Definition of Dependency Theory
(noun) Theory 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
Syllabification: de·pen·den·cy the·o·ry
Audio Pronunciation
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
- Plural: dependency theories
- Not to be confused with world-systems theory.
- A type of theory.
Related Videos
Additional Information
- Word origin of “dependency” and “theory” – Online Etymology Dictionary: etymonline.com
- Baran, Paul. 1957. Political Economy of Growth. London: John Calder.
- Cardoso, Fernando, and Enzo Faletto. 1979. Dependency and Development in Latin America. Translated by M. M. Urquidi. London: University of California Press.
- Larraín, Jorge. 1989. Theories of Development: Capitalism, Colonialism, and Dependency. Cambridge: Polity Press.
- Rodney, Walter, A. M. Babu, and Vincent Harding. 1981. How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. Washington, DC: Howard University Press.
Related Terms
- capitalism
- economics
- global perspective
- globalization
- government
- poverty
- power
- state autonomy
- world-systems theory
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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 October 2, 2023 (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 October 2, 2023. https://sociologydictionary.org/dependency-theory/.
MLA – Modern Language Association (7th edition)
“dependency theory.” Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Ed. Kenton Bell. 2013. Web. 2 Oct. 2023. <https://sociologydictionary.org/dependency-theory/>.