Theotônio dos Santos Add a review

Theotônio dos Santos Junior (11 November 1936 in Carangola – 27 February 2018 in Rio de Janeiro) was a Brazilian economist. He was one of the formulators of the Dependency Theory and supported the World-System theory.

Dos Santos had a bachelor's degree in sociology and politics in public administration from the Federal University of Minas Gerais and a master's degree in political science from the University of Brasília. He received the title of notório saber (equivalent to a doctorate) in economics from the Federal University of Minas Gerais and the Fluminense Federal University, at the latter of which he was Professor Emeritus. He coordinated for both the UNESCO Chair in Cultural Policies and Cooperation and the United Nations University in global economy and sustainable development.

He was a professor at the Universities of Brasília, Nacional Autónoma de México, Northern Illinois, New York State, Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Bennett Institute of Rio de Janeiro, and Federal University of Minas Gerais.

Dos Santos most notable contributions to the fields of economy and social sciences are his general formulation of the concept of dependency, the periodisation of the many phases of dependency throughout the history of capitalistic society, as well as the characterisation of the internal dependent structures and the definition of the reproductive mechanisms of said dependency. He also worked in the Theory of Economic Cycles, the long term dynamics of capitalism, and the world-systems theory. Additionally, he formulated the concept of "Planetary Civilisation".