Modernization is a homogenizing process, in this sense, we can say that modernization. Modernization theory oxford research encyclopedia of. In this article, multiple theories are discussed, as are recent developments with regard to these theories. In this sense, the dependency theory can be viewed as a reaction to modernization theory. Pdf on jan 1, 2001, giovanni e reyes and others published four main theories of development. The concept of modernization and development in marxs. Modernization theory itself, however, takes no stance on whether modernization is a good or bad thing. Modernization theories are recent in development and its practice was in the period 1945 1955, however the period of enlightenment throughout the 18th century can be seen as the start of portraying western ideas as above those of the third world. There is, presumably, a need to make traditional societies beliefs and attitudes more rational. Modernization theory claimed that once developing societies came into contact with western european and north american societies, they would be impelled toward modernization and, eventually, would achieve the economic, political, and social features characteristic of the nations of western europe and the united. 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.
Bureaucracy, once erected, may also come to play an active role in decisionmaking and thus determine policy evolution. Generally, modernization theory and dependency theory are antipodal theoretical approaches. Fostercarter argues that this disguises the similarities that exist between ldcs and the west. 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 has been one of the major perspectives in the sociology of national development and underdevelopment since the 1950s. This article examines the link between economic development and democracy. 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. Walt rostows theory of economic development is a clear or perfect illustration of the modernization theory. However, the way modernization theory suggests for.
Accordingly,neoliberalism is an antidevelopment perspective,not in termsofgoalsbutintermsofmeans. Development rostows of development and ist relevance in. Apr 12, 2018 the major assumptions of the modernization theory of development basically are. Development theory development theory dependency and world systems theories. 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. 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. A critique of modernization and dependency theories in. Given the complexity that arises from tracing the multidimensional development of social processes, the goal of discovering a single definitive social theory of evolution is perhaps the most ambitious research goal in all of social science. Modernization theory modernization characterised the social, economic and political systems of western europe and north america that had developed between the 17th and 19th century and spread to other european countries, south america, asian and african continents through the 19th and 20th century eisenstadt, 1966. 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. Franks theory of underdevelopment your article library. Two methodological similarities may be noted at the outset. 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. For example, modernisation theory sees ldcs as backward societies that need our help to develop, whilst dependency theory sees us as exploiting them for cheap labour and raw materials.
Modernization theory modernization is the term used for the transition from the traditional society of the past to modern society as it is found today in the west. Modernization theory studies the process of social evolution and the development of. In this context, in the late 1940s, modernisation theory was developed. Developed by american social scientists in the 1950s. Modernization theory argues that poor nations can change their status by increasing their economic growth and adopting changes in as far as their beliefs, values and attitudes towards work are concerned.
Essay about modernization and development theory 1529 words. Dependency theory was introduced during the 1970s and has been further developed e. He, in the beginning, criticized the wellrecognized contribution of rostows. 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. Jackman, on the relation of economic development to democratic performance, american journal of political science 17 august 1973, 61121. The modernisation theory of development the modernization the movement of the 1950s and 1960s is an economic theory that is rooted in capitalism. The main objective of this document is to synthesize the main aspects of the four major theories of development.
Modernization theories backwardness theories according to modernization theories, internal factors in the countries, such as illiteracy, traditional agrarian structure, the traditional attitude of the population, the low division of labour, the lack of communication and infrastructure, etc. 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. In its most sophisticated variants, modernization theory explains modernization by reference to the onset of the process that. The theory postulates that economic development brings large changes in values from material survival values to postmaterialist quality of life concerns e. The next section will discuss an alternative theory of development, which is dependence theory. 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. 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 discourse pins hope on the african renaissance theory of development. Modernization, modernization theory and its criticism. The stages of economic growth published in 1971 and popularized the views of baran. The hypothesis implied by this theory is that if a country develops over a longer period under dictatorship, so that all. 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.
Modernization, dependency, rural underdevelopment, african renaissance. Second, the foundations of modernization theory are now considered questionable, a. 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. Modernization consists of a gradual differentiation and specialization of social structures. May 19, 2020 modernization theory itself, however, takes no stance on whether modernization is a good or bad thing.
Modernisation theory development and underdevelopment. 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. Modernization theory and the comparative study of societies. Yet this may not be a fair test of modernization theory. Modernization theory describes the transformative processes of societies from underdevelopment to modern societies.
The endogenous explanation is a modernization theory. Modernization and dependency theory essay example graduateway. Sep 27, 2015 modernisation theory historical context 1940s and 50s by the end of ww2 it had become clear that despite exposure to capitalism many of the countries of the south had failed to develop. The most wellknown version of modernization theory is walt rostows 5 stages of economic growth. Modernization theory is subject to criticism originating among socialist and freemarket ideologies, worldsystems theorists, globalization theorists and. Such theories draw on a variety of social science disciplines and approaches. These are the principal theoretical explanations to interpret. 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. Pdf development and modernization theory handout perin. Society for comparative studies in society and history.
Fundamentally, modernization theory studies the process of social evolution and the development of societies. Drawing on modernization theory, it considers whether democracy is more likely to emerge in a country that modernizes economically. The concept of modernization and development in marxs, lenin. 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. Difference between modernization theory and dependency. There are two levels of analysis in classical modernization theory. The discourse assesses the influence of modernization and dependency theories on africas development. Modernization theory according to macionis 2010, the definition of modernization theory is a model of economic and social development that explains global inequality in terms of technological and cultural differences between nations. Aug 31, 2015 modernization theory is also a development theory that emerged before the dependency theory. Modernisation theory had two major aims it attempted to explain why poorer. These are the principal theoretical explanations to interpret development efforts carried out especially in the developing countries. Dependencytheory was introduced during the 1970s and has been further developed e. 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.
Modernization theory is a theory that attempts to explain how nations transition from traditional to modern societies. The conclusion is that both theories have failed to help develop africa. Defining development development is simply defined as. Strenght and weakness of modernization theory free essays. Primary attention has focused on ways in which past and present premodern societies become modern i. 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. Development theory dependency and world systems theories. A critique of modernization and dependency theories in africa. Postdevelopmentthinkingalsoputs forth an antidevelopment position. The modernization theory of economic development economics essay.
Modernization theory an overview sciencedirect topics. The concept of modernization incorporates the full spectrum of the transition and drastic transformation that a. Thus, while some associate modernization with industrialization or economic development and others define it more broadly to emphasize mans increasing. Wallersteins work development at a time when the dominant approach to understand development, modernization theory, was under attack from many fronts, and he folllowed the suit martinezvela 2001 p. The concept of modernization and development in marxs, lenins and marxistleninist thought. Dec 01, 2016 1 modernization theory of development 1. Sep 19, 2017 the most wellknown version of modernization theory is walt rostows 5 stages of economic growth. Development theory is a collection of theories about how desirable change in society is best achieved. The world system theory has been closley associated with immanuel wallerstein, and the interlectual concepts came from his knowledge. Modernization theory and the sociological study of development. Modernization theory and the sociological study of development the author would like to thank rita cruise obrien and leslie sklair for encouraging him to commit to paper his views on this subject, and ronald dore and donal cruise obrien for their extensive comments on an earlier draft.
Barry blufer university of massachusetts amherst follow this and additional works at. Modernization and dependency theories flashcards quizlet. According to modernization theory, development will arrive in traditional societies after the modernization of their beliefs and attitudes. One popular model combines political development state and nationbuilding, participation, redistribution, economic growth, and social mobilization with cultural. Modernization theory refers to a variety of nonmarxist perspectives which have been put forward to explain. Modernization theory revisited, comparative politics 21 october 1988, 26. The concept of modernization incorporates the full spectrum of the transition and drastic transformation that a traditional society has to undergo in order to become. Depending on which theory that is being looked at, there. The hypothesis implied by this theory is that if a country develops over a longer period under dictatorship, so that all the modernizing consequences. These theoretical perspectives allow us not only to clarify concepts, to set them in. Modernization and its discontents 1 the crisis in modernization theory 5 towards a sociology of knowledge 11 2. Difference between modernization theory and dependency theory.
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