Theory of modernization pdf

In this chapter we shall examine the origins and development of the first approach to social change, that being modernisation theory. In order to delineate this evolution, we have to begin with a sociology of knowledge of modernisation theories, in other words, of a theory of why people write what. Modernization theory oxford research encyclopedia of. Modernization theory and the comparative study of societies. Modernization is a continuous and openended process. The discourse assesses the influence of modernization and dependency theories on africas development. Pdf development and modernization theory handout perin. Modernization theory is a grand theory encompassing many different disciplines as it seeks to explain how society progresses, what variables affect that progress, and how societies can react to that progress. Modernization theory stresses the functional necessity of efficient bureaucracy for welfare state development because, without it, effective taxation and administration of complex distributional programs is simply impossible. Stated another way, marxist theories explain the reasons why imperialism occurs, while dependency theories explain the consequences of imperialism. Modernization theory is a theory used to explain the process of modernization within societies. The conclusion is that both theories have failed to help develop africa. These theoretical perspectives allow us not only to clarify concepts, to set them in. Historically, the span of time over which it has occurred must be measured in centuries, although there are examples of accelerated modernization.

Human nature has a propensity to resist change in favour of the status quo. The discourse pins hope on the african renaissance theory of development. Walter rostows theory will be analyzed in the second part. The basic assumption of this theory, in any of its versions, is that there is one general end page 157 process of which democratization is but the final stage. But still, some of its elements remain nonetheless useful in certain development approaches, like big is beautiful. Instead, it represents a broad framework within which to look at the pros and cons of globalization and the worldwide migration from agrarian societies to industrialized and technological societies. Modernization theory modernisation theory has been defined as a theory reyes, 2001a that uses a systematic process to move underdeveloped countries to a more sophisticated level of development.

The foundations of modernization theory go back to the age of enlightenment, when a number of philosophers began to look at how society changed and progressed. Modernization theory studies the process of social evolution and the development of. A critique of modernization and dependency theories in. The most popular criticism would revolve around the idea of ethnocentrism, or the assumption that how economic and social progress has worked in certain countries would work equally as well elsewhere. Pdf on jan 1, 2010, prateek goorha and others published modernization theory find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. In recent years the term modernisation has come to be used with starting frequency to. Some cold war 19471991 heightened tension events, such as the ousting.

In the words of one of the major proponents, historically, modernization is the process of change towards those types of social, economic, and political systems that have developed in. Modernisation theory is subject to criticism originating among socialist and freemarket ideologies, worldsystems theorists, globalisation theorists and dependency. Each theory and philosophy mentioned above has its own way of defining development but the ultimate target of all these theories is the same, and that is to guide society into the path of development. Using material from item a and elsewhere, assess the usefulness of modernization theory as an explanation for differences in the levels of development of different societies 18 marks modernization theory first arose after world war two in 1945, when western countries like the us, britain and france all believed that capitalism was the only. These are the principal theoretical explanations to interpret development efforts carried out especially in the developing countries. The theory postulates that economic development brings large changes in values from material survival values to postmaterialist quality of life concerns e. Modernization theory is a model of economic and social development that explains global inequality in terms of differing levels of technological development among societies. Aug 31, 2015 modernization theory is also a development theory that emerged before the dependency theory. Sep 29, 2019 many scholars, often people of color and those from nonwestern nations, pointed out over the years that modernization theory fails to account for the way western reliance on colonization, slave labor, and theft of land and resources provided the wealth and material resources necessary for the pace and scale of development in the west see postcolonial theory for extensive discussions of this. Were going to cover modernization theory as opposed to dependency theory. Modernization theory refers to a variety of nonmarxist perspectives which have been put forward to explain the development or underdevelopment of countries.

There are two levels of analysis in classical modernization theory. Modernization theory is a description and explanation of the processes of transformation from traditional or underdeveloped societies to modern societies. Comparison of dependency theory with modernization theory. Modernisation and the aspirations to modernity are probably the most overwhelming theme which has engaged the attention of sociologists, political scientists, economists and many others. In its most sophisticated variants, modernization theory explains modernization by reference to the onset of the process that. As is wellknown the theory has somewhat lost its significance. To a certain extent, the theories are derivations or extensions of the theory of modernization scholars have developed based on their studies and research. April 35, 2007 moscow evgeny yasin modernization and the society moscow, 2007. Modernization theory modernization theory sociology. The concept of modernization and development in marxs, lenins and marxistleninist thought. In this sense, the dependency theory can be viewed as a reaction to modernization theory.

Farhan ahmad faiz 2 historical background to modernization theory 1 post world war twos deepening poverty in some countries 2 ideological competition from communism 3 increasing unrest in some countries 4 the above posed a threat to capitalism, and especially the usa 5 this led to the development of. The role of the evaluative state in todays brazilian education. Modernization theory and dependency theory are two development theories between which some difference can be identified. A critical analysis in the changing world situation after the post 1945 era, the development of modernization theory in order to modernise the rest of the world in line with american development is interestingly significant in the history of development studies. How countries should develop rostow believed that an initial injection of aid from the west in the form of training, education, economic investment etc. Still others critique modernization theory for failing to account for the unsustainable nature of the project, in an environmental sense, and point out that premodern, traditional, and indigenous cultures typically had much more environmentally conscious and symbiotic relationships between people and the planet. Modernization and modernization theory in the social sciences after 1945 after world war ii, modernization theory in a more limited, very specific sense emerged in the context of american social science, and american postwar political culture in general. Change is resisted because it brings in elements of uncertainty. For example, ethiopia and somalia may be neighbouring ldcs but their cultures are quite. While historians are still debating the end of modernization, and the demise of the grand narrative of modernization in historical writing, the concept of modernization has witnessed a remarkable renaissance in sociology since the mid to late1980s mergel 1997, p.

Farhan ahmad faiz 2 historical background to modernization theory 1 post world war twos deepening poverty in some countries 2 ideological competition from communism 3 increasing unrest in some countries 4 the above posed a threat to capitalism, and especially the usa 5 this led to the. Industrial revolution in england and to some extent, french revolution. Reflexive modernization an overview sciencedirect topics. Modernization, dependency, rural underdevelopment, african renaissance. Huntington is alerting to the problem that some societies reach such social and economic modernization before they develop effective political institutions. Political modernization is regarded as the result of economic development and social mobilization but according to huntington political modernization containing three more elements in addition to economic development and social mobilization. These theoretical perspectives allow us not only to clarify concepts, to set them in economic and social perspectives, but also to identify recommendations in terms. Modernization theory both attempts to identify the social variables that contribute to social progress and development of societies and seeks to explain the process of social evolution. Modernization theory is used to explain the process of modernization within societies.

The concept of modernization and development in marxs. Society for comparative studies in society and history. Modernization is a theory that looks at the domestic factors of a country with the assumption that, with help underdeveloped countries can be brought to development in using the same methods that more developed countries used. Modernisation theory development and underdevelopment. Drawing on modernization theory, it considers whether democracy is more likely to emerge in a country that modernizes economically. There were times in the 1950s when these problems were not as acute, and a calmative theory dominated. When social and economic modernization occur before the implementation of effective political institutions. The marxist theory of imperialism explains dominant state expansion while the dependency theory explains underdevelopment.

Both modernisation and dependency theory make the mistake of treating ldcs least developed countries as homogeneous i. There seems to be a dynamic principle built into the very fabric of. Modernization and its discontents 1 the crisis in modernization theory 5 towards a sociology of knowledge 11 2. However, the way modernization theory suggests for.

A critique of modernization and dependency theories in africa. Modernisation theory attempts to identify the social variables that contribute to social progress and development of societies, and seeks to explain the process of social evolution. They fail to understand that value systems and institutions tend to be culturespecific. Development rostows of development and ist relevance in. Modernization and dependency theory tutorial sophia learning. Difference between modernization theory and dependency. But in the era of socalled globalization, these modernization ideas are facing resistance. Modernization theory focuses specifically on a type of modernization thought to.

Odonnell wasnt the only one to recognize the flaws of modernization theory. Difference between modernization theory and dependency theory. The endogenous explanation is a modernization theory. Modernization theory an overview sciencedirect topics. This became one of the important concepts in the theory of modernization in social evaluation wikipedia, 2016 rostows model does not disagree with john maynard keynes regarding the importance of government. Modernization theory stresses not only the process of change but also the responses to that change.

Rostow 1971 suggested that following initial investment, countries would then set off on an evolutionary process in which they would progress up 5 stages of a development ladder. It is a us and europeancentric normative model of development. In contrast, modernization theory believes in its possibility due to the modernization of socioeconomic and political life of developing countries and their closer cooperation with developed countries, which is supposed to be a conscious and willing act of developing countries looking for ways to prosperity. B modernization theory daron acemoglu, massachusetts. The most wellknown version of modernization theory is walt rostows 5 stages of economic growth. Two methodological similarities may be noted at the outset. Modernization, modernization theory a term and approach that came into widespread use in the early 1960s, as a consequence of the efforts by a group of development specialists in the united states to develop an alternative to the marxist account of social development.

Modernisation has assumed a lot of significance particularly after the end of the second world war, in the 1950s and 1960s. Apr 12, 2018 modernization theory is a theory used to explain the process of modernization within societies. Read this comprehensive essay on modernisation, its meaning theory and characteristics. Both theoretical explanations of global inequality. Modernization theory essays and research papers studymode. For instance development strategies such as new partnership for africas development nepad were. At a finer level are the microcosmic evaluations of modernization that focus on the componential elements of social modernization such as urbanization, gender and income inequality, skills acquisition and education, the role of political communication. During the 20th century, there has been enormous city growth into economic and cultural centers. Modernization and dependency theory essay example graduateway. Modernization theory is a theory used to explain the process of modernization that a nation goes through as it transitions from a traditional society to a modern one. Dec 01, 2016 1 modernization theory of development 1. The theory looks at the internal factors of a country while assuming that, with assistance, traditional countries can be brought to development in the same manner more developed countries have.

Dependency theory highlights that due to colonial and postcolonial endeavors the countries at the periphery are constantly exploited by those at the core. In such a way, this theory views modernization of socioeconomic and political life of developing countries on the basis of the example of western countries as the only possible solution of the problem of backwardness of poor countries since western way of development is, according to modernization theory, is the only correct way to prosperity. Modernization theory is subject to criticism originating among socialist and freemarket ideologies, worldsystems theorists, globalization theorists and dependency theorists among others. Modernization and dependency theories flashcards quizlet. The theory looks at the internal factors of a country while assuming that, with assistance, traditional countries can be brought to development in the. This article examines the link between economic development and democracy. Using a simple predictive model based on our revised version of modernization theory, we. Sep 19, 2017 the most wellknown version of modernization theory is walt rostows 5 stages of economic growth.

Concept of modern, modernity and modernisation are tremendously notorious, mostly because of their ambiguity and vagueness. In either case, modernization is not a onceandforalltime achievement. Apr 10, 2020 modernization theory itself, however, takes no stance on whether modernization is a good or bad thing. Theories were laid out as to how technological advancement necessarily led to social advancement, which in turn led to an examination of how different facets of advancement were connected. Modernization theory describes the transformative processes of societies from underdevelopment to modern societies. Jul 08, 2017 modernization, modernization theory a term and approach that came into widespread use in the early 1960s, as a consequence of the efforts by a group of development specialists in the united states to develop an alternative to the marxist account of social development. Modernization theory and marxists understandings and.

Although it is true, to a large extent, that modernization approach is still valid for the economic, social and political development of the countries, the approach has appeared questionable to many scholars of the field. Bureaucracy, once erected, may also come to play an active role in decisionmaking and thus determine policy evolution. Contributions to classical modernization theory can usefully be studied as belonging to two levels of analysis. Modernization consists of a gradual differentiation and specialization of social structures. The main objective of this document is to synthesize the main aspects of the four major theories of development. The classic work of comparative development by barrington moore, moore 1966, also went against the basic tenets of modernization theory by postulating that there were different paths into the modern world. He criticized marxist revolutionary views on economic transition. Modernization theory, well start there, was developed by walt whitman rostow, or w. Modernization, modernization theory and its criticism. The basic assumption of this theory, in any of its versions, is that there is one gen. New technologies have transformed almost every aspect of our daily life. Modernization theory, marxists philosophy and various forms of interpretive theories are some of the examples of those emergences.