the differences in development between the nations of North and those
of the Southis is the fact that the nations of the North developed early?

Dear Sonila,

Proponents of dependency theory and World-System theory, myself
included, argue that the differences between North and South have a
lot to do with history.

The fact that the north “developed” earlier means that burgeoning
industries faced relatively little competition.  The system of
mercantilism also allowed countries to protect their industries with
tariffs and subsidies.

Today, the institutions that design and fund third world development
(the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, for example)
discourage protectionist measures in the interest of free trade.  The
south is expected to develop under different circumstances and rules
than did the north.

The early development of the north also corresponded to the age of
imperialism, during which northern countries colonized the south as a
source of resources and labor.  Dependency theorists argue that the
north could only develop as it did because it exploited the south.

Today formal colonization and slavery, which aided northern
development, are looked down upon.  In other words, the south cannot
extract resources and labor from colonies.

Again, different histories, different circumstances.  How can we
expect the same developmental results between North and South?

You might also consider how “development” is defined.  Is it according
to Northern or Southern cultural standards?

Some on-line resources you might find helpful are:

“Development Theory:  Third World Perspectives”
http://www.geo.wvu.edu/~oberhauser/Teaching/Regl%20Dvlp/DvlptTheory2a/

A summary of World-System Theory: 
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/wallerstein.html

I teach a course on this subject and strongly recommend the following
books:

Escobar, Arturo.  1995.  Encountering Development:  The Making and
Unmaking
	Of the Third World.  Princeton University Press.

Wallerstein, Immanuel. 1974-1989. The Modern World System.  Volumes
I-III.
	New York:  Academic Press.

Frieden, Jeffry and David Lake.  1995.  International Political
Economy:
	Perspectives on Global Power and Wealth.  New York:  St. Martin’s
	Press.

I hope this is helpful.  If anything is unclear please request a
clarification before rating this answer and I will be happy to assist
you further.

Regards,
gitana

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Request for Answer Clarification by sonila-ga on 28 Nov 2002 17:56 PST

some have maintained that the primay reason why there are such vast
differences in development betwwe the nations of the North and those
of the South is the fact that the naions of the North developed
earlier.Do you agreeor dsagree? I know that this is maybe asking to
much, but what evidence would u give to support your view.
Thank you very much, i am looking forward to your answer.

Best,Sonila

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Clarification of Answer by gitana-ga on 28 Nov 2002 20:25 PST

Sonila,

If my original answer did not make it clear that I agree that the
differences between North and South have a lot to do with the fact
that the North "developed" earlier, let me do so now.

The web sites and reading list I gave provide a lot of evidence that
the North had many advantages while developing that the south does not
have today:  the protections of mercanitilism, colonies from which to
extract resources and slavery.  How can we reasonably expect the south
to develop like the north when the south is "developing" under a
different set of circumstances and rules?

Regards,
gitana

it really helped me, but not for the second part of my question wich i
forgot to put.(lol)