Dependency Theory In The Film Darwin's Nightmare

After viewing the film Darwin’s Nightmare, it is easier see how dependent theory is applied in the real world. Tanzania can be used as a case study for dependent development, as well as many other impoverished nations in Africa. According to lecture, dependency theory states that global capitalism has a “core” (the rich), and a “periphery” (the poor). Resources of all sorts flow from the periphery of poor and underdeveloped states to the core of wealthy states, enriching the latter at the expense of the former. As mentioned in the article, dependency theory arose as a reaction to modernization theory, an earlier theory of development. Modernization theory states that all societies progress through similar stages of development, and that today’s “core” nations have been tasked with helping the underdeveloped nations out of poverty and along this supposed path of development by means …show more content…
He says “the children of Angola receive guns for Christmas, the children of Europe receive grapes”. Dependent development comes full circle through this revelation. Despite helping the African economy somewhat by purchasing from them, European arms dealers are doing much more damage by supplying these war torn countries with weapons. These precipitate wars, many of them civil wars involving child soldiers. By bringing these weapons from Europe to Africa, the arms dealers, pilots, etc., are keeping these impoverished nations frozen in their development. War is the only alternative for many children and men, with the Mwanza security guard, a veteran of the Tanzania-Ugandan war, stating that he wished there was a war going on because it pays better. It is easier to see why, when showed these circumstances, impoverished nations like Tanzania have made little or no strides in their quality of living in many, many years as they are stuck in this torrid