Contributions of the debate on development and dependency in Latin America

Abstract

The present text aims to discuss the contributions of dependency theories to the critique of the capitalist economic system and to Latin American social thought, by rescuing and distinguishing the two main strands: Marxist Dependency Theory (MDT) and the Theory of Associated Development by Fernando Henrique Cardoso and Enzo Faletto. Firstly, the emergence of dependency theories will be historically contextualized, as well as the debates surrounding them. Next, the Marxist approach to dependency and that of associated development will be contrasted. Finally, it will be possible to highlight the contributions and limitations of these strands in thinking about the condition of Latin American dependency.