What is the core idea of dependency theory in development geography?

• A. It contends that development is primarily determined by internal adjustments within a country, with no external influence.
• B. It argues that development follows a universal sequence of stages from traditional to modern.
• C. It claims that development is driven solely by foreign aid.
• D. It contends that underdevelopment results from structural inequalities created by colonialism and ongoing dependence on core countries through trade, investment, and political power.

Answer: (D)

Dependency theory in development geography argues that underdevelopment is the result of global structural inequalities rooted in colonialism and continued through ongoing dependence on core countries via trade, investment, and political influence. This perspective emphasizes how wealthier nations shape prices, access to technology, and control over capital, keeping peripheral regions in a dependent position. That makes the statement about colonial-era origins and sustained dependence the best fit, because it captures both historical roots and current power dynamics that maintain unequal development. The other views focus on internal adjustments, universal stage progress, or aid as the main driver, which ignore the systemic, power-based relationships highlighted by dependency theory.