Dualism

[ I ] What is Dualism:

a) Dualism (the Latin word ‘duo’  means "two")  denotes two parts. 

b) In general, the condition of being double yet, are in contrast, is called duality.

c) It is the division of something conceptually into two opposed or contrasted aspects.

d) As a Noun, it is the state of being dual is the division into two divergent parts.

e) Any theory which distinguishes between two fundamentally different things is

called a dualistic theory.

[ II ] Types of Dualism:

A. Social dualism:

The theory of Social dualism was given by Booke (1954). Such dualism exists in
the form of:

 Traditional society system Vs. Modern social system.

 Traditional society Vs. Modern society.
 Traditional institutions Vs. Modern social institutions.

B. Economic dualism:

Economic dualism means existence of two types of economies in the national

economic system; for example
 Rural Vs. Urban
 Traditional technology Vs. Modern technology.
 Privatization Vs. Nationalization.

C. Environmental dualism:

This kind of dualism is found as the following perspectives:

 Rural Vs. Urban area.

 Ecological Vs. Diversity.
 Regional Vs. Diversity.
 Bio-climatic Vs. Diversity.

1 Dualism / द्वैतवाद Dr.P.K. Sen, DAV PG College, Varanasi

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D. Political dualism:

 This is found in diverse forms like:

 Unitary state Vs. Federal state.
 Monarchy Vs. Republic.
 Regressive force Vs. Progressive force.

[ III ] Dualism Theory (Max Weber, W. Sombart & J.S. Bocke):

(a) In a historical context, Werner Sombart’s “Jew” and Max Weber’s “Puritan,”
places them as the originator of the so called ‘Western concept of Dualism’.
(b) Dr.J.S.Boeke’s “Dualistic Theory” (1910) viewpoint (in accordance with Dr.
Sombart's theory) characterizes the society by the three aspects which
dominate the society :

(i) The social spirit,

(ii) the organizational forms and
(iii) the technique.

He thinks that the "Social-Economic System” is formed by the interrelation of

these three aspects. He says that "where simultaneously two or more social systems
appear, the one clearly distinct from the other, and each dominate a part of the
society, there we have to do with a dual or plural society".

[ IV ] Some Common Terms used to express Dualism :

Expressing the concept of dualism, economists have related it to many aspects, such
as:

 Traditional Agricultural Sector and Modern Industrial Sector

 Gender Dualistic approach
 Young and Old Generation dualism
 Regional dualism
 Racial dualism
 Ethnical dualism
 Formal sector and Informal sector dualism
 Literate and Illiterate Society
 Domestic and International dualism, etc.

2 Dualism / द्वैतवाद Dr.P.K. Sen, DAV PG College, Varanasi

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[ V ] Dualism as in economics

After Sombart, Max Weber and J.S.Boeke, several other authors have also
contributed to the concept of dualism. For instance, Eckhaus (1955), Higgins
(1959), Lewis (1954), Gannage (1962), Myrdal (1968), Singer (1970) etc.
Different sets of conditions, of which some are “superior” and others
“inferior”, can coexist in a given space.
Examples of this element of dualism include urban and rural sector dualism,
the coexistence of wealthy and highly educated elites with mass of illiterate
poor people; and the dependence notion of the powerful wealthy industrialized
nations with weak, poor peasant nations in the world economy.
The coexistence of rich and poor nations in an international system with
unequal power (both politically and economically) relationships between the
“Center” (the developed) and the “Periphery” (LDCs).

Dualism is a major characteristic of an underdeveloped economy. Dualism

refers to that condition of a country when two sectors advanced modern
sector and the backward or traditional exist side by side.
For example, we have modern industries and the old cottage industries.
In other words, in an under developed country, there is the “bullock cart
economy” (that is, everything is moving slow) and “modern transport economy”
(that is, everything is moving fast) operating at the same time.

In the context of our modern economy, ‘Globalization’ is integration of national

economies into the international economy through trade, foreign direct
investment, capital flows, migration, and spread of technology. Economic
dualism and globalization there is no relationship between them. Globalization
may be or may not be lead to economic dualism.

Dualism theories assume a burst of economic and social structures in different

sectors of the economy and the society. The world is divided or grouped into
two economic orders; the “Center” (rich) and the “Periphery”(poor) countries.
This has been a major challenge of the third world, hence development cannot
be achieved or it will be challenging if this phenomenon (domestic and
international dualism) is not check and control.

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3 Dualism / द्वैतवाद Dr.P.K. Sen, DAV PG College, Varanasi