Dependency theory and urbanisation in Southern Africa : a conceptual critique

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Marxist development theory has been in trouble recently. As it hasbeen applied in Southern. Africa, this theoretical stream originatedin the theories of Arrlre Gunder Frank and Imnanuel Wallerstein. Fromthe critique against these theories, most notably by Ernesto Laclauand Robert Brenner, a new theoretical direction arose. This wascalled modes of production theory. However, today this theory is alsoin crisis as a result of EP Thampson' s withering attack on Althusser.Amid the debris of such old theories, same writers feel that Marxistdevelopment theory is at an impasse. New directions are being soughtin Weber and various micro-theories.These writers are being unnecessarily pessimistic. New theories arealready emerging from the ruins of the old, as one would expect themto.The central concern of this thesis, then, is the new direction inwhich Marxist development theory might move in order to go beyond itspresent dilemma's in its consideration of the Southern Africancontext. There are three main elements necessary for viable renewal.All of these draw on Anthony Giddens' structuration theory.The first is a theory of the postcolonial or peripheral state whichavoids instrumentalist and functionalist notions. These latter seethe state as subjected to the interests of the ruling class or to thelogic of capitalist development. But state incumbents in peripheralcountries have distinct enough interests and anxieties, on the onehand, and sufficient resources, on the other hand, to make them aseparate class with a significant measure of independence over andagainst both national and international bourgeoisies.The second innovation in Marxist development theory concerns therelationship between core and periphery. Core-periphery interactionis conceptually worth retaining on condition that it jettisons thestagnationist, quantitative, unidimensional and uninodal assumptionsintroduced by Frank and Wallerstein. Core and periphery thus interactat international, national, regional and intra-urban levels. Such levels are superimposed 'on to' each other and operate simultaneously.In addition, cores exercise their dominance overperipheries in multifarious ways which include both trade am classmechanisms. Exploitation is therefore not a quantative, zero-sumgame, but a qualitative relational one. Finally, once one movesbeyond neat notions of discrete systems each with a single core, itbecomes possible to think of multiple systems, not only superimposed'on top of' each other, but also existing 'next to' each other. Theinteraction between defies neat boundaries.The final innovation in Marxist development theory concerns thenotion of structure. Earlier Marxist writers, following Althusser andPoulantzas, were strongly structuralist positivist. LaterMarxists, particularly among social historians in South African, bycontrast, have been influenced by subjectivist and relativisttheories.Structuration theory rejects both of these polarities. Giddensproposes that social analysis must start with subjective meaning, assubjectivist theories would say. Unlike subjectivist theories,structure must be seen as constitutive of subjective meaning. At theepistemological level Giddens also rejects relativism. In this view aform of critical theory which applies to both the object and thesubject of theory can replace vicious with virtuous cycles ofknowledge.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University