Classical and Post-Colonial Approaches to Development: A Critico-Expository Assessment

Abstract

Over the past fifty years and beyond, the concept of development has shaped many public policies in both the industrialised "core" countries and the former colonial "periphery" countries, now known as the "less developed countries" (LDCs) of the "Third World." This notion encompasses "change" and "progress," rooted in the Enlightenment philosophers of Europe, who identified a rational foundation for ethical reasoning. Actions deemed "right" can be interpreted as promoting the "progress" of individuals and societies. Thus, "development" suggests a transformative journey towards a more "advanced" state of being for societies. Consequently, development theories aim to comprehend the mechanics of this transformative process. This paper examines various aspects of both classical and post-colonial development theories. A thorough grasp of classical theories remains beneficial for today's international development researchers, not only for understanding the historical context of their field but also because the modernisation and dependency theories have significantly shaped contemporary discussions. Furthermore, aspects of classical theories are still relevant in today's examinations of issues like global production, identity, and democratisation. With an emphasis on important ideas, frameworks, and scholarly fields within international development, postcolonial perspectives on development relate to a continuous conversation with the developmental imagination regarding globalisation. The main features of the two traditional models of development modernisation and dependency theories—are discussed in detail in this paper. An example will illustrate how these classical models appear in today’s development discourse. Following a brief introduction to postcolonial theory, the paper will explore several development practices, constructs, and academic domains with which postcolonial theory has interacted. It concludes with some succinct remarks.