essay of characteristics of developing countries

Common Characteristics of Developing Countries Essay

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Population and Environment

​the international debt crisis, foreign aid, works cited.

Developing countries share certain unique common characteristics. It is evident that most of these nations still grapple with issues concerning health, social amenities, and education. Challenges associated with public health include some of the common characteristics that may be noted within developing states (Todaro & Stephen 12). Their health systems are underdeveloped and a remarkable percentage of the population cannot access adequate health care.

This challenge may be due to a lack of resources to establish and decentralize sufficient and well-equipped health care service delivery facilities to the population. The local populations are highly affected. Other public health challenges compound to cause high mortality and morbidity rates within such nations.

Lack of proper education and human resources include other similar problems faced by the developing nations. Due to low-income levels, most populations within the developing nations cannot access quality education. Moreover, the systems of formal learning within such countries are ineffective (Todaro & Stephen 19). These education systems are not designed in a transformative manner. Consequently, there is a generation of an impaired workforce in the employment industry.

This challenge has contributed to poor performance within key industrial firms and business organizations. Frequent tensions are arising from civil wars within these developing states. Particularly, this is common within African nations.

The chief causes of such conflicts may include conflicts on natural resources, political instabilities, and tribal hatred. The developing nations encounter the severe impacts of disasters. These include both natural and technological disasters. This occurs mainly because they lack proper and comprehensive mechanisms for disaster prevention, management, and mitigation. Issues of food insecurity and safety usually confront these nations.

This is caused by a lack of initiative to employ effective agricultural systems with adequate technology to enhance food production. Lastly, there are prevalent challenges associated with housing and shelter (Todaro & Stephen 31). Most citizens of these countries lack access to improved and standardized housing facilities. Indeed, this is evident from the high number of slums and informal settlements within these nations. Developing nations indeed share many challenges.

The environment forms the fundamental orientation of both human, animal, and plant life. The study of eco-biology indicates the basic interactions between different components of the environment. All humans depend on the resources found within the environment. Analytically, this observation potentiates a critical fact. There is a population a given environment can sustain. Of course, this occurs only within a specified period (Todaro & Stephen 37).

Human beings normally fight for the resources available within the general environment. Therefore, whenever scarcity of these environmental resources arises, there is a likelihood that conflicts might also emerge. Increased population strains the available resources to a negligible level.

Ideally, the environment forms the basic platform for human life. All other supportive services and resources of importance to human nature emerge from the environment. It is correct to insinuate that the population and environment share a mutual relationship. Notably, this means that the environment can dictate the population it can sustain (Todaro & Stephen 40). The environment directly manipulates population growth.

This is because the environment is the main source of food and other crucial resources. These are vital for human beings to form associations and procreate. Perhaps, this explains the lack of human habitation within desert regions. The effects of population growth on the environment are unavoidable.

The Malthusian theory explains this relationship in a very empirical manner (Todaro & Stephen 45). Human beings strain the environment through various anthropogenic activities. These lead to environmental degradation and pollution. Observably, highly populated regions are characterized by a high level of environmental pollution and degradation. The environment that supports a high population growth rate has enough resources. These resources are appropriate for effective and uniform human growth and development. Generally, there is a direct association in association between population growth and the environment. However, it is significant to examine other interactions and interrelations that affect this association.

Trade is an important component of economic development. In the recent past, countries have adopted transformative measures. These measures are geared towards enhancing the level of their domestic and international participation in trade. Scholars and personalities have supposed different theoretical models regarding local, regional, and global trade. Ha-Joon Chan is one of such personalities that have contributed immensely to the understanding and analysis of trade (Todaro & Stephen 54).

His reiterations concerning the movement towards free trade remain strategic and sound. According to Ha-Joon Chan, the movement towards free trade will make the rich nations to “kick away the ladder.” The ladder herein refers to the means through which these rich nations gained their success. This statement implies that most rich nations succeeded due to restrictions on international trade.

Most protocols on global and regional trade have been punitive to certain nations. However, some of the rich nations have gained remarkably from such protocols and regulations. This explains why Ha-Joon Chang observes the significance of free trade in alleviating these partial regulations. Free trade will enable developing nations to interact and engage in liberalized international trade. The environment will have minimal restrictions based on international boundaries, currencies, and the quality of goods among other things (Todaro & Stephen 59).

This state of activities is crucial for most emergent economies that have encountered severe discrimination within the international trading platform. Ha-Joon Chang notes that most rich nations will lose the channels and loopholes of wealth creation through unnecessary restrictions. Generally, this is a form of a liberalized situation. The statement focuses on third world states and their mode of acquiring wealth.

The international debt crisis has a long and interesting history. Most countries decided to devise their economic policies and principles following their early independence. In Africa, some of the post-independent economic policies were based on the systems of particular colonizers. The cold war marked the beginning of the international debt crisis (Todaro & Stephen 78). The period was marred with a lot of borrowing from wealthy foreign governments and banks.

Observably, these loans were provided at attractive and discounted rates of interest. These transactions were done minus the interests of the welfare of average citizens within the borrowing nations. This situation was propagated by the fear of the US that some countries could be transformed into a communist. These fears made poor nations to take huge loans at uneconomical logic and rates.

The “oil crisis” marked the second stride in the development of the debt crisis. This involved the extreme hiking of prices by the oil-rich nations. After gaining huge money from hiked oil prices, these nations deposited their money within western financial institutions. The changes in the value of the US dollar catapulted the process. At the end of the 1970s, there was a major financial shift. High-interest rates in the world markets struck the poor nations heavily (Todaro & Stephen 87).

Oil prices doubled and basic commodities became very expensive. During the era of President Reagan, these poor nations paid heavily on their debts and loosed the value of their exports. The debt crisis later emerged in the 1980s. The entire rot was unearthed when Mexico threatened to default her repayments in 1982. The consequent steps are taken only safeguarded the creditors. Nonetheless, these initiatives failed to address the debt crisis.

There are several debates concerning foreign aid and its capacity to initiate growth and development. There is a generalized belief that foreign aid can buy growth. However, this is only possible under certain prescribed conditions. For instance, foreign aid must be channeled to areas in which it can perform the highest good. Foreign aid only buys growth within nations that have adopted the sound and proper policies.

These frameworks must relate to financial, trade, and fiscal issues. From here, is imperative to evaluate the characteristics of a “good policy” (Todaro & Stephen 92). According to some economists, the objective of the aid must be stated modestly. In essence, a particular aid ought to offer some benefits to the poor. Perhaps, this is when it might qualify to buy growth. Generally, there are severe debates on this issue and most assumptions remain contestable.

Todaro, Michael P, & Stephen C. Smith. Economic Development . Boston: Pearson Addison Wesley, 2009. Print.

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The countries in which the process of development has started but is not completed, have a developing phase of different economic aspects or dimensions like per capita income or GDP per capita, human development index (HDI), living standards, fulfillment of basic needs, and so on. The UN identifies developing countries as a country with a relatively low standard of living, underdeveloped industrial bases, and moderate to low human development index. Therefore, developing nations are those nations of the world, which have lower per capita income as compared to developed nations like the USA, Germany, China, Japan, etc. Here we will discuss the different characteristics of developing countries of the world.

Developing countries have been suffering from common attributes like mass poverty, high population growth, lower living standards, illiteracy, unemployment and underemployment, underutilization of resources, socio-political variability, lack of good governance, uncertainty, and vulnerability, low access to finance, and so on.

Developing countries are sometimes also known as underdeveloped countries or poor countries or third-world countries or less developed countries or backward countries. These countries are in a hurry for economic development by utilizing their resources. However, they are lagging in the race of development and instability. The degree of uncertainty and vulnerability in these countries may differ from one to another but all are facing some degree of susceptibility and struggle to develop.

The common characteristics of developing nations are briefly explained below.

Major Characteristics of Developing Countries

Low Per Capita Real Income

The real per capita income of developing countries is very low as compared to developed countries. This means the average income or per person income of developing nations is little and it is not sufficient to invest or save. Therefore, low per capita income in developing countries results in low savings, and low investment and ultimately creates a vicious cycle of poverty. This is one of the most serious problems faced by underdeveloped countries.

Mass Poverty

Most individuals in developing nations have been suffering from the problem of poverty. They are not able to fulfill even their basic needs. The low per capita in developing nations also reflects the problem of poverty. So, poverty in underdeveloped countries is seen in terms of lack of fulfillment of basic needs, illiteracy, unemployment, and lack of other socio-economic participation and access apart from low per capita income.

Rapid Population Growth

Developing countries have either a high population growth rate or a larger size of population. There are different factors behind higher population growth in developing countries. The higher child and infant mortality rates in such countries compel people to feel insured and give birth to more children. Lack of family planning education and options, lack of sex education, and belief that additional kids mean additional labor force and additional labor force means additional income and wealth, etc. also stimulate people in developing countries to give birth to more children. This is also supported by the thought of conservatism existed in such nations.

The Problem of Unemployment and Underemployment

Unemployment and underemployment are other major problems and common features of developing or underdeveloped nations. The problem of unemployment and underemployment in developing countries is emerged due to excessive dependency on agriculture, low industrial development, lack of proper utilization of natural resources, lack of workforce planning, and so on. In developing nations, the problem of underemployment is more serious than unemployment. People are compelled to engage themselves in inferior jobs due to the non-availability of alternative sources of jobs. The underemployment problem in high extent is found especially in rural and back warded areas of such countries. 

Excessive Dependence on Agriculture

The majority of the population in developing nations is engaged in the agriculture sector, especially in rural areas. Agriculture is the only sole source of income and employment in such nations. This sector has also a higher share of the gross domestic product in poor countries. In the case of the South Asian economies, more than 70 percent population is, directly and indirectly, engaged in the agriculture sector.

Technological Backwardness

The development of a nation is a positive and increasing function of innovative technology. Technological use in developing countries is very low and used technology is also outdated. This causes a high cost of production and a high capital-output ratio in underdeveloped nations. Because of the high capital-output ratio, high labor-output ratio, and low wage rates, the input productivity is low and that reduces the gross domestic product of the nations. Illiteracy, lack of proper education, lack of skill development programs, and deficiency of capital to install innovative techniques are some of the major causes of technological backwardness in developing nations.

Dualistic Economy

Duality or dualism means the existence of two sectors as the modern sector or advanced sector and the traditional or back warded sector within an economy that operates side by side. Most developing countries are characterized by the existence of dualism. Urban sectors are highly advanced and rural parts are having the problems like a lack of social and economic facilities. People in rural areas are majorly engaged in the agriculture sector and in urban areas they are in the service and industrial sectors of the economy.

Lack of Infrastructures

Infrastructural development like the development of transportation, communication, irrigation, power, financial institutions, social overheads, etc. is not well developed in developing nations. Moreover, developed infrastructure is also unmanaged, and not distributed efficiently and equitably. This has created a threat to development in such nations.

Lower Productivity

In developing nations, the productivity of factors is also low. This is due to a lack of capital and managerial skills for getting innovative technologies, and policies and managing them efficiently. Malnutrition, insufficient health care, a healthy support system, living in an unhygienic environment, poor health and work-life of workers, etc. are factors that are attributed to lower productivity in developing nations.

High Consumption and Low Saving

In developing countries, income is low and this causes a high propensity to consume, a low propensity to save and capital formation is also low. People living in such nations have been facing the problems of poverty and they are being unable to fulfill most of their needs. This will compel them to expend more portion of their income on consumption. The higher portion of consumption out of earned income results in a lower saving rate and consequently lower capital formation. Ultimately these countries will depend on foreign aid, loans, and remittance earnings that have limited utility to expand the economy.   

The above-explained points show the state and characteristics of developing countries. Apart from explained points, excessive dependency on developed nations, having inadequate provisions of social services like education facilities, health facilities, safe drinking water distribution, sanitation, etc., and dependence on primary exports due to lack of development and expansion of secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy, etc. are also major characteristics of developing countries of the world. These countries are affected more severely by the economic crisis derived from the coronavirus of 2020. So, challenges to development for developing nations have been added furthermore. In a summary, the major characteristics of developing countries are presented in the following table.

Ahuja, H.L (2016). Advanced Economic Theory . New Delhi: S Chand and Company Limited.

Todaro, M.P. & Smith, S.C. (2009). Economic Development . New York: Pearson Education.

6 thoughts on “Characteristics of Developing Countries”

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thanks for the reality points they have fully drawn a picture of poverty. my question is how can dualistic economy be handled as away of reducing poverty?

I really enjoyed reading this So true

The lesson is so nice I understand and I enjoy the lesson

The lesson is good and points are easy to understand and master Thank you for the good services

These are indicators of poverty as proposed by the Global North’s perception of poverty in Global South. Why not ask the Global South to give their voice to what define poverty in their right.

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Common Characteristics of Developing Countries | Economics

Following are some of the basic and important characteristics which are common to all developing economies:

An idea of the characteristics of a developing economy must have been gathered from the above analysis of the definitions of an underdeveloped economy. Various developing countries differ a good deal from each other. Some countries such as countries of Africa do not face problem of rapid population growth, others have to cope with the consequences of rapid population growth. Some developing countries are largely dependent on exports of primary products, others do not show such dependence, and others do not show such dependence.

Some developing countries have weak institutional structure such as lack of property rights, absence of the rule of law and political instability which affect incentives to invest. Besides, there are lot of differences with regard to levels of education, health, food production and availability of natural resources. However, despite this great diversity there are many common features of the developing economies. It is because of common characteristics that their developmental problems are studied within a common analytical framework of development economics.

Characteristic # 1. Low Per Capita Income :

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The first important feature of the developing countries is their low per capita income. According to the World Bank estimates for the year 1995, average per capita income of the low income countries is $ 430 as compared to $ 24,930 of the high-income countries including U.S.A., U.K., France and Japan. According to these estimates for the year 1995, per capita income was $340 in India, $ 620 in China, $240 in Bangladesh, $ 700 in Sri Lanka. As against these, for the year 1995 per capita income was $ 26,980 in USA, $ 23,750 in Sweden, $ 39,640 in Japan and 40,630 in Switzerland.

It may however be noted that the extent of poverty prevailing in the developing countries is not fully reflected in the per capita income which is only an average income and also includes the incomes of the rich also. Large inequalities in income distribution prevailing in these economies have made the lives of the people more miserable. A large bulk of population of these countries lives below the poverty line.

For example, the recent estimates reveal that about 28 per cent of India’s population (i.e. about 260 million people) lives below the poverty line, that is, they are unable to get even sufficient calories of food needed for minimum subsistence, not to speak of minimum clothing and housing facilities. The situation in other developing countries is no better.

The low levels of per capita income and poverty in developing countries is due to low levels of productivity in various fields of production. The low levels of productivity in the developing economies has been caused by dominance of low-productivity agriculture and informal sectors in their economies, low levels of capital formation – both physical and human (education, health), lack of technological progress, rapid population growth which are in fact the very characteristics of the underdeveloped nature of the developing economies. By utilising their natural resources accelerating rate of capital formation and making progress in technology they can increase their levels of productivity and income and break the vicious circle of poverty operating in them.

It may however be noted that after the Second World War and with getting political freedom from colonial rule, in a good number of the underdeveloped countries the process of growth has been started and their gross domestic product (GDP) and per capita income are increasing.

Characteristic # 2. Excessive Dependence on Agriculture :

A developing country is generally predominantly agricultural. About 60 to 75 per cent of its population depends on agriculture and its allied activities for its livelihood. Further, about 30 to 50 per cent of national income of these countries is obtained from agriculture alone. This excessive dependence on agriculture is the result of low productivity and backwardness of their agriculture and lack of modern industrial growth.

In the present-day developed countries, the modern industrial growth brought about structural transformation with the proportion of working population engaged in agriculture falling drastically and that employed in the modern industrial and services sectors rising enormously. This occurred due to the rapid growth of the modern sector on the one hand and tremendous rise in productivity in agriculture on the other.

The dominance of agriculture in developing countries can be known from the distribution of their workforce by sectors. According to estimates made by ILO given in Table 4.1 on an average 61 per cent of workforce of low-income developing countries was employed in agriculture whereas only 19 per cent in industry and 20 per cent in services. On the contrary, in high income, that is, developed countries only 4 per cent of their workforce is employed in agriculture, while 26 per cent of their workforce is employed in industry and 70 per cent in services.

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Characteristics of Developing Countries - Economic Notes Grade XI

Commerce notes, scarcity and choice, national income, economic development, natural resources, human resources, agriculture, transportation and communication, foreign trade, public finance, development planning, quantitative analysis in economics, introduction to statistics, collection of data, diagrammatic and graphic presentation of data.

• Characteristics of Developing Countries

Commerce Notes Unit: Economic Development Subject: Economics Grade XI

Share article, share on social media, economics grade xi.

Characteristics of Developing Countries A developing country is one where the process of economic development has started but not completed. In developing countries, most people are compelled to live below the poverty line. Thus, developing countries are generally poor countries. The developing countries are also known as underdeveloped countries, least developed countries, and third world countries. Many developing countries are differing from each other in physical, cultural, characteristics, but there are some common characteristics of developing countries which are as follows:

1. General poverty: There is widespread poverty in developing countries. The general living standard of people is very low due to their low income. That is why; they are not able to fulfill their basic necessities like food, shelter, cloth, etc. Majority of people are both in poverty and die in poverty. They live below the poverty line.

2. Rapid population growth: There is rapid population growth in developing countries as compared to developed countries. The average annual growth rate of population in developing countries is about 1.5 % to 3 % whereas, in developing countries, it is about 0.7 % or about 1 %.

3. High dependence on agriculture: Agriculture is the main occupation in developing countries. Majority of the population from 70 % to 80 % are engaged in developing countries whereas in developed countries 15 % or less depends on agriculture. The high dependency on agriculture is due to the low development of the non-agricultural sector.

4. Underutilization of natural resources: Most developing countries are rich in natural resources. The natural resources in developing countries are either utilized or underutilized due to the various difficulties such as shortage of capital, the small size of the market, primitive technology. Nepal is rich in water resource but it is not being properly utilized due to the lack of capital.

5. Dualistic economic: Most developing countries have the mixer of two types of an economic system, modern or marketing economy system, modern or marketing economy and subsistence or traditional economy. A market economy exists in limited urban areas where modern facilities can be utilized and the traditional economy exist in most of the rural areas where there are no modern facilities and life is full of difficulties.

6. Existence of unemployment: The rapid population growth has created the problem of unemployment. Due to the lack of developing agricultural sectors like trade & industries and other services. Most of the increased population has to depend on agriculture provided employment for a few day and other days, they have to remain unemployed.

There are other characteristics of developing countries like worthless social structure, political instability, gender discrimination, lack of skilled technicians, foreign dependency, etc.

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Book contents

• Frontmatter
• List of Figures and Tables
• Abbreviations and Measures
• Preface to the Fourth Edition
• PART I PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS OF DEVELOPMENT
• 1 Introduction
• 2 The Meaning and Measurement of Economic Development
• 3 Economic Development in Historical Perspective
• 4 Characteristics and Institutions of Developing Countries
• 5 Theories of Economic Development
• PART II POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND INCOME DISTRIBUTION
• PART III FACTORS OF GROWTH
• PART IV THE MACROECONOMICS AND INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS OF DEVELOPMENT
• PART V DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
• Bibliography

4 - Characteristics and Institutions of Developing Countries

from PART I - PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS OF DEVELOPMENT

Scope of the Chapter

This chapter surveys the characteristics of developing countries, with particular emphasis on low-income economies. It looks at income distribution, political framework, family system, relative size of agriculture and industry, technology and capital levels, saving rates, dualism, international trade dependence, export patterns, population growth, labor force growth, literacy, and skill levels, and the nature of economic and political institutions, including governance; democracy and dictatorship; transparency; social capital; the state bureaucracy; tax collecting capability; a legal and judicial system; property and use rights; statistical services and survey data; and land, capital, insurance, and foreign exchange markets. The last section examines rent seeking and corruption and their relationships to state weakness and failure. Subsequent chapters will expand on economic patterns of development.

Varying Income Inequality

As economic development proceeds, income inequality frequently follows an inverted U-shaped curve , first increasing (from low-to middle-income countries), and then decreasing (from middle-to high-income countries). Even so, the proportion of the population in poverty drops as per-capita income increases (see Chapter 6).

Political Framework

VARYING POLITICAL SYSTEMS

In 2000–01, Freedom House (2002) ranked about one-fourth, 34 of 137 LDCs, as free, that is, enjoying political rights and civil liberties. Political rights mean not just a formal electoral procedure but that “the voter [has] the chance to make a free choice among candidates … and candidates are chosen independently of the state.” Civil liberties implies having rights in practice, and not just a written constitutional guarantee of human rights.

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• Characteristics and Institutions of Developing Countries
• E. Wayne Nafziger , Kansas State University
• Book: Economic Development
• Online publication: 05 June 2012
• Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511805615.005

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Characteristics of Developing Economies

Even though developing nations have very different backgrounds in terms of resources, history, demography, religion and politics, they still share a few common characteristics. Today, we will go over six common characteristics of developing economies.

Common Characteristics of Developing Economies

1. Low Per Capita Real Income

Low per capita real income is one of the most defining characteristics of developing economies. They suffer from low per capita real income level, which results in low savings and low investments.

It means the average person doesn’t earn enough money to invest or save money. They spend whatever they make. Thus, it creates a cycle of poverty that most of the population struggles to escape. The percentage of people in absolute poverty (the minimum income level) is high in developing countries.

2. High Population Growth Rate

Another common characteristic of developing countries is that they either have high population growth rates or large populations. Often, this is because of a lack of family planning options and the belief that more children could result in a higher labor force for the family to earn income. This increase in recent decades could be because of higher birth rates and reduced death rates through improved health care.

3. High Rates of Unemployment

In rural areas, unemployment suffers from large seasonal variations. However, unemployment is a more complex problem requiring policies beyond traditional fixes.

4. Dependence on Primary Sector

Almost 75% of the population of low-income countries is rurally based. As income levels rise, the structure of demand changes, which leads to a rise in the manufacturing sector and then the services sector.

5. Dependence on Exports of Primary Commodities

Since a significant portion of output originates from the primary sector, a large portion of exports is also from the primary sector. For example, copper accounts for two-thirds of Zambia’s exports.

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2 thoughts on “Characteristics of Developing Economies”

Thank you intelligenteconomist.com i love you all! This helped me pass my test and I THINK I want to live again. ps. very sad whats happening in the world.. ;(

To what extent would it be argued that all developing countries share same set of characteristics

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• Document 21. Memorandum on ANC "discord" smuggled out of Robben Island, 1975?
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• Harare Declaration
• Notes prepared by Nelson Mandela for his meeting with P. W. Botha 5 July 1989
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• 1819. Proclamation
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• 1828. Criminal Procedure Act No 40
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• 1833. Abolition of Slavery Act
• 1834. Vagrancy Act
• 1835. Ordinance No 1
• 1836. Municipal Boards Ordinance
• 1836. [Cape of Good Hope] Punishment Act
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• 1841. Masters & Servants Ordinance No 1
• 1848. Ordinance No 3
• 1850. Squatters Ordinance
• 1853. Cape Constitution
• 1856. Masters & Servants Act No 15
• 1857. Kaffir Pass Act No 23
• 1857. Kaffir Employment Act No 27
• 1865. Natal Exemption Law
• 1865. Natal Native Franchise Act No 28
• 1865. [British] Colonial Laws Validity Acts Nos 28 & 29
• 1866. Orange Free State Occupation Law
• 1867. [Second] Reform Act
• 1867. Vagrancy Act
• 1868. Land Beacons Act
• 1870. 'Cattle Removal' Act
• 1872. Proclamation
• 1872. Proclamation No 14
• 1873. Masters & Servants Amendment Act
• 1874. Ordinance No 2
• 1874. Seven Circles Act
• 1878. Peace Preservation Act
• 1879. Native Locations Act
• 1879. Vagrancy Amendment Act No 23
• 1880. Searching Ordinance No 1
• 1881. Village Management Act
• 1882. Trade in Diamonds Consolidation Act
• 1883. Mining Regulations
• 1883. Liquor Law
• 1883. Public Health Act No 4
• 1884. [Third] Reform Act
• 1885. Asiatic Bazaar Law [?]
• 1887. Cape Parliamentary Registration Act
• 1891. Orange Free State Statute Book Act
• 1891. Natal Native Code
• 1892. Cape Franchise & Ballot Act
• 1893. Mining Law
• 1894. Glen Grey Act
• 1896. Mining Code
• 1896. Mining Regulations
• 1896. Natal Franchise Act
• 1897. Mining Law No 11
• 1897. Public Health Amendment Act No 23
• 1898. Mining Law No 12
• 1899. Native Labour Locations Act No 30
• 1900. Indemnity & Special Tribunals Act No 6
• 1900. Natal Courts Special Act No 14
• 1902. Native Reserve Locations Act No 40
• 1903. Mines, Works & Machinery Ordinance
• 1903. Precious Stones Ordinance
• 1903. Bloemfontein Municipal Ordinance
• 1903. Transvaal Municipalities Election Ordinance
• 1904. Transvaal Labour Ordinance
• 1904. Natal Native Locations Act
• 1904. Transvaal Labour Importation Ordinance
• 1905. Cape School Boards Act
• 1906. Mining Regulations
• 1906. Coloured Labourers Health Regulations
• 1906. Immigration Act
• 1906. Transvaal Asiatic Law Amendment Act
• 1908. Natal Special Courts Act No 8
• 1908. Gold Law & Townships Act
• 1908. Railway Regulation Act
• 1909.? Act No 29
• 1909. Industrial Disputes Prevention Act
• 1909. Transvaal Industrial Disputes Prevention Act
• 1909. Transvaal Companies Act
• 1909. [Union of] South Africa Act
• 1911. Mines & Works Act No 12
• 1911. Immigrants Restriction Act
• 1911. Native Labour Regulation Act
• 1911. Official Secrets Act
• 1912. Defence Act
• 1912. Mines & Works Regulations Act
• 1912. Riotous Assemblies Act
• 1913. Immigration Act
• 1913. Admission of Persons to the Union Regulation Act No 22
• 1913. Natives Land Act No 27
• 1914. Indian Relief Act
• 1914. Riotous Assemblies & Criminal Law Amendment Act No 27
• 1915. Indemnity & Special Tribunals Act No 11
• 1917. Criminal Procedure & Evidence Act No 31
• 1918. Status Quo Act
• 1918. Regulation of Wages, Apprenices & Improves Act.
• 1920. Housing Act
• 1920. Native Affairs Act No 23
• 1921. Education Proclamation No 55
• 1921. Juvenile Act
• 1922. Apprenticeship Act
• 1922. Strike Condonation Act
• 1923. Native Urban Areas Act No 21
• 1924. Industrial Conciliation Act No 11
• 1925. Wage Act
• 1925. Customs Tariff Act
• 1926. Education Proclamation No 16
• 1926. Mines & Works Amendment Act No 25
• 1926. Masters & Servants Amendment Act
• 1926. Job Reservation Act
• 1927. Immorality Act No 5
• 1927. Asiatics in the Northern Districts or Natal Act No 33
• 1927. Native Administration Act No 38
• 1927. Union Nationality & Flag Act
• 1928.? Act No 13
• 1929. Native Administration Amendment Act
• 1929. Colonial Development Act
• 1930. Riotous Assemblies Amendment Act No 19
• 1930. Native Urban Areas Amendment Act
• 1931. Entertainments Censorship Act No 28
• 1932. Soil Erosion Act
• 1932. Natal Native [Amendment?] Code
• 1932. Transvaal Asiatic Land Tenure Act No 35
• 1932. Native Service Contract Act
• 1934. Status of the Union Act
• 1934. Status & Seal Act 1
• 1934. Slums Act
• 1936. Representation of Natives Act No 12
• 1936. Native Trust & Land Act No 18
• 1936. Act No 22
• 1937. Aliens Act
• 1937. Native Urban Areas Amendment Act
• 1937. Natives Laws Amendment Act
• 1937. Industrial Conciliation [Amendment] Act No 36
• 1937. Wage Act
• 1937. Immigration Amendment Act
• 1937. Marketing Act
• 1939. Asiatics Land & Trading Act
• 1940. War Measures Act No 13
• 1941. War Measure No 6
• 1941. War Measure No 28
• 1941. Factories, Machinery & Building Works Act
• 1941. Workmen's Compensation Act
• 1942. War Measure No 9
• 1942. War Measure No 13
• 1942. War Measure No 145
• 1942. National Education & Finance Act
• 1943. Trading of Occupation & Land (Transvaal & Natal) Act
• 1943. Pegging Act
• 1944. Apprenticeship Act No 37
• 1944. Native Urban Areas Amendment Act
• 1944. Nursing Act
• 1945. War Measure No 1425
• 1945. Housing Emergency Powers Act
• 1945. Native Urban Areas Consolidation Act No 25
• 1945. Natives Laws Amendment Act
• 1946. Indian Representation Act
• 1946. Asiatic Land Tenure & [Indian] Representation Act No 28
• 1946. Electoral Consolidation Act No 31
• 1946. Ghetto Act
• 1947. Commissions Act No 8
• 1947. Natural Resources Development Act No 51
• From 7 June 1985 New York Times, Nicholas Kristof, "Pretoria Curb: Business View"
• From 2 August 1985: Financial Times, Jim Jones et al., "Rand Steadies as Pretoria Faces Increasing Unrest"
• From 2 August 1985, London Times, "Big House majority for sanctions, but Helms holds up the Senate"
• From 9 August 1985, Financial Times, Alexander Nicoll, "Short-term debt Pretoria's Achilles heel"
• From 2 April 1986, Financial Times, Anthony Robinson, "Trade Sanctions & Disinvestment Intensified"
• From 19 March 1989, Journal of Commerce, Tony Koenderman, "South Africa: One of Few Repaying Debt"
• From 14 February 1990, The Independent, "Outlook: Sanctions Lesson from the Banks"
• From 24 September 1993, Journal of Commerce, Lucy Komisar, "S. African Sanctions: A Success"
• 1948. Asiatic Law Amendment Act No 47
• 1949. Unemployment Insurance Amendment Act
• 1949. Railway & Harbours Amendment Act
• 1949. Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act No 55
• 1949. Natives Laws Amendment Act
• 1949. South West Africa Affairs Amendment Act
• 1949. South African Citizenship Act
• 1950. Immorality Amendment Act No 21
• 1950. Population Registration Act No 30
• 1950. Group Areas Act No 41
• 1950. Suppression of Communism Act No 44
• 1950 - Stock Limitation Act
• 1951- Native Building Workers Act No 27
• 1951 - Separate Representation of Voters Act No 46
• 1951. Bantu Authorities Act No 68
• 1951. Suppression of Communism Amendment Act
• 1951. Prevention of Illegal Squatting Act
• 1952. Native Services Levy Act
• 1952. Native Urban Areas Amendment Act
• 1952. Criminal Sentences Amendment Act No 33
• 1952. High Court of Parliament Act No 35
• 1952. Electoral Laws Amendment Act
• 1952. Natives Laws Amendment Act No 54
• 1952. Natives Abolition of Passes & Coordination of Doc's Act No 67
• 1953. Public Safety Act No 3
• 1953. Criminal Law Amendment Act No 8
• 1953. Native Labour Settlement of Disputes Act No 48
• 1953. Reservation of Separate Amenities Act No 49
• 1953. Immigrants Regulation Amendment Act
• 1953. Bantu Education Act
• 1954. Natives Resettlement Act
• 1954. Riotous Assemblies & Criminal Laws Amendment Act No 15
• 1954. Native Urban Areas Consolidation Act
• 1955. Appellate Division Quorum Act No 25 or 27.
• 1955. Criminal Procedure & Evidence Amendment Act No 29
• 1955. Departure from the Union Regulation Act No 34
• 1955. Motor Carrier Transportation Amendment Act No 44
• 1955. Senate Act No 53
• 1955. Customs Act No 55
• 1955. Criminal Procedure Act No 56
• 1955. Group Areas Development Act
• 1955. Native Urban Areas Amendment Act
• 1956. South Africa Amendment Act No 9
• 1956. Separate Representation of Voters Amendment Act
• 1956. Official Secrets Act No 16
• 1956. Riotous Assemblies [Amendment?] Act No 17
• 1956. Mines & Works Amendment Act No 27
• 1956. Industrial Conciliation Amendment Act No 28
• 1956. Bantu Education Amendment Act
• 1956. Native Urban Areas Amendment Act
• 1956. Native Administration Amendment Act No 42
• 1956. General Laws Amendment Act No 50
• 1956. Bantu Prohibition of Interdicts Act No 64
• 1956. ? Amendment Act
• 1957. Immorality Act No 23
• 1957. Defence Act No 44
• 1957. State-Aided Institutions Act
• 1957. Flag Amendment Act
• 1957. Nursing Amendment Act
• 1957. Native Urban Areas Amendment Act No 77
• 1957. Proclamation No 333
• 1958. Criminal Procedure Amendment Act No 9
• 1958. Special Criminal Courts Amendment Act
• 1959. Trespass Act No 6
• 1959. Prisons Act No 8
• 1959. Industrial Conciliation Amendment Act
• 1959. Bantu Investment Corporation Act
• 1959. Native Labour Settlement of Disputes Amendment Act
• 1959. Extension of University Education Act No 45
• 1959. Promotion of Bantu Self-Government Act No 46
• 1959. Supreme Court Act No 59
• 1960. Reservation of Separate Amenities Amendment Act No 10
• 1960. Unlawful Organizations Act No 24 or 34
• 1960. Emergency Regulations in Transkei Nos R.400 & R.413
• 1961. Republic of South Africa Constitution Act No 32
• 1961. General Laws Amendment Act
• 1961. Urban Bantu Councils Act No 79
• 1962. ? Act
• 1962. Sabotage Act General Laws Amendment Act No 76
• 1963. Publications & Entertainments Act No 26
• 1963. General Laws Amendment Act No 37
• 1963. Transkei Constitution Act No 48
• 1963. Censorship Act
• 1964. Bantu Urban Areas Amendment Act
• 1964. Coloured Persons Representative Council Act No 49
• 1964. Bantu Labour Act No 67
• 1964. General Laws Amendment Act No 80
• 1965. Bantu Laws Amendment Act
• 1965. Bantu Labour Regulations Act
• 1965. Bantu Homelands Development Corporations Act
• 1965. Criminal Procedure Amendment Act No 96
• 1966. Community Development Act
• 1966. Group Areas [Amendment?] Act No 36
• 1966. General Laws Amendment Act No 62
• 1967. Prohibition of Improper Political Inference Act
• 1967. Defence Amendment Act
• 1967. Suppression of Communism Amendment Act No 24
• 1967. Terrorism Act
• 1967. Physical Planning & Utilization of Resources Act No 88
• 1968. Criminal Procedure Amendment Act No 9
• 1968. Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Amendment Act No 21
• 1968. South Africa Indian Council Act No 31
• 1968. Separate Representation of Voters Amendment Act No 50
• 1968. Prohibition of Political Interference Act No 51
• 1968. Coloured Persons Representative Council Amendment Act No 52
• 1968. Affected Organizations Act
• 1968. Promotion of Economic Development of the Homelands Act
• 1969. South Africa Amendment Act
• 1969. Legal Aid Act No 22
• 1969. Abolition of Juries Act No 34
• 1969. South West Africa Affairs Amendment Act
• 1969. Public Service Amendment Act
• 1969. Electoral Laws Amendment Act No 99
• 1969. General Laws Amendment Act No 101
• 1970. Bantu Homelands Citizen Act No 26
• 1970. General Laws Further Amendment Act No 92
• 1971. Bantu Urban Areas Amendment Act
• 1971. Bantu Homelands Constitution Act No 21
• 1973. Venda Constitution Act
• 1973. Gazankulu Constitution Act
• 1973. Aliens Control Act No 40
• 1973. ? Act
• 1973. Gatherings & Demonstrations Act No 52
• 1973. Bantu Labour Relations Regulations Amendment Act No 70
• 1973. Proclamation on the Group Areas Act No 228
• 1974. Riotous Assemblies Amendment Act No 30
• 1974. Affected Organizations Act No 31
• 1974. Publications Act No 42
• 1974. Bantu Laws Amendment Act No 70
• 1974. Defence Further Amendment Act No 83
• 1974. [Second] General Laws Amendment Act No 94
• 1974. Qwaqwa Constitution Act
• 1975. KwaZulu Constitution Act
• 1975. Coloured Persons Representative Council Amendment Act No 32
• 1976. Republic of Transkei Constitution Act No 15
• 1976. Parliamentary Internal Security Commission Act No 67
• 1976. Internal Security Amendment Act No 79
• 1976. Status of Bophuthatswana Act No 89
• 1976. Status of the Transkei Act No 100
• 1977. Transkei Public Security Act No 30
• 1977. Criminal Procedure Act No 51
• 1977. Community Councils Act
• 1978. Black Urban Areas Consolidation Amendment Act
• 1979. Status of Venda Act
• 1979. Industrial Conciliation Amendment Act No 94
• 1979. Status of the Ciskei Act
• 1981. Labour Relations Amendment Act No 57
• 1982. Internal Security Act No 74
• 1982. Registration of Newspapers Amendment Act
• 1982. Black Local Authorities Act
• 1983. Republic of South Africa Constitution Act No 110
• 1984. Black Communities Development Act Davenport
• 1985. Regional Services Council Act
• 1986. ? Act(s)
• 1986. Constitutional Affairs Amendment Act No 104
• 1986. Abolition of Influx Control Act No 68
• 1986. Restoration of South African Citizenship Act No 73
• 1987. ? Act
• 1987. Act/Regulations
• 1988. Free Settlement Areas Act
• 1988. Prevention of Illegal Squatting Amendment Act
• 1989. ? Act
• 1990. ? Act(s)
• Collapse of BLA's and introduction of Auxillary Forces
• Policing Approach
• The South African Police: Managers of conflict or party to the conflict
• State Security Council and related structures
• The Policing of Public Gatherings and Demonstrations in South Africa 1960-1994
• Third Force Proposals
• Torture and Death in Custody
• The 70's riot control - Jimmy Kruger
• The use of Torture in Detention (refers to Rooi Rus Swanepoel)
• From Pariah to Partner - Bophuthatswana, the NPKF, and the SANDF
• Organisational Structure of SA State
• Tricameral Parliament Description 1
• Tricameral Parliament Description 2
• Tricameral Constitution 1983
• Where Thought Remained Unprisoned
• Clear the Obstacles and Confront the Enemy
• Whither the Black Consciousness Movement?
• We Shall Overcome!
• Indian South Africans - A Future Bound with the Cause of the African Majority
• The Anatomy of the Problems of the National Liberation Struggle in South Africa
• Through the Eyes of the Workers
• Towards Freedom
• Let us Work Together for Unity
• SWAPO Leads Namibia
• About the editor
• List of Abbreviations
• A History of the IWW in South Africa
• Loyalists and Rebels
• Resistance and Reaction
• "Fight for Africa, which you deserve": The Industrial Workers of Africa in South Africa, 1917-1921
• Transition (1990 - 1994)
• Post-Transition (1994 - 1999)
• Transformation (1999-)
• General Information
• Mac Maharaj

About this site

This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation , but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. It is the product of almost two decades of research and includes analyses, chronologies, historical documents, and interviews from the apartheid and post-apartheid eras.

This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation , but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. Return to theThis resource is hosted by the site.

• Corpus ID: 32252340

Diverse Structures and Common Characteristics of Developing Nations

• Published 2002
• Economics, Political Science, Sociology

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Global Development Explained

How do governments help people everywhere become healthier and wealthier? Many countries have made great strides in global development progress but challenges remain.

The world is healthier and wealthier today than ever before. As the world has become more connected and technologically advanced, some countries have made drastic improvements in core areas of human and economic development. For example, life expectancy and economic growth have expanded significantly over the 20th and 21st centuries. Some countries have experienced significant economic development driven by new economic policies that encourage trade alongside developmental assistance from countries with larger economies that see strategic value in providing aid. But others, especially those that have experienced political instability, natural disasters, and long-term domestic conflict, have seen less improvement.

So what is development and what is the difference between developed and developing countries? The answer is complicated. Understandings of international development have evolved significantly over time to encompass a range of factors including everything from economic growth and human health and wellbeing to other forms of social and political stability. Terms such as “developing country,” “low- and middle- income country,” and “Global South” are sometimes used to describe certain regions of the world. But the use of these terms today remains a subject of ongoing debate.

It’s easy to think of the world as divided into two groups: developed and developing. But countries that some refer to as developed, including the United States, still have room for improvement. As income inequality rises and climate change threatens the planet, countries are exploring ways to continue the positive trend of global development while paying more attention to equality and environmental sustainability.

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Characteristics of Developing Countries

Related Papers

Mohammad Younus

Mehrab Khan

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between growth in agricultural sector and poverty in Pakistan. It explores that how much the poor people have gained from growth in agricultural sector of Pakistan by considering growth magnitude and benefits obtained by the poor people resulting from growth for the period of 1985 to 2005 through applying OLS Regression Technique. The results indicate that the variable of growth in agricultural sector is significantly and negatively associated with the variable of poverty, i.e., the growth in agricultural sector of Pakistan will result in reducing the level of poverty in Pakistan.

Muhammad Ali

Tahir Hasnain

muhammad hammad

Anwar Chishti

muhammad darban

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Turab Hussain

Lahore University of Management Sciences Opp. Sector 'U', DHA, Lahore Cantt. 54792, Lahore, Pakistan Tel.: 92-42-5722670-79, x4222, 4201 Fax: 92-42-5722591 Website: www.lums.edu.pk/cmer ... This paper addresses two topics which essentially compliment ...

Fiaz Khattak

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• Key Differences

Know the Differences & Comparisons

Difference Between Developed Countries and Developing Countries

The countries with low industrialization and low human development index are termed as developing countries .

After a thorough research on the two, we have compiled the difference between developed countries and developing countries considering various parameters, in tabular form.

Content: Developed Countries Vs Developing Countries

Comparison chart.

Definition of Developed Countries

Developed Countries are the countries which are developed in terms of economy and industrialization. The Developed countries are also known as Advanced countries or the first world countries, as they are self-sufficient nations.

Human Development Index (HDI) statistics rank the countries on the basis of their development. The country which is having a high standard of living, high GDP, high child welfare, health care, excellent medical, transportation, communication and educational facilities, better housing and living conditions, industrial, infrastructural and technological advancement, higher per capita income, increase in life expectancy etc. are known as Developed Country. These countries generate more revenue from the industrial sector as compared to service sector as they are having a post-industrial economy.

The following are the names of some developed countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United States.

Definition of Developing Countries

The countries which are going through the initial levels of industrial development along with low per capita income are known as Developing Countries. These countries come under the category of third world countries. They are also known as lower developed countries.

Developing Countries depend upon the Developed Countries, to support them in establishing industries across the country. The country has a low Human Development Index (HDI) i.e. the country have low Gross Domestic Product, high illiteracy rate, educational, transportation, communication and medical facilities are not very good, unsustainable government debt, unequal distribution of income, high death rate and birth rate, malnutrition both to mother and infant which case high infant mortality rate, high level of unemployment and poverty.

The following are the names of some developing countries: Colombia, India, Kenya, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey.

Key Differences Between Developed and Developing Countries

The following are the major differences between developed countries and developing countries

• The countries which are independent and prosperous are known as Developed Countries. The countries which are facing the beginning of industrialization are called Developing Countries.
• Developed Countries have a high per capita income and GDP as compared to Developing Countries.
• In Developed Countries the literacy rate is high, but in Developing Countries illiteracy rate is high.
• Developed Countries have good infrastructure and a better environment in terms of health and safety, which are absent in Developing Countries.
• Developed Countries generate revenue from the industrial sector. Conversely, Developing Countries generate revenue from the service sector.
• In developed countries, the standard of living of people is high, which is moderate in developing countries.
• Resources are effectively and efficiently utilized in developed countries. On the other hand, proper utilization of resources is not done in developing countries.
• In developed countries, the birth rate and death rate are low, whereas in developing countries both the rates are high.

There is a big difference between Developed Countries and Developing Countries as the developed countries are self-contained flourished while the developing countries are emerging as a developed country. Developing Countries are the one which experience the phase of development for the first time. If we talk about developed countries, they are post-industrial economies and due to this reason, the maximum part of their revenue comes from the service sector.

Developed Countries have a high Human Development Index as compared to Developing Countries. The former has established itself in all fronts and made itself sovereign by its efforts while the latter is still struggling to achieve the same.

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July 8, 2015 at 12:47 am

Although still correctly called a developing country, suprisingly, China has a High HDI.

NABIEU FAYIA says

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anonymous says

December 17, 2015 at 4:00 pm

Even though China seems very developed, it is still considered a developing country. This is because there are still high rates of poverty and unemployment and people die at a young age.

kandeepan says

April 24, 2016 at 3:55 pm

you should change the third points that says both developed and developing countries literacy rate is high. it can not be same the literacy rate of both countries. developing literacy relate in most countries are very poor. we can get many good examples from African countries.

Surbhi S says

April 25, 2016 at 4:14 am

You should read the third point carefully, because it has been written there that the illiteracy rate is high in developing countries.

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Derick says

January 11, 2022 at 9:17 pm

Very useful

Alexandre says

February 15, 2022 at 4:26 pm

Thank you for your help very well written text I loved the post I read everything, congratulations on the post. Congratulations on the site

Bobguide says

June 21, 2022 at 11:08 pm

Your post is wonderful and I really want to thank you for sharing it as it contains a lot of information and it has been very helpful.

Abdullahi Tasiu says

September 1, 2022 at 12:30 am

This is very helpful 👍👍👍 Thanks you so much. Especially to we students. We are thanking you so much.

EFYARCK says

October 12, 2022 at 10:27 pm

Really insightful, thanks very much

Khumalo Anicy C.N says

April 14, 2023 at 2:22 am

Very helpful… a topic I covered today and now I understood after reading this .

P Chandra Sekhar Rao says

April 19, 2023 at 11:49 am

The article on the ‘Difference Between Developed Countries and Developing Countries’ is an excellent resource for understanding the distinctions between these two categories of nations. The author has done a great job in presenting the information in a clear and concise manner, making it easy to comprehend even for those who are not well-versed in economics.

The article provides a comprehensive comparison chart that covers various parameters like unemployment rates, poverty rates, living conditions, revenue generation, growth, and standard of living. The author has highlighted the differences between developed and developing countries with precision and backed up the points with relevant examples.

The author’s use of simple language and easy-to-understand examples makes the article an excellent resource for students, researchers, and policymakers.

May 5, 2023 at 9:38 pm

Thanks this helped a lot 😁👋👍

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Characteristics of Developing Countries. (2018, Oct 13). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/characteristics-of-developing-countries-essay

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StudyMoose. (2018). Characteristics of Developing Countries . [Online]. Available at: https://studymoose.com/characteristics-of-developing-countries-essay [Accessed: 11 Sep. 2024]

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StudyMoose. (2018). Characteristics of Developing Countries . [Online]. Available at: https://studymoose.com/characteristics-of-developing-countries-essay [Accessed: 11-Sep-2024]

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What are the general characteristics of developing countries?

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Include an introduction and conclusion

A conclusion is essential for IELTS writing task 2. It is more important than most people realise. You will be penalised for missing a conclusion in your IELTS essay.

The easiest paragraph to write in an essay is the conclusion paragraph. This is because the paragraph mostly contains information that has already been presented in the essay – it is just the repetition of some information written in the introduction paragraph and supporting paragraphs.

The conclusion paragraph only has 3 sentences:

• Restatement of thesis
• Prediction or recommendation

To summarize, a robotic teacher does not have the necessary disciple to properly give instructions to students and actually works to retard the ability of a student to comprehend new lessons. Therefore, it is clear that the idea of running a classroom completely by a machine cannot be supported. After thorough analysis on this subject, it is predicted that the adverse effects of the debate over technology-driven teaching will always be greater than the positive effects, and because of this, classroom teachers will never be substituted for technology.

Start your conclusion with a linking phrase. Here are some examples:

• In conclusion
• To conclude
• To summarize
• In a nutshell

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Some people think that a law should exist so that young people under 18 cannot be out after the midnight, others think it should not be. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

A friend of yours is thinking about applying for the same course that you did at university. he/she has asked for your advice about studying this subject. write a letter to your friend. in your letter: * give details of the course you took at the university * explain why you recommend the university * give some advice about how to apply, in some countries owning a home rather than renting one is very important for people. why might this be the case do you thing it is a positive or negative situation, some people believe that it is good to share as much information as possible in scientific research, business and the economic world. others believe that some information is too important or too valuable to be shared freely., some people say history is one of the most important school subjects. other people think in today’s world, subjects like science and technology are more important than history. discuss both views and give opinions..

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• The Weekend Essay

The tragedy of progress in the developing world

Kenya and Bangladesh are doomed to walk the crooked road of history.

By Robert D Kaplan

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” begins Charles Dickens’s 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities , about the French Revolution. The phrase, which so concisely captures the complexity of life, has become a cliché. But this underrates its descriptive power: it defines a society caught between two eras, both a France in the process of overthrowing its ancien régime , but also Dickens’s contemporary Britain, still feeling its tentative way through the realities of an industrial economy.

Applied to the present, it captures the situations in a host of developing countries where decades of steady economic and social progress have nonetheless resulted in riots and political upheaval. More specifically: Kenya, which has experienced a summer of widespread unrest, ostensibly in opposition to a new finance law; and Bangladesh, whose long-time prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned in August after a series of violent protests.

“But weren’t those countries supposed to be success stories?” many might ask. They are, and that is the point. Kenya has gone from a rural, tribal-based society to a much more complex and middle-class one. Bangladesh has gone from one of the poorest countries on Earth to a country of light industry and dramatically increased literacy. Both are developing the vigorous middle class that is a prerequisite for democracy. Both countries have also rapidly emerged as geopolitical powers in their regions. Kenya with 56 million people has been designated as the US’s principal ally in sub-Saharan Africa. Bangladesh with 171 million people (25 million more than Russia, which sprawls across 11 time zones) has also emerged as a key country, especially owing to the weakening of Myanmar, torn apart by civil war, next door.

But success only leads to new patterns of instability, including riots and revolutions. This is part of how countries build complex institutions. These societies are climbing the ladder of success, and the steps include periodic revolts. No one understood this concept better than the late Harvard political scientist Samuel P Huntington, who made the crooked path of progress in the developing world the theme of his greatest book, Political Order in Changing Societies , published in 1968. It may still be the most arresting guide to the rigours of globalisation ever published. By reading developing countries through his analysis, we can see the tragedy of their condition – as well as better understand the path before them.

Huntington begins by noting how hard the West finds it to understand this development. The US’s happy circumstances – a stable mass democracy on a resource-rich continent, protected by oceans – has led its citizens to believe in what he called the “unity of goodness”, a collective assumption that national development flows in concert, to the benefit of all. But that is not the case for much of the rest of the world. Indeed, as a general rule, “the faster the enlightenment of the population, the more frequent the overthrow of the government”. This is why long periods of economic growth and reform, however uneven – and much more so than periods of stagnation and repression – lead to popular upheavals. Growth and change restructure the developing country’s class system.

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Kenya and Bangladesh have followed this pattern closely. The governments in both, while corrupt and autocratic in important respects, have overseen significant periods of economic growth and particularly the creation or enlargement of middle classes, as people flooded into the cities from the countryside. Another example: Tunisia, where the mass revolt known as the Arab Spring began in 2011, had the most developed middle class of any Arab country that was not rich in oil. Middle classes are, quite simply, harder to govern than rural and illiterate peasantries. They are not fatalistic, and are rarely grateful. They have more acquisitive needs and desires and always demand more. As Huntington explains, while the existence of a large middle class becomes a moderating force in political life, its genesis can be highly destabilising.

The creation of a middle class is of course necessary for well-functioning political institutions, which rely on literate bureaucrats. And the more complex a society becomes, the more such institutions are needed – and efficient ones at that. In less developed societies, loyalty to clans and tribes predominates; in more developed societies loyalty instead flows to institutions and the state. Kenya and Bangladesh, as well as many other societies in the developing world, are moving in that direction. You can discern this by what people complain about. Demonstrations about taxes, corruption and press freedoms – which is what drove much of the summer unrest in Kenya and Bangladesh – are signs of populations demanding higher standards of governance. This is progressive in itself. Better that they complain about corruption in general than about this tribe getting more favours than that one.

Corruption is a complex phenomenon in two respects, as Huntington points out. It is a sign of intense modernisation, since it indicates that institutions, even as they are being built, cannot keep up with the demands of the population and alternative networks for getting things done emerge, while functionaries are poorly paid and must seek income from other sources. But corruption is also a sign of perceived “backwardness” in a society, of people being ashamed of their own state authorities, and thus demand cleaner and more efficient performance. Progress in politics always begins with complaints.

As Isaiah Berlin wrote: “Men who live in conditions where there is not sufficient food, warmth, shelter, and the minimum degree of security can scarcely be expected to concern themselves with freedom of contract or of the press.” That complaints about the lack of press freedoms and of protection for journalists are widespread in these societies is a sign of how much they have progressed in recent decades. Kenya’s youth-led revolt, which began in late June and featured riots and demonstrations, was not over a tribal or ethnic dispute but a tax hike that threatened to increase the price of basic goods. When the Kenyan president William Ruto withdrew the tax, protesters continued to demand his resignation for corruption and mismanagement.

In Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina – who had been in office for two decades and had overseen a dramatic expansion of the economy and middle class – was forced from power in early August because of repression, democratic backsliding and the curbing of media freedom. Again, issues such as famine and communal tensions had little to do with the demonstrations. Those motivations belong to the past – at least for the moment. It is also notable that an aspirational youth played a dominant role in both countries’ protests. They are digitally literate in a new way, and subject to a deeper engagement with global influences. Whereas in the past, each country in the developing world was consumed by its own issues, today, thanks to a form of political-cultural globalisation, local issues can be subjected to Western standards. This stokes demand for change. Such outside influences were always present, but not in the immediate and intense way they are now through technology.

This does not make the process of development easier: rather, it is even more tumultuous than in the past. Revolts, driven by higher and higher standards for governance, are easy – a mere matter of producing crowd formations. Solving the problems that revolts rally against is much harder. And that’s why the building of order, by way of institutions, is more progressive than even the holding of elections, as Huntington explains. What is required are more and better institutions, which are painstakingly hard and time-consuming to construct. The lag time between revolts and institution-building constitutes the age that these developing societies will inhabit for some time.

“The truly helpless society is not one threatened by revolution but one incapable of it,” Huntington writes. Countries mired in low-level and communal or territorial conflict – and there are plenty of those – are incapable of modernising revolt. Kenya and Bangladesh are in a more advanced state. But that is the key to their current instability. Probably the best example in history of a truly bloody and extreme uprising was the French Revolution, Dickens’s subject, which despite great cost in lives produced a modern, democratic state with civil liberties. Other revolutions, such as in Russia and Iran, have led to Bolshevism and Islamic radicalism. But that is not what Kenyans and Bangladeshis are yearning for. There is little hint of religion or communism in their revolts: only better governance. The very absence of extremism is a sign of healthy modernity.

This is a happy story, if it continues. The problem is with Western elites who see progress as linear, without the great chicanes of history in the road. But when Joe Biden held a state dinner in the White House in May to honour Ruto and to announce Kenya as a major American ally, he was only being somewhat naive. Biden thought Kenya and its society had already “arrived” . But Kenya will never “arrive”, it will continue to evolve in periodic and tumultuous ways. And that is not a tragedy, but a hope.

[See also: Van Gogh in the yellow house ]

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