The dependency theory emerged in the 1950s and 1960s as a critical response to modernization theory, which suggested that all countries could progress through the same stages of development. Dependency theorists, on the other hand, argued that the global economic system was inherently unequal and that development and underdevelopment were interconnected. The key arguments of the dependency approach can be examined through its focus on economic, political, and social dimensions.

1. Economic Dependence:
   - *Unequal Exchange:* Dependency theorists argued that the international economic system perpetuates inequality through the exchange of goods and services. They claimed that underdeveloped countries were forced into a position of dependence on developed nations. The terms of trade, they argued, favored developed countries, leading to a situation where less developed nations