Development: Industrialisation & Urbanisation
Sociology: AQA A Level, topic 8.3.2
What is Industrialisation? What is Urbanisation?
Industrialisation is where a country moves from an agricultural means of production to a manufacturing means of production.
Industrialisation & development
- Industrialisation is understood to promote development as factories can manufacture higher value goods for sale at home and abroad.
- The job opportunities created by factories gives wages to workers, who in turn spend this in their local economy.
- Industrialisation in turn leads to urbanisation as individuals and families move to towns and cities in search of work.
Modernist & dependency theory
- Modernisation theorists suggest that industrialisation led to the West developing and so this is what other countries should do if they want to develop.
- Dependency theorists (Classical Marxists) suggest that whilst industrialisation is important for development, it is equally important that the developing nation itself controls this process, not the West.
People Centred Development Theory
- People Centred Development Theory argues that the idea that in order to develop, a nation needs to industrialise, is very Eurocentric.
- Countries like Bhutan have high ‘happiness’ ratings amongst its citizens and they have not industrialised.
Test yourself on Development: Industrialisation & Urbanisation
What is industrialisation?
Which theorists suggest that, because industrialisation led to the West developing, other countries should follow suit?