Metropolis-hinterland Theory

Definition of Metropolis-hinterland Theory

The Canada social science dictionary [1] provides the following meaning of Metropolis-hinterland Theory: A theory of social and economic development that examines how economically advanced societies, through trade and colonialism, distort and retard the economic development of less developed societies and regions. A metropolis is identified as the centre of political and economic power, as having a more advanced labour market, more skilled and educated workers, an abundance of value-added production, higher standard of living, etc. A hinterland would be less able to withstand the political and economic interference of the metropolis, would have an abundance of resource extraction industries, fewer skilled and educated workers, a lower standard of living and in many ways would emulate the culture of the metropolis. For more than a century Ontario, or even more narrowly the Toronto region, was seen as the metropolis to a vast Canadian hinterland and the United States has been seen as the metropolis for a Canadian hinterland. See: DEPENDENT DEVELOPMENT / WORLD SYSTEMS THEORY in this legal dictionary and in the world encyclopedia of law.

Metropolis-hinterland Theory: Resources

Notes and References

• Drislane, R., & Parkinson, G. (2016). (Concept of) Metropolis-hinterland Theory. Online dictionary of the social sciences. Open University of Canada