SAMIR AMIN'S THEORIES OF UNDERDEVELOPMENT: A CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE CULTURAL ASPECT OF DEVELOPMENT
SAMIR AMIN'S THEORIES OF UNDERDEVELOPMENT: A CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE CULTURAL ASPECT OF DEVELOPMENT
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Date
1999-03
Authors
BEIDO, JATAOU DIOFFO
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Abstract
This thesis is a critical review of the works of Samir Amin on the cultural
dimensions of development. It investigates the importance of the cultural aspects of
development programs and how neglecting the cultural aspects of development hinders
development programs. Around 1990, Amin, without abandoning the theories of
development he had earlier described as the world system outlook, added and
concentrated on the cultural aspects of development which he felt are more important.
Amin was one of the first to assert that culture could have a positive role in development,
when earlier economists had assumed that development required adopting the norms and
values of western societies. This work considers the various definitions of culture, and
Amin's model of cultural dimensions of development as described in his three works
Accumulation On a World Scale (1974), Unequal Development (1976) and
Maldevelopment (1990). It also investigates other areas that Samir Amin left out or
discussed only briefly, examining his position and criticisms that others have made of his
work. There are many people in the third world who agree with Amin that the cultural
aspects are important, but not all agree on which aspects of culture are most important
to development. Some reject all influences of western culture, others see that one must
select the good from the bad in any culture. As Amin states, taking culture into
consideration is vitally important for development planning. His role in criticizing the
neglect of culture in development is significant. However, there are areas of culture that
has impact on development that Amin has neglected: an adequate definition of the role
of democracy in development, the role of law in development, and gender and
development. Amin's proposal of delinking as a way for countries to develop should not
be interpreted as servering all political, economic and cultural ties with the West, for
instance, for that is unrealistic and impracticable. The author therefore concludes and
recommends that planned development should take the cultural dimensions and other
social issues into consideration for effective execution.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL
FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD
OF DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.Sc) SOCIOLOGY.
FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA.
Keywords
SAMIR AMIN'S,, THEORIES,, UNDERDEVELOPMENT,, CRITICAL REVIEW,, CULTURAL ASPECT,, DEVELOPMENT