Modernization and Ghana

 

Legend: Orange areas represent a 60% development score. Darker green areas represent an 80% development score.

 

                                                Troubling Modernization in Ghana

The rise of modern development really took off after World War 2 when the U.S. and its allies began to promote economic growth and modernization across the world in order to expand their influence. Rostow's Development Model assumed that all countries would inevitably follow the same path of development, with Western countries serving as the model for others to follow.

The aftermath of the construction of the Akosombo Dam and Valco Kaiser Aluminum Smelter however did not follow that path, it instead facilitated the exploitation of the developing Ghana in order to benefit already developed countries. What ended up happening can be explained by Frank’s Theory of Underdevelopment because Ghana, a developing country, got screwed over by being incorporated into the global capitalist system. On the web map, it can be seen that the only places with any sort of significant development occur near the dam and smelter.


                                                          A Better Way?

Another theory that can contribute to more extensive discussions about the environment and development is the concept of degrowth that was first coined by French-Austrian philosopher André Gorz. Degrowth is a social and economic movement that challenges the idea of perpetual economic growth and advocates for a reduction in production and consumption as a means of achieving environmental sustainability.

Degrowth argues that relentless economic growth has led to environmental degradation and social inequality, and that we must as a society reject endless economic growth. This idea would have people shift their values towards meeting basic needs and living within ecological limits.

Basically, Degrowth values environmental sustainability over profits and material wealth/indulgences. I think that this idea runs counter to Modernization Theory because there simply aren’t enough resources for every country to follow the same path that the West did. This idea is very relevant considering the ever-increasing rate of global warming and environmental destruction we see today.


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