– Comparison of Key Differences Key Termsĭependency theory is an approach to understanding the economic development of a country in terms of the external influences like political, economic, and cultural effects on national development policies. Difference Between Dependency Theory and Modernization Theory Dependency theory focuses on the economic underdevelopment of former colonies or non-industrialized countries, while modernization theory focuses on how traditional or underdeveloped societies transform to modern societies. The main difference between dependency theory and modernization theory is that dependency theory mainly focuses on poor and underdeveloped countries, while modernization theory mainly focuses on rich and developed countries.ĭependency theory and modernization theory are two opposing theories in sociology.
