Dualism revisited: A new approach to the problems of the dual society in developing countries†

This article was originally prepared for the Conference on the Dual Economy held at Glasgow in September 1969 with the assistance of a grant from Shell.

Summary

Dualism in the sense of persistent and increasing divergencies exists on various levels, internationally in relations between richer and poorer countries, and internally within the developing countries themselves. The following article focuses mainly on the internal dualism and growing inequalities within the developing countries, but links these to growing international inequalities in command over modern science and technology. Tendencies within the field of science and technology, including their increasing capital intensity and their increasing dominance by the needs of the richer countries and lack of direct relevance for the needs of developing countries are closely associated with growing unemployment and under‐employment in various forms within the developing countries. More and more the relevant forms of dualistic fission run along the line of employed versus unemployed rather than the more traditional distinctions between rural and urban sectors, traditional versus modern sectors, etc. The tendency for technological developments to produce internal dualism in the under‐developed countries is further strengthened by a number of factors, including the association of modern technology with foreign investment. The article also considers the argument by Professor Myint that dualism tends to be artificially induced and is due to prejudices in favour of a mistaken concept of modernization. The article concludes that the forces making for dualism in the contemporary world are deeply rooted particularly in science and technology, and that much more radical action than a mere redress of discriminatory practices or correction of prejudices will be needed. The limited applicability of western concepts is illustrated by issues arising from the wage and income structure in the developing countries. The better utilization of existing capital is a problem parallel in importance with a more appropriate technology and both together hold out prospects of approaching development problems along more Keynesian lines than is often realized.

Notes

This article was originally prepared for the Conference on the Dual Economy held at Glasgow in September 1969 with the assistance of a grant from Shell.

The author is a fellow of the Institute of Development Studies (Sussex).