Publication Details
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to raise a discourse on the concepts of development and underdevelopment and discuss them based on the theories of development and their perspectives. The terms have been evaluated using modernization and dependency theories. The former theories see development as synonymous with the western models. The latter theories argued that the backwardness of the underdeveloped countries is an outcome global economic inequality and exploitation. The study adopts literature/desk review, in secondary data were reviewed to address the study objective. As a multidimensional concept, development is conceived as any significant change that involves economic, socio-cultural, political and even environmental aspects of a country. Issues of gender and economic wellbeing and equality, political inclusion or participation, social justice, and peace and stability are all important when it comes to the subject of development. Underdevelopment, on the other hand, is the antithesis of development represented with backward indicators, such as low per capita income/GDP, low level of literacy, and low level of technology, weak economic and political institutions, political instability and fragile statehood. In view of this, the paper concludes that development and underdevelopment are two sides of the same coin.