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dependency theory

Definition of Dependency Theory

(nounTheory asserting that global economic and social inequality is caused by the historical exploitation by wealthy powerful nations appropriating resources from the least powerful poorer nations while limiting access to technology thus keeping the least powerful dependent on the most powerful.

Dependency Theory Pronunciation

Pronunciation Usage Guide

Syllabification: de·pen·den·cy the·o·ry

Audio Pronunciation

– American English
– British English

Phonetic Spelling

  • American English – /di-pEn-duhn-see thEE-uhr-ree/
  • British English – /di-pEn-duhn-see thIUH-ree/

International Phonetic Alphabet

  • American English – /dɪˈpɛndənsi ˈθiəri/
  • British English – /dɪˈpɛndənsi ˈθɪəri/

Usage Notes

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Works Consulted

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Cite the Definition of Dependency Theory

ASA – American Sociological Association (5th edition)

Bell, Kenton, ed. 2013. “dependency theory.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Retrieved March 29, 2024 (https://sociologydictionary.org/dependency-theory/).

APA – American Psychological Association (6th edition)

dependency theory. (2013). In K. Bell (Ed.), Open education sociology dictionary. Retrieved from https://sociologydictionary.org/dependency-theory/

Chicago/Turabian: Author-Date – Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition)

Bell, Kenton, ed. 2013. “dependency theory.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Accessed March 29, 2024. https://sociologydictionary.org/dependency-theory/.

MLA – Modern Language Association (7th edition)

“dependency theory.” Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Ed. Kenton Bell. 2013. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://sociologydictionary.org/dependency-theory/>.