Development

Abstract

Questions on this topic appear most frequently on AEB, Cambridge, London and Welsh Boards. They cover the following areas:

• 1 Key concepts

  • (a) The meaning, definition and problems associated with terminology; e.g. development; underdeveloped; third world; modern; modernisation; traditional societies.

  • (b) The sociology of modernisation.

  • (c) The sociology of underdevelopment.

  • (d) Possible measures of development.

• 2 Theories of development

  • (a) Functionalist views: modernisation theory.

  • (b) Marxist views: underdevelopment: dependency theory.

  • (c) Weberian views: diffusion theory.