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Feras Allouwoime
Dr.JohnSon
Sociology
30 November 2015
Poverty & Dependency
Global stratification is an extension of social stratification, which is merely the distinct
classification of people into large, general groups based on certain characteristics specifically,
power, property, and prestige (Pearson, 1). Global stratification is this basic precept applied on a
global scale to classify countries, and is generally persisted and described through three unique
concepts: colonialism, world system theory, and the culture of poverty (Pearson, 2). Dependency
theory is strongly correlated with this concept, as it emphasizes the idea that powerful countries
exploit less powerful ones for their own benefit (Boundless, Glennie & Hassanaien). Colonialism
in particular is of interest to dependency theory, as it explains both the origins of how countries
have developed over the years including specific patterns of poverty (Glennie & Hassanaien),
as well as how the relationships between countries today still reflect these ideas, whether through
trade or foreign debt (Boundless). If the discussion is one of an end to poverty, then dependency
theory is a framework that still provides useful insight, despite widespread disuse.
Since the globalization of the world has become more focused, and relationships have
gradually tried to focus on more mutually beneficial arrangements, the concepts of dependency
theory have grown into wide disuse, and in some cases face outright rejection (Glennie &
Hassanainen). However it seems this is more related to the proponents of global stratification
intending to be more optimistic of the outlook, rather than an inherent flaw in the theory itself.
The exploitative quality of dependency theory seems to be the primary concern for most people,

as it most likely presents the sense that someone is being taken advantage of. However it is also
hard to justify that this is not still often the case. Countries have merely gotten subtler in their
exploitative ventures, making use of methods such as foreign debt, which ends up causing
smaller countries to expend more resources than they are building their own economies with
(Boundless). This should not be taken to mean that there are absolutely no advantages for the
exploited countries, however the relationships are still very much exploitative of the indebted
country. Brazil is an example of a country with a rapidly growing economy, yet which still has an
incredible amount of poverty and malnourishment (50%) in its population, despite being the
worlds second largest exporter of agricultural goods (Boundless). This represents a major human
development issue, as it detracts from the peoples ability to achieve material and psychological
security (Kantner, 2) instead, making them means to an end.
Four general categories of theories exist to explain global inequality (W.W. Norton), the
most viable (according to this perspective, anyway) being the dependency theories. However
there are also market oriented theories, which state that cultural and institutional barriers exist
that prevent effective development (W.W. Norton). This does still however rely on the
assimilation to a common culture, which again reflects exploitative nuances. World-systems
theories basically stratify the global economic players, and somewhat resembles dependency
theory, though takes a somewhat more optimistic stance on it; in this case, it focuses on long
term global economy conditions, and global commodity chains that affect global interests and
erase national borders (W.W. Norton). State-centered theories, as the name implies, are focused
on the role of government in economic development, and as such tend to view them as central to
solutions (W.W. Norton). While each theory has its valid principles, there is no doubt that

dependency theory still adequately explains the relationships between the global and regional
economies, regardless of whether or not some theorists think it is overly pessimistic.

Annotated Bibliography
Boundless. Dependency theories. Boundless, 21 July 2015. Nov. 2015.
<https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociologytextbook/global-stratification-and-inequality-8/sociological-theories-and-globalinequality-72/dependency-theories-428-8541/>.

This resource provides information about dependency theory in general, in a practical

context, and is especially helpful in providing examples of its application in modern
terms, particularly with the exploration of Brazils economic situation. The source is
strongly credible because it contains a significant amount of information on sociological
perspectives that is presented in a fairly balanced and accessible manner. Everything
within this source has been consistent with other sources on dependency theory, and this
source contributes to the discussion even further with effective examples.

Glennie, Jonathan. Dependency Theory Is It All over Now? The Guardian. The
Guardian, 4 June 2014 Nov. 2015. <http://www.theguardian.com/globaldevelopment/poverty-matters/2012/mar/01/do-not-drop-dependency-theory>.

This article in The Guardian describes how dependency theory is generally considered
defunct because of the more optimistic message that many modern leaders hope to send
through their models of relationships. Incidentally, this source takes a sort of opposing
stance, claiming that there are still very much traits that match the outlook of dependency
theories, however they have become much more subtle. Apart from being published by a

recognized news source, the source is strongly credible and useful because it does not
merely explain what dependency theory is or why it is appropriate, but also discusses
why people who are against it feel the way they do, without necessarily taking away from
this stance.

Kantner, John. MAJOR ISSUES IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT. Encyclopedia of Life

Support Systems 1. (2000): n.pag. Nov. 2015. <http://www.eolss.net/samplechapters/c11/E6-60-01-00.pdf>.

This fairly brief source is actually a short chapter of a larger work by John Hopkins
University Professor John Kantner. This resource is used mainly to explore the basis of
human development in global stratification, and was selected largely for its strong
academic association. While the context is not directly aligned with the relationship
between poverty and dependency so much, it does effectively provide insight into human
development as a more universal concept, which is utilized in the paper.

Pearson. Chapter Seven: Global stratification. Nassau Community College. 2013. Nov.
2015. <http://www3.ncc.edu/faculty/soc/feigelb/soc201online/summary/ch7.pdf>.

This chapter from a Pearson publication is provided by Nassau Community College, and
is used to explain some basic background concepts on global stratification, to make the
introduction and analysis more effective. The source was selected largely because it is a

highly recognized academic publishers material provided through an educational

institutions website, and it effectively covers the general bases.

W.W. Norton. Chapter 9: Global inequality. W.W. Norton. 2011. Nov. 2015.
<http://www.wwnorton.com/college/soc/introductiontosociology8/ch/09/outline.aspx
>.

This resource is provided by W.W. Norton, and looks at sociological perspectives of

global inequality. The material is also a more general exploration of inequality overall,
starting with social inequality and moving to global inequality. However it effectively
walks through the steps without adding too much extraneous material, and overall the
content of the website, and the digital book upon which this chapter is based reflects a
professional and academic level of integrity.