Modernization Theory PDF

Modernisation Theory Modernisation theory is used to explain the process of modernization within societies. Modernisation refers to a transition from a traditional to a modern society. The theory attempts to identify the social variables that contribute to social...

Modernisation Theory Modernisation theory is used to explain the process of modernization within societies. Modernisation refers to a transition from a traditional to a modern society. The 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. Modernisation theory not only stresses the process of change but also the responses to that change. It also looks at internal dynamics while referring to social and cultural structures and the adaptation of new technologies. According to theories of modernization, each society can develop from traditionalism to modernity, and that those that make this transition follow similar paths. More modern states are wealthier and more powerful, and their citizens freer, with a higher standard of living. Developments, such as new data technology or the need to update traditional methods make modernization necessary or preferable. Historians link modernization to the processes of urbanization and industrialisation, as well as to the spread of education. In sociological critical theory, modernization is linked to an overarching process of rationalisation. When modernization increases within a society, the individual becomes that much more important, eventually replacing the family or community as the fundamental unit of society. Modernisation theory became the foundation stone of this evolutionary prescription for development. The theory is not homogeneous—numerous proponents disagreed on several key features. But in broad outline, the theory focused on deficiencies in the poorer countries and speculated about ways to overcome these deficiencies. It viewed traditional society as a series of negatives: stagnant and unchanging, not innovative, not profit-making, not progressing, not growing. It argued that about 500 years ago, most people in the world were poor or living in traditional social arrangements. Scientific innovation existed in many parts of the world but for a variety of reasons, science and entrepreneurship grew in Western Europe. The engine of this economic growth was capitalism. Innovation and technological growth became self-sustaining in Western Europe because they were embedded in the capitalist system. Entrepreneurs were in competition: profits were pursued by lowering costs and increasing revenues and re-investing in order to make more profits. This ceaseless accumulation and expansion spurred growth. Some modernisation theorists emphasised the political modernisation that accompanied this economic advance: feudal lords and autocratic monarchies were challenged and representative forms of government were 1 established over hundreds of years. This meant individual freedoms, political parties, elections, rule of law: in short, western-style liberal democracy. The Third World did not undergo these economic or political transformations: it was ‘left behind’. So the task of the Third World is to transform itself from tradition to modernity. That is, to follow the footsteps of the West. In fact, because the path is now charted, these countries can avoid the mistakes made by the West. One of the most influential modernisation theorists has been W W Rostow of the US. His 1960 book ‘The Stages of Economic Growth’ outlined five stages of development. The first stage is known as the Tradional Society which is associated with the country that has not yet developed but the majority of the people are engaged in subsistence agriculture and more investments are channeled in services or activities such as military and religion. This stage of development is concerned with societies that have a pre scientific understanding of gadgets. The people believe that things such as goods come into being by divine forces rather than the intervention of man or ingenuity. It does not mean that the economy’s production level of such a society is static but is increased due to the surplus cultivation of the land in order to increase agriculture production. The traditional society consists of some technological innovations but only exists in ad hoc basis that is for a particular purpose. The manufacturing sector and industries in traditional society had always been limited by the inadequate scientific knowledge and backward frame of the minds which resulted into low labour productivity. There is also massive concentration of political power in the hands of land owners and the social structure is feudalistic in nature. The second stage of development or economic growth is called the pre condition for takeoff whose economy undergoes a process of change for building up of conditions for growth and takes off. Rostow asserts that the changes in this stage the society and the economy are fundamental in nature in the socio political structure and production technique. It is characterized by the massive development of mining industries, increase in capital use in agriculture, necessity of external funding and some growth in savings and investments. It also consists of certain dimensions that are associated with this transition from traditional society through the conditions to the take off phase. It is the stage in which agriculture is commercialized and mechanized to bring about technological advancement and growth in entrepreneurship activities. The agricultural activities play an important role in the process of transition or development. 2 The third stage is called the take off stage of development which is sometimes called the economic take off. It is characterized by dynamic economic growth which is due to sharp stimulus of economic, political or technological in nature. The main focus of this stage is the aspect of self sustained growth. It is also referred to be an interval when the resistance to steady growth have been removed. It is important to understand that this stage occurs whenever the sector led growth becomes common and society is driven more by economic processes than traditions. The growth or economic progress becomes a normal trend or situation in these societies because those factors that were affecting or limiting growth are removed. There is an increase in industrialization, further growth in savings and investments and there is a decline in the number of employees in agriculture and there is an increase in entrepreneurship. Once take off has taken place a country will take as long as fifty to one hundred years to reach maturity as was the case with the industrial revolution. The fourth stage after the take off stage is the drive to maturity which is concerned with the extension of modern technology over other sectors of the economy or society. Drive to maturity stage refers to the period when a country has affectively applied the range of modern technology to the bulk of its resources. In this stage growth becomes self sustaining in the sense that wealth generation activities enables further investment in value adding industry and development. It is important to understand that during this stage the economy finds its place in the international economy and those goods that were imported begin to be produced locally and new requirements for import are developed. It is generally an improvement on the take off whose economy focused relatively on narrow complex of industry and technology and the economy of the maturity stage extends its range into a more refined and technologically often more complex processes. The fifth and final stage is called the age of high mass consumption were the leading sectors in the society shift towards durable consumers goods and services. The consumers focus on durable goods and hardly remember the subsistence activities of other stages. This stage is concerned with the high output levels, mass consumption of consumer durables and increase in employment in the service sectors. It is characterized by an increase in per capita income, changes in the structure of the working force including those working in the offices or factories and an increase in the desire to benefit from the consumption fruits of a mature economy. In this age of high mass consumption the society is able to choose between concentrating on military and security issues, on equality and 3 welfare issues or developing luxuries for its upper class. It is important to understand that each country in this state of position chooses its own balance between these goals. There is a desire to develop an egalitarian society and that the country in this stage seeks to determine its uniqueness and the factors that are affecting it are political, geographical and cultural structures and also values present in its society. It is therefore true to say that education has an important and direct relationship to addressing of each of the five stages of modernization theory or economic development in any given society or country. This means that education plays an important role in the five stages of economic growth propounded by Walt Rostow in order to bring about desired development. For example in the Traditional society education is vital as it helps people to acquire better ways and methods of farming in order to enhance agricultural activities. This is possible because traditional society is associated with massive subsistence farming activities. Through education the people who live in a traditional society are able to acquire different methods of irrigation and measures that can be taken in order to sustain the life of human beings and life of crops or vegetation and also to be able to have the knowledge of family planning in order to regulate the size of population. They are able to understand the value of their mindset, rights and their role in development. In the second stage of pre conditions education helps people to be aware of the political aspects of society and that there are other ways of investments such as industry and manufacturing rather than farming life which is associated with traditional society. Education is vital in this stage as it helps people to acquire the knowledge about the importance of engaging in international market in order to enhance the investment levels. It also inculcates new values and attitudes in the people and also to allow them learn how to manage their resources. Education also plays a role an important role in the take off stage in the sense that it enables people in the society to be able to have proper access to science and technology as well as the acquisition of values which predispose a population to change. This is because science and technology are the dynamic values of the education and it is achieved through learning that takes place in various schools of a particular society. It also helps people to acquire the knowledge of entrepreneurship and production in order to increase the workforce in the society. It also important in the maturity stage of development because it helps to extend the knowledge and skills of technology to other sectors of society and this is usually achieved through workshops, seminars and lecture methods. Farmers can be called for a workshop in order to educate and extend the new knowledge of 4 technology and how to sustain the economy or production of output levels. It also plays an important role in the sense that it enables people to be aware of their rights and opportunities in the society. For example people are able to know that they are equal and are supposed to be treated fairly and equally regardless of sex or status in the society. It also helps the society to prioritize their goals or objectives into those that need urgent attention in order to satisfy the desires of the people. It enables skills and resource sustainability in the people. 5