๐Ÿ“œintro to political science review

Dependency theory

Written by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated September 2025

Definition

Dependency theory suggests that economic development in much of the Global South is blocked due to the exploitation and dependence created by more industrialized nations. It argues that wealthy countries enrich themselves at the expense of poorer countries, leading to a persistent state of underdevelopment.

Dependency theory Definition - Intro to Political Science Key Term | Fiveable