Samir Amin

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Samir Amin (3 September 1931 – 12 August 2018) was an influential Egyptian-French economist and Marxist theorist, renowned for his contributions to political economy, particularly in the areas of dependency theory and world-systems theory. His work focused on the economic dynamics of global systems and the challenges faced by developing countries within the capitalist world economy.

Biography

Born in Cairo, Egypt, Amin was educated in both Egypt and France, where he received his PhD in economics from the University of Paris in 1957. Throughout his career, Amin held various academic positions and was involved with several research institutions around the world. He served as the director of the Third World Forum in Dakar, Senegal, an institution dedicated to fostering dialogue and research on issues affecting the global south.

Theoretical Contributions

Amin's theoretical framework was heavily influenced by Marxism and centered on the concept of core and periphery, a key component of dependency theory. He argued that the global economic system is characterized by a structural division between core (developed) countries and periphery (developing) countries. Core countries exploit periphery countries for their resources and labor, perpetuating a state of economic dependency and underdevelopment.

Dependency Theory

Amin was a major proponent of dependency theory, which challenges the conventional development theories that suggest all societies progress through similar stages of development. Instead, dependency theory argues that economic growth in the 'core' countries often leads to crises in 'peripheral' countries due to exploitative economic relationships.

World-Systems Theory

Expanding on the ideas of dependency theory, Amin contributed to world-systems theory, which analyzes the world economy as a single capitalist system. His analysis focused on the cyclical processes and the structural crises inherent in the capitalist world-system.

Critique of Eurocentrism

Amin is also known for his critique of Eurocentrism, which he argued is an inherent bias in conventional economic analyses that prioritize Western experiences and standards as universal norms. He advocated for a more pluralistic approach to economic theory that recognizes the diverse economic realities across different regions.

Legacy

Samir Amin's work has had a profound impact on the fields of political economy and development studies. His theories continue to influence scholars and policymakers interested in the dynamics of global inequality and the economic challenges facing the developing world.

Selected Works

• The Accumulation on a World Scale: A Critique of the Theory of Underdevelopment (1970)
• Delinking: Towards a Polycentric World (1985)
• Eurocentrism (1988)
• Capitalism in the Age of Globalization (1997)

See Also

• Immanuel Wallerstein
• Andre Gunder Frank
• Dependency theory
• World-systems theory