s language, for instance, the dominant use of the English language in former British colonies has also been seen to have negative implications on the development of such countries. In other words, when people neglect their traditional structures, language, culture and values, it is tantamount to throwing away their identity, which apparently, impacts negatively on their development. The paper advances the argument by dependent theorists who advocate a ‘return to the source’ approach, that is, a return to traditional structures and the use of native languages in Africa’s quest for development. This is in contrast to the modernisation theory which postulates that developing countries should throw away traditional structures, language, culture and values and emulate Europe and The United States as models for development.