Theories of Development - Essay Example

Theories of Development Roll No: Teacher: 20th October 2008 Theories of Development The theories that give memost interest are postcolonial theory, postmodern theory and poststructuralist theory. According to my knowledge and perception, poststructuralist theory is the most compelling. Poststructuralist theory is not a simple theory. It is a response to the structuralism theory. Saussure was the pioneer of structuralism (Escobar, 1995). According to Saussure, language can be considered as a system of signs within a single temporal plane (Crain, 2005).

The consideration that language develops and changes over time was of secondary importance for Saussure but with poststructuralist theory, language was given the primary importance (Crain, 2005). Jacques Derrida can be considered as the most influential person in relation to poststructuralist theory. The poststructuralist theory revolves around the concept of decentralization of language (Crain, 2005). According to poststructuralist theory, language has no center. It is without any center. Saussure looked at language as a structure but Derrida emphasized that all structures are required to have centers while language has no center.

Derrida claims that there is no present moment (Crain, 2005). As soon as we talk about a present moment or think about it, it is already past. Poststructuralist can be related to deconstruction that considers that there is no fixed meaning (Escobar, 1995). Language is considered in the same frame. There is no central meaning for any word in language (Crain, 2005). According to Derrida, language is a free play of meaning (Crain, 2005). Poststructuralist theory challenges the existence of each and every thing in the world whether living or nonliving (Escobar, 1995).

After analyzing the points discussed in poststructuralist theory, the theory seems most compelling as all the aspects raised in the theory are persuasive and influential. Not only one critic but many critics and theorists are involved in the evaluation of poststructuralist theory. Postcolonial and postmodern theories are also persuasive but as compared to poststructuralist theory, they appear somehow weak. Post-colonial theorists are unable to regard themselves as fully post-colonial (Escobar, 1995).

According to them, they are still under the control of colonial powers. Postcolonial theorists regard nationality, language and regionalism as most important aspects that an individual should have (Crain, 2005). Like poststructuralist theory, postmodern theory is also a response to modern theory. This also deals with a set of perspectives related to society, architecture, art, literature, design and culture (Crain, 2005). Many critics consider postmodern theory as overly meaningless. It deals with innovative works and is purely anti-modern.

The movements that started against modernism come under the theoretical term postmodern (Crain, 2005). Many theorists are unable to understand the poststructuralist theory fully due to which, it is considered as difficult and incomprehensible. The theorists of poststructuralist theory question the existence and reality of each and every aspect of life and other things on earth and elsewhere while other theories consider the reality and existence of humankind on earth and the status of humankind in different eras of history (Crain, 2005).

Poststructuralist theory is very compelling because the theorists of the theory have raised such questions that were real but were never questioned before as the people were afraid in terms of religion and social being (Escobar, 1995).ReferencesCrain, William. (2005). Theories of Development. 5th Ed. New York: Prentice Hall. Escobar, A. (1995). Encountering Development: The Making and Unmaking of the Third World. Princeton, N.J., Princeton University Press.