Development sociology is a branch of the sociology, which with the study and analysis of social, economic and political conditions in developing countries is concerned. Exist numerous overlaps with the Entwicklungsethnologie.

Term

Since the term of "“developing countries"” - like its predecessors ("“it underdeveloped countries"”) and successor ("“third world"”) - always also hollow politically is here e.g. assumed and that it gives such a thing like a "“development"” that she is to be understood positive, and that the countries subsummierten under it are also capable of of this development - it is not harmless. In addition it - for a so-called "“special one"” sociology - seizes very far out, because the sociology also only one country covers practically the whole technical discipline.

Theory formation and - change

Into the 1960er years the first German university chairs and institutes for development sociology were furnished (Universities of and Bielefeld, at that time also carried of an optimistic view of development assistance. It was noticeable already here that single studies (Karl Heinz pepper, Paul Trappe etc.) were probably submitted, theoretical beginnings however - with the exception of Peter Heintz - for a long time lacked.

With the political fall of the independent (former) colonies and pretty often even with its change too failing states this optimism shrank.

It became increasingly clear that the following inherent acceptance had to be urgently analyzed:

• There is such a thing like a linear development, on the basis of a status quo, running up to a certain goal.
• The economic and/or political development of a country takes place relatively independently of their cultural and social characteristics.
• It applies to therefore retrieve the principle of the retrieving development, the so-called developing countries step by step development successes of the industrial nations can.
• The means of development assistance are put to the government of the respective country at the disposal.
• Own experts are sent into the respective country, in order to train the conversion of the projects.

At present decentralized, regionalisierte, so-called grass root beginnings are favored.

The problem of the analysis of effects from development projects remains existing however due to the complexity both the assigned strategies and their effects further.

See also

• Dependency theory,
• Regional sociology

Related links

• http://www.ded.de German volunteer service (DED)

German society for technical co-operation (GTZ)

Articles in category "Development sociology"

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