The analytical focus of this thesis is the economic development policies of Newfoundland governments. Specifically, the thesis builds upon the disciplines of political economy and sociology in an analysis of policy responses to underdevelopment and dependency. The "contrary agendas" of the title refer to internal contradictions within policy approaches. This thesis attempts to characterise these contradictions, which reflect competing and contradictory ideas as to which development trajectory is most appropriate to Newfoundland society. A comprehensive overview and analysis of the manner in which the themes of underdevelopment and dependency have been approached in Canadian scholarship is provided. Environmentalism, another tradition that is significant to developmental issues, is incorporated into the theoretical framework. Newfoundland and federal policy approaches to economic development are reviewed and analysed. Reference is made to developments in Newfoundland politics in the early twentieth century, but emphasis is on more recent shifts in the agendas for economic development. The two periods of 1971-72 and 1986-90 receive particular attention. Although the importance of structural impediments to successful development strategies is acknowledged, this thesis reaffirms the relevance of political choices and policy making to Newfoundland's recent past, current situation, and future prospects.