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 sociologyWorld 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.© 2015 – WJEC / CBAC

Introduction to World Sociology

Countries ranked according to wealth

Rich countriesPoor 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 - Most Economically Developed CountriesNIC’s- Newly Industrialised CountriesFCC’s - Former Communist CountriesLEDC’sLess Economically Developed CountriesLLEDC’s - 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 well-being 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)

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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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