Modernization theory

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Modernization theory is a socio-economic theory, sometimes known as (or as being encompassed within) development theory, which highlights the positive role played by the developed world in modernizing and facilitating sustainable development in underdeveloped nations, often contrasted with dependency theory. It is also a part of the wider theme of theories in sociology, known as the sociocultural evolution.

Contents 1 Overview 2 Dependency theory 3 Contributors 4 References

[edit] Overview

During the 1950s, its initial focus was placed on the mass media as a modernizing force in the Underdeveloped World. Economically, the mass media was viewed as integral to the diffusion of modern forms of social organizations and technology over traditional economies, with literacy playing an especial cultural role in this. Modernization theorists also maintained that this would serve to promote a diffusion of liberal-democratic political ideals within less developed countries.

Several branches of the theory exist today, and it is generally viewed as a model whereby the Third and Second Worlds are seen to benefit (with aid and guidance from the First World) economically, politically, culturally, and demographically through the acculturation of the modern policies and values of the Western world.

Theories of modernization have been developed and popularised in 1950s and 1960s. It combines the previous theories of sociocultural evolution with practical experiences and empirical research, especially those from the era of decolonization. The theory states that:

• Western world countries are the most developed, and rest of the world (mostly former colonies) are on the earlier stages of development, and will eventually reach the same level as the Western world
• Development stages go from the traditional societies to developed ones
• Third World countries have fallen behind with their social progress and need to be directed on their way to becoming more advanced

Developing from classical social evolutionism theories, theory of modernization stresses the modernization factor: many societies are simply trying (or need to) emulate the most successful societies and cultures. It also states that it is possible to do so, thus supporting the concepts of social engineering and that the developed countries can and should help those less developed, directly or indirectly.

Theory of modernization has been subject to some criticism similar to that levied on classical social evolutionism, especially for being too ethnocentric, one-sided and focused on the Western world and culture.

[edit] Dependency theory

A theory antithetical to the Modernization model which emerged largely as a response to it was Dependency theory. One of its branches, and the one most critical of Modernization theory, was the World Systems Theory developed by Immanuel Wallerstein.

Wallerstein argued that the 'periphery' (the semi-periphery and periphery, both between and within countries) localities are, in fact, exploited and kept in a state of backwardness by the developed core; a core which profits from the peripheries' cheap, unskilled labour and raw materials (i.e. from those nations' lack of a skilled workforce and industries that can process raw materials locally).

[edit] Contributors

Among the scientists who contributed much to this theory are Walt Rostow, who in his The Stages of Economic Growth: A Non-Communist Manifesto (1960) concentrates on the economic system side of the modernisation, trying to show factors needed for a country to reach the path to modernisation in his Rostovian take-off model. David Apter concentrated on the political system and history of democracy, researching the connection between democracy, good governance and efficiency and modernisation. David McClelland (The Achieving Society, 1967) approached this subject from the psychological perspective , with his motivations theory, arguing that modernisation cannot happen until given society values innovation, success and free enterprise. Alex Inkeles (Becoming Modern, 1974) similarly creates a model of modern personality, which needs to be independent, active, interested in public policies and cultural matters, open for new experiences, rational and being able to create long-term plans for the future.

[edit] References

• Schramm, Wilbur L. (ed.) The impact of educational television: selected studies from the research sponsored by the National Educational Television and Radio Center (University of Illinois Press, 1960)
• Kiray, Mubeccel B. Secme Yazilar (Baglam, Istanbul, 1999)
• Gilman, Nils. Mandarins of the Future: Modernization Theory in Cold War America (Johns Hopkins University Press (ISBN 0-8018-7399-1) Baltimore 2003)
• Altun, Fahrettin Modernlesme Kurami: Elestirel Bir Giris (Kure Pr., 2nd ed., Istanbul, 2005)
• Lerner, Daniel and Schramm, Wilbur L. (Fwd. by Lyndon B. Johnson) Communication and change in the developing countries (East-West Center Press, Honolulu, 1967)
• Schramm, Wilbur L. and Atwood, Erwin. Circulation of news in the Third World: A study of Asia (Chinese University Press, 1981)
• Wallerstein, Immanuel M. The modern world system (Academic Press, 1976)
• Hopkins, Terence K. and Wallerstein, Immanuel M. Processes of the world-system (SAGE Publications, Beverly Hills, Calif. 1980)
• Wallerstein, Immanuel M. The politics of the world-economy: The states, the movements, and the civilizations, essays (Cambridge University Press, 1984)
• Engerman, David C. (ed.) Staging growth: Modernization, development, and the global Cold War (University of Massachusetts Press, 2003)
• Koker, Levent Modernlesme, Kemalizm ve Demokrasi (Iletisim, 2nd ed., Istanbul, 1993)
• Latham, Michael E. Modernization as ideology: American social science and "nation building" in the Kennedy era (University of North Carolina Press, 2000)
• Schelkle, Waltraud. (et al.) Paradigms of social change: Modernization, development, transformation, evolution (St. Martin's Press, 2000)
• Ercan, Fuat Gelisme Yazını Acisindan Modernizm, Kapitalizm ve Azgelismislik (Sarmal Pr., Istanbul, 1996)
• Leys, Colin. The rise & fall of development theory (Indiana University Press, 1996)
• Preston, P.W. Development theory: an introduction (Blackwell, Cambridge, 1996)
• Scott, Catherine V. Gender and development: Rethinking modernization and dependency theory (Rienner Publishers, Boulder, 1995)
• Joas, Hans. (trans. by Rodney Livingstone). War and modernity (Polity Press, Oxford, 2003). See: "Modernization Theory and the Problem of Violence," pp. 43-55.
• Rogers, Everett M. Diffusion of innovations (Free Press, NY, 1983)
• Spybey, Tony. Social change, development, and dependency: Modernity, colonialism and the development of the West (Polity Press, Oxford, 1992)
• Inayatullah, Naeem and Blaney, David L. International relations and the problem of difference (Routledge, London, 2004)
• Simoniia, Nodari A. Synthesis of traditional and modern in the evolution of Third World societies (Greenwood Press, NY, 1992 Nev and rhin)
• Lerner, Daniel. The Passing of Traditional Society (Macmillan Press 1958)