Last Updated on July 1, 2025 by Karl Thompson
Explore all key themes in globalisation and global development, including inequality, aid, modernisation, and development indicators. AQA Sociology revision hub.
In A-Level Sociology, this module deals with some of the following questions…
Why are some countries rich and others poor? How can it be that so many people in the world are suffering from poverty? Many lack education and clean water. Disease, war, and conflict also affect them. Meanwhile, others in the world live lives of relative ease and comfort.
What actions should rich and poor countries take to help the plight of the poorest? Is it actually possible for global humanity to manage and control the various global challenges we face? These challenges include the immediate problems of poverty, hunger, and disease. They also encompass war and conflict, human rights abuses, and international migration. Additionally, terrorism, other global crimes, and the environmental crisis are part of these challenges.
Globalisation and global development: topic overview
To explore more topics across the A-level sociology specification, please visit my A-level Sociology homepage where you’ll find resources on education, families, crime, theory, methods and more.
Introductory Posts
Globalisation and Global Development – Good Resources – I recommend some good ‘hub sites’ for exploring global development further. These include links to agencies such as the United Nations and the World Bank, which monitor global development. They also cover a whole range of Non Government Organisations and independent development thinkers. Very much a work in progress (as of August 2017) and being updated constantly.
Trends in global wealth inequality and poverty – Inequalities in global wealth have been increasing in recent years. This post explores some of the statistics on global wealth and poverty. It introduces some possible explanations and solutions.
Defining Globalisation and Theories of Globalisation
Here we look at competing definitions of globalisation, including its political, economic and cultural dimensions. We also explore different theories of globalisation. Optimists believe the process is a force for good. Pessimists think it is about increasing exploitation and inequality. We also look at the Transformationalist and Traditionalist views. Finally we explore whether globalisation means the decline of the nation state.
Find out more here: Globalisation and Global Development
Defining and Measuring Development
Before we can understand patterns of global inequality, we need to define what we mean by “development”. It’s also vital to define it before we evaluate development strategies. This section introduces the key concepts and indicators used to define and measure development across different societies. We explore traditional economic indicators, such as GDP and GNI. We also examine more holistic composite measures like the Human Development Index (HDI) and Global Peace Index. You’ll also find examples of how inequality and social problems affect development, including a case study on the United States. Whether you’re studying global goals like the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), this sub-topic provides a solid foundation. It is beneficial for A-level Sociology students. It also offers insights into comparing qualitative and quantitative approaches to development.
👉 Click here to explore the full guide to Defining and Measuring Development
Sociological Theories of development
This section explores the major sociological explanations for global inequality and economic transformation. You’ll find summaries of key sociological theories of development. These include Modernisation Theory, which sees development as a linear path toward modernity. Dependency Theory argues that historical exploitation by wealthier nations continues to shape global inequality. World Systems Theory is also included, offering a global perspective on how countries are positioned in the global economy.
The page features more contemporary and critical approaches. These include Neoliberalism, Post-Development, and People-Centred Development. It concludes with a range of applied case studies—from The Bottom Billion to Why Nations Fail. These case studies help students understand how theory meets reality.
👉 Visit the full page here: Theories explaining global development
Aid, Trade and Development
This section explores how international aid and global trade shape development outcomes in the Global South. It covers different types of foreign aid. It evaluates the effectiveness of NGOs. It examines the impact of trade policies — both free trade and fair trade. The focus is on poverty reduction and inequality. It includes key debates relevant to A-level sociology students. These debates cover the strengths and criticisms of aid. They also question whether trade offers a more sustainable route to development.
👉 Explore Aid, Trade and Development
🌐 The Role of International Organisations in Development
Discover how powerful global actors like the IMF, World Bank, United Nations (UN) and Transnational Corporations (TNCs) influence global development. This post explores their impact on global governance, economic growth, and inequality — essential reading for the A-level Sociology Global Development topic.
👉 Read more about International Organisations and Development
Industrialisation, Urbanisation and Development
Industrialisation and Development – Modernisation theorists argued that industralisation was a fundamental aspect of development (according to Rostow’s 5 stages of growth), while People Centred Development argue it is not necessary at all. Dependency, World Systems and neoliberal theorists have more nuanced perspectives which are also covered in this post.
The Industrial Capitalist model of Development – capitalists aim to maximize returns on investment and industrialisation helps with this because it brings efficiencies in production. This post is an accessible summary of how industrialism and capitalism have developed hand in hand over the centuries.
The Rise and Fall of Detroit – Detroit is where Ford used to manufacture cars in the early 20th century. It is an excellent case study to demonstrate how industrialisation can be a positive force for development, but also shows its limitations in a global system, because cheaper manufacturing becoming available in other countries (such as China) has meant the decline of industrial manufacturing and corresponding social decline in Detroit since the late 1960s to the present day.
Urbanisation and Development – the world population is moving from rural to urban areas more rapidly than at any other time in human history. In some senses cities are fundamentally related to development, but the sheer pace of urbanisation also has problems as slums develop. Urbanisation also has its critics – is this really the kind of development we want?
Education, Employment, Health and Development
Examines the role of education, employment and health in driving social and economic development. This section explores the relative importance of each factor in improving life chances and reducing inequality in developing countries. It also applies key theories of development—including modernisation and dependency theory—to evaluate how these dimensions contribute to human development.
For a deeper look at how education, employment and health contribute to human development, see my page on education, employment, health and development.
Gender and Development
Global Development Statistics – An overview of some the main differences in life chances between men and women in several areas of social life including political and economic life as well as domestic life.
Statistics on gender inequality in the UK – According to international statistics on gender equality in the UK, we’re the 18th most gender equal country in the world, but is this actually true? This post looks at some limitations with international statistics on gender and development
Modernisation Theory Applied to Gender and Development – From a Modernisation Perspective, the best way to combat gender empowerment is to challenge traditional values and focus on economic growth and getting women into the workplace – they have a point there is a strong correlation between economic development and gender empowerment.
Dependency Theory Applied to Gender and Development – point out that economic development may not promote gender inequality because Corporations can use the second class status of women in some countries as a source of ‘disempowered labour’, and even pay women less than male workers.
Radical Feminism Applied to Gender and Development – this post focuses on the challenges remaining globally for women despite economic development, and especially those forms of gender based exploitation which increase with globalisation – such as sex trafficking.
War, Conflict and Development
Ongoing wars and conflicts in the world today – an overview of the current major wars, according to Wikipedia, including the Russian Invasion of Ukraine in comparison to other global conflicts.
How war and conflict harms development – war does more to harm development than anything else, this post looks at the direct, immediate negative effects of war on development, and the longer term, indirect effects.
The role of developed countries in war and conflict – A summary of the views of Noam Chomsky and David Harvey who argue that some individuals and organisations in developed countries actually benefit from waging war on poorer countries!
The United States Military – Some Recent Examples of Their War Crimes
The Global Peace Index (GPI) – The GPI measures peacefulness using over two dozen indicators and it clearly shows a correlation between peacefulness and positive economic and social development.
The Environmental Crisis and Development
The relationship between the industrial capitalist model of development and environmental decline – industrial capitalism may have led to economic growth over the last two centuries but there is also a clear relationship by its reliance of fossil fuels and rising CO2 emissions, global warming, resource depletion and pollution.
How pollution and toxic waste harm development – there are lots of case studies but this mainly focuses on pollution in rural China.
Sustainable Development – a core part of the United Nations Development Agenda, sustainable development involves attaining economic and social development without harming the environment. There are several debates about how this can be realised most effectively – from ‘technocentric models’ of development involving large scale renewable energy projects for example, to more ‘ecocentric models’ which emphasise the reducing of consumption and a return to more traditionally, locally based ways of live. NB this is a huge topic, and this post only scratches the surface!
Country Case Studies
America as a Less Developed Country?
Global Development Revision Notes
If you like this sort of thing, then you might like my Global Development Revision Notes –
53 Pages of revision notes covering the following topics within global development:
- Globalisation
- Defining and measuring development
- Theories of development (Modernisation Theory etc)
- Aid, trade and development
- The role of organisations in development (TNCs etc)
- Industrialisation, urbanisation and development
- Employment, education and health as aspects of development
- Gender and development
- War, conflict and development
- Population growth and consumption
- The environment and sustainable development
As a final word to teachers of A Level Sociology – I’m gonna put this out there – Global Development offers you the only chance on the whole syllabus to actually teach proper, contemporary sociology, rather than A-Levelled sociology. You should give it a go.