The Principal Theories of Development and Formulation of Public Policies in Developing Countries
Development theory embodies a cluster of theories and models that have been propounded and developed with regards to how best positive change can be achieved in societies. The theories have been built from a pool of nuances drawn from multiple socio-scientific domains and approaches. This section of the paper focuses on the influence (either existing or surmised) of development theories to public policy formulation and implementation in developing countries. Peter Preston (1996) defines policy as a deliberate or purposed blueprint of action to govern decisions towards the achievement of reasonable (rational) outcomes.
The import of term makes it squarely applicable on government, the private sector institutions, various groups and individuals. Policy differs from rules and law. Rules and laws constitute the legislature and the judiciary aspect of government yet policy focuses on guiding the decisions making processes such that all variables and the decisions set are modeled to facilitate feasible decision-making towards the kind of actions perceived to precipitate the best of outcomes.
In light of the foregoing, it can be stated that policy making for developing counties becomes a key aspect of the transformation and development thrusts. IT must thus draw cues and run in tandem with the host of development theories to ensure the accomplishment of set goals. “Policy or policy study may also be understood as the process entailing the making of critical institutional decisions including the establishment of different alternatives like program or expenditure priorities” (Peter Preston 1996). According to the scholar the identification and selection of the best alternatives is largely shaped on the perceived impact that the selected and other alternatives may have. The scholar further outlines that policy can also be interpreted as “…political, social, managerial, focus and administrative, etc”
One of the salient and mainstream theories of development is the modernization theory which stipulates that developing countries may take significant cues from the states and processes that the counties that belong to the developed world went through. In its core theory holds that developing countries must follow the development processes and methodologies of the develop countries. Thinkers like Walt Rostow and A.F.K. Organski came up with stages of development through which every country goes through in the long process of development. The contributions of Rostow came through his popular book, “The Stages Of economic Growth” which was authored in defense of free enterprise model of economics particularly for developing countries.
From another angle the modernization theory has been relished by contributions form Samuel Huntington who presented development as a liner process that every country must go through. Developing countries have to draw form the celebrated contribution of foregoing insights which are antithetical to Classical Liberalism in their view of the state a state as a central player well suited to facilitate development, especially in developing countries. M. P. Cowen (1996) asserts that “Unlike the models of socialism and communism which vest much power what people, modernization place the government at the center to drive to multi-dimensional societal development”. This places an inalienable onus and impetus for development on the state and hence governing authorities in developing countries must the leading and the most active players I the efforts to bring about significant societal development in the conceptual precincts of this model.
One salient dimension of the modernization they particularly significant for the developing countries is the education aspect pulled in through the contributions of Talcott Parsons’ functional sociology who delineated the properties that differentiate ‘modern’ and ‘traditional’ societies. In his sociological thrust Parsons hold the aspect of education as key and indispensable in the quest to create modern individual and societies. The foregoing insights are based on the understanding that the introduction of technology in developing economies will catalyze change and hence the central importance of the education aspect.
This aspect of the modernization theory is particularly essential for the developing countries most of which still register nominal literacy rates paralleled by staggeringly grim skills dearth statistics. Policy formulators in developing countries thus will benefit quite considerably from the modernization theory which emphasizes the aspect of education. M. P. Cowen (1996) concurs, “Policymakers in developing countries must prioritize the aspect of education as no development in the contemporary world can be accomplished no sustained without education”.
The modernization theory holds again its core that developing countries must partner with developed countries to learn from the developed economies. This is perceived to enable the developing economies to develop faster than the developed countries and that facilitate the accomplishment of equal growth and development. Developing countries tapping the merits of this development model will thus consider partnering with various developed countries in form of bilateral trade agreements or educational exchange programs. Paquette, Laure (2002) asserts; “Any programs tailored to facilitate knowledge exchange between the developed and the developing countries may be perceived to contribute significantly to the precipitation of desired developments outcomes”.
The dependent theory of development on the other end comes as direct contracts to the import of the modernization theory. Modernization theory holds that development and underdevelopment are determined by internal conditions within each economy advocating for partnership between the developed and underdeveloped, the dependency model of development on the other end holds that development culminates from underdevelopment and that underdevelopment comes from development. The model thus is a proponent to the philosophically Marxist ideas that advocating of the cutting of ties between the developed and underdeveloped such that the underdeveloped may focus on the internal matters to drive development.
An example of policies based on this model is the Import Substitution industrialization policy. Such a policy is feasible for protecting a developing economy on dimensions of international trade which can be plagued by ills such ass currency volatility, unpredictable financial markets. Paquette, Laure (2002) concurs, “The Imports substitutions can be adopt by developing concerned most about cushioning themselves from the upheavals in global markets yet the theory does not provide much on concepts germane for multi-dimensional societal development”.
The World Systems Theory came after criticism of the dependency theory and has enjoyed much popularity ads other theories. The salient tenets of the theory are marked by acute distrust for the State which is viewed as the group of elite, not in touch nor concerned about the plight of the poor. The theory also holds that industrialization can be held as a measure of development. The State theory followed criticism of the World Systems theory. The World Systems Theory arguably the most contemporary of all theories presented basing o the strong thrust on linking the economy with politics. It can be argued that most developing countries have suffered great retrogress on the path of economic and multi-faceted societal development owing their typically dictatorial political paradigms.
Trends relatable to the tenets of the State Theory of development State indicate that mature democracies so the West are the highly developed while dictatorships especially in Africa and the world over are the most underdeveloped. Developing countries are under pressure to mutate and political domains and facilitate the development of open societies that will facilitate and catalyze social progression towards multi-dimensional societal growth. Peter Preston (1996) aptly puts it, “Success for developing countries must be expected from public policy and development strategy that draws from the entire development model tenets that influence and furnish contemporary public policy making development planning”.