An Analytical Framework in the Theory of Development: Culture, Power and Inequality

This paper is an attempt to provide an analytical framework for understanding the process of and reasons for successes and failures of development patterns. For this purpose، the role of factors like culture، power and inequality-which is the product of interaction between the first two factors- in the development of societies is studied using an interdisciplinary approach. The theoretical principals of this study are based on a combination of instituionalist methodology، discourse analysis and critical discourse analysis. As regards presentation of the analytical framework، an interdisciplinary approach is used which is combination of political، sociological and economical theories. The results show that inattention to cultural grounds leading to development or in other words، unofficial institutes and also adopting development policies which are inconsistent with cultural and moral principles of the society are all among the important factors preventing achievement of development. Another finding is that if inequality increases during the development process and as a result of such policies، it will directly or indirectly create serious obstacles in the way of development. Growth of cultural paradoxes and inequality in the society will prevent gathering of the forces for optimal use of the society’s capacity due to formation of different types of resistance. It can therefore be concluded that power، whether in form of political system or in hegemonic and moral atmospheres، has a major effect on cultural issues، inequality and resistance. Thus، power is related to development in different manners.