The Dependency Movement: Scholarship and Politics in Development Studies [Paperback]

Robert Packenham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 21, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0674198115 | ISBN-13: 978-0674198111

In the first comprehensive scholarly treatment of dependency theory, Robert Packenham describes its origins, substantive claims, and methods. He analyzes the movement comparatively and sociologically as a significant episode in inter-American and North-South cultural relations. In his account, the positive intellectual contributions of dependency ideas, as well as their role in the costly politicization of U.S. scholarship, become evident and comprehensible.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A fascinating, relentless and extensively documented look at the politicization of the American academic community and what [the author] sees as its Marxist roots...It exposes many of the follies and hypocrisies within the Latin Americanist precinct.
--Kenneth Maxwell (Foreign Affairs )

The Dependency Movement ...offers a devastating analysis of dependency theory that is based on a solid bed of facts, quotations, and citations; and it proceeds to its task of demolition with relentless logic. Every inconsistency, every facile assumption, every unsupported assertion, and every dishonest intellectual dodge employed by the leading dependentistas is brought under Packenham's pitiless microscope...The book should be read widely, not only as a critique...but as a model of how to analyze texts carefully.
--Paul H. Lewis (Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs )

The definitive work on the subject. It is meticulously precise, eminently fair, and utterly persuasive in its conclusions. Everyone with an interest in Latin America and the whole area of development studies should read it.
--Peter L. Berger, Director, Institute for the Study of Economic Culture, Boston University

Review

The definitive work on the subject. It is meticulously precise, eminently fair, and utterly persuasive in its conclusions. Everyone with an interest in Latin America and the whole area of development studies should read it. (Peter L. Berger, Director, Institute for the Study of Economic Culture, Boston University ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Press (January 21, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674198115
• ISBN-13: 978-0674198111
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #481,290 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dependency theory dissected, February 16, 2003

By 

Denis Benchimol Minev "Amazonia" (Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Dependency Movement: Scholarship and Politics in Development Studies (Paperback)

This book focuses on dissecting the origins, development, and continued appeal of the dependency movement in Latin America, and its contagion of intellectuals in the US. With logic, the author begins to tear apart many widely held views by the movement's founders and drivers, which have absolutely no factual basis.

For all those interested in the history of economic development thoght, this book is very interesting and educational. For those interested in Brazil, I especially recommend it, as Fernando Henrique Cardoso, the former president, was one of the main founders of the movement. Of course, when he became a leader, he did ask that people "forget what he wrote" and adopted a strong economically orthodox stand.