The research question of this paper, first of all, necessitates an outline of the main tenets of the dependency theory.
Thus, the first sub-question will be: How does the dependency theory account for the underdevelopment in the South? The second research question provides a closer examination of the composition, the details and the evolution of trade policy between the EU and developing countries. Therefore, the second chapter will address the sub-question: How has trade policy and development cooperation of the EU with the developing country manifested itself, and what are the circumstances under which the trade regimes of the EC towards developing countries have come into existence?
Based on a better understanding of EU trade policy, the effect of EU trade on developing countries will subsequently be analyzed. The question that underlies the third chapter is: Have the trade policies of the EU contributed to the external constraints which hamper the development of developing countries?
Table of Contents
Chapter I: The theoretical insights of dependency theory: the ambitious and radical strand of Frank and Amin
Chapter II: Evolution of EU trade policy and its circumstances
Chapter III: An Analysis of Preferential Treatment by the EU: Preferences that matter?
Objective and Thematic Focus
This thesis examines the extent to which the trade policies of the European Union contribute to the external constraints hindering development in the Global South, specifically applying the theoretical lens of dependency theory.
- The theoretical tenets of dependency theory, particularly focusing on the works of André Gunder Frank and Samir Amin.
- The historical evolution and institutional development of EU trade regimes, including association agreements and the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).
- The impact of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on the export performance and development opportunities of developing countries.
- The relationship between colonial history and modern trade inequalities within the global capitalist system.
Excerpt from the Book
Chapter I: The theoretical insights of dependency theory: the ambitious and radical strand of Frank and Amin
This section will deal with the question: How does dependency theory account for underdevelopment in the South? To start off, some remarks concerning the coherence of the theoretical perspective that is called dependency theory should be made. These remarks are necessary in order to clarify what particular branch of dependency theory will be scrutinized in the remainder of this thesis. It is widely accepted that dependency theory shares among its different variations two assumptions. First, development of the economies in the South is conditioned because of its dependence on other economies. Second, this dependence is more than the common interdependence in times of globalization because it is structural and goes deeper (Brown, 1985, p.62). Apart from that, however, the views of dependency theorists diverge (Ibid.). Within the academic community there is no consensus on “whether or not several dependency theories exist or can ever exist” (Browett, 1985, p.790). Therefore, it is not possible to speak of a dependency paradigm. Rather, a scholar writing in the late 1980’s in the field of economic theories of development regarded dependency theory as constituting not more than the mere seeds of a new paradigm (Hunt, 1989). Twenty years later the situation seems to have remained unchanged.
Chapter Summary
Chapter I: The theoretical insights of dependency theory: the ambitious and radical strand of Frank and Amin: This chapter establishes the theoretical framework by discussing the core assumptions of dependency theory and its application to the structural imbalances between the "centre" and the "periphery."
Chapter II: Evolution of EU trade policy and its circumstances: This chapter traces the development of European trade regimes and association agreements from the Treaty of Rome through the Lomé Conventions, contextualizing them within the broader international economic order.
Chapter III: An Analysis of Preferential Treatment by the EU: Preferences that matter?: This chapter evaluates the impact of specific EU trade instruments, such as the GSP and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), to determine whether they effectively mitigate or reinforce existing economic constraints in developing nations.
Keywords
Dependency Theory, European Union, Trade Policy, Global South, Underdevelopment, ACP Group, Generalized System of Preferences, Common Agricultural Policy, Centre-Periphery Analysis, Economic Development, World Capitalist System, Neocolonialism, Trade Relations, Structural Constraints.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research?
The research investigates whether the trade policies adopted by the European Union act as external constraints that hamper the economic development of countries in the Global South.
Which theoretical approach does the author employ?
The author applies the perspective of dependency theory, specifically focusing on the radical and ambitious strands developed by scholars such as André Gunder Frank and Samir Amin.
What are the primary themes explored in the work?
Key themes include the historical influence of colonialism on trade, the structural inequality of the global capitalist system, the effectiveness of preferential trade agreements, and the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
How is the research methodology structured?
The study utilizes a theoretical analysis of dependency literature followed by an examination of the evolution of EU trade regimes and a critical assessment of their real-world impact on developing economies.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers the theoretical foundations of underdevelopment, the history of EU association agreements (like the Yaoundé and Lomé Conventions), and an analysis of how specific trade instruments like the GSP and CAP affect developing states.
What characterizes the main findings of this thesis?
The findings suggest that EU trade concessions are often granted reluctantly under pressure and that policies like the CAP create structural obstacles that prevent developing countries from fully benefiting from trade.
How does the author define the "centre" and "periphery"?
The author follows the classification where the "centre" consists of dominant economies in the world system, while the "periphery" is largely comprised of developing countries, creating an inherently unequal relationship.
Why are the Lomé Conventions significant to this study?
The Lomé Conventions serve as a critical case study of how the EU negotiated trade access with African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) states, demonstrating both the potential for cooperation and the limitations imposed by the EU’s self-interest.
- Quote paper
- Benjamin Lueber (Author), 2011, Trade Relations between the EU and Developing Countries, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/373214
