Dependency theory  is the  this theory maintains that developing countries are kept in a position of dependency and underdevelopment due to existing economic and institutional power structures sustained by leading Western nations. 
 Dependency theorists argue that the  policies and activities of multinational corporations, national bilateral and multinational aid agencies such as the  World Bank and the  International Monetary Fund (IMF) tend to widen the  gap between rich and poor countries and perpetuate the  dependency of developing nations.