Development Theory: An Analytical Framework and Selected Application

THE HUMAN and social sciences have now divided into a large number of academic disciplines, many of which have made important contributions to development theory. But the rapid accumulation of knowledge such specialization makes possible is not without its problems. Differences in terminology and methodology and insufficient interdisciplinary cooperation create misunderstandings and apparent or real conflicts between disciplines. In this note, I suggest a framework for a concise interpretation of contending theories of development and for description of a variety of development processes. In doing so, my aim is to stimulate interdisciplinary discussion of development problems. I begin by suggesting a distinction between a number of broadly defined structures, which are relevant for development theory. I am aware that some researchers define structures as static, but since development of human groups and societies is a dynamic process, I propose to deal with