Modernisation theory Modernisation theory

A PowerPoint presentation compiled by

Ramesh Adhikari

Introduction to Introduction to Modernisation theoryModernisation theory

For a country to be seen as modern, modernisation theorists say it has to undergo an evolutionary advance in science and technology which in turn would lead to an increased standard of living for all

Causes of lack of development or Causes of lack of development or progress towards modernisation?progress towards modernisation?

That some countries have not modernised is seen to be the result of internal factors such as (a) poverty and (b) inadequate culture

Historical background to Historical background to modernisation theorymodernisation theory

1. Post world war two’s deepening poverty in some countries

2. Ideological competition from communism

Historical Background Historical Background (cont…)(cont…)

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 modernisation theory (mainly by US economists and policy makers)

Historical Context Historical Context 1950s (Post World War II) U.S. becoming a SuperpowerSuccess of the Marshall Plan New attention to unequal

development in the world

““Traditional Society”Traditional Society”Reliance on kinship structuresLittle social or spatial mobilityOnly basic economic activityA traditional elite and

hierarchical organization

““Modern Society”Modern Society”Nuclear family serves only

limited functionsComplex and differentiated

occupations and economyHighly differentiated political

structuresRational legal sources of

authority

Parson’s (cultural factors block Parson’s (cultural factors block development)development)

Traditional values block a country from developing e.g. valuing the extended family, blocks geographical mobility

Traditional values Modern values

Ascription AchievementParticularism UniversalismCollectivism Individualism

Modernisation theorists Modernisation theorists aimed to:aimed to:

a) explain why poorer countries failed to evolve into modern societies

b) Reduce the spread of communism by presenting capitalist values as the solution to poverty

Modernisation theory has becomeincreasingly influential, especially since

postcollapse of USSR

What is Progress? What is Progress? Progress as a natural processProgress as a political process

◦Consolidation of the nation stateProgress as economic growthProgress as personal

◦“a shift in values, attitudes and expectations”

Theories of ModernizationTheories of ModernizationModernization is the total

transformation of a traditional or pre-modern society into the type of technology and associated social and political organization that characterizes the Western world.

Countries develop out of a functionalist, evolutionary, system theory of social development that is linear.

Theories of ModernizationTheories of ModernizationDevelopment as modernization leading

to modern growth, thus involves the modernization of social relationships and institutions, political relationships and institutions and economic relationships and institutions, or the shift from traditional to modern society.

The locus of change is the modern sector, centered on the rationalist values of the enlightenment era and the cultural rise of the modern nation state.

Features of economic Features of economic modernizationmodernizationInfluenced by keynesian ideas and the

Marshall plan.Distinction made between backward

or traditional countries and advanced or modern capitalist countries. The goal is to show how countries make the transition to a modern industrial country.

The transition to modernization is marked by sustained and higher rates of growth caused by rising levels/rates of savings/investment

Features of economic Features of economic modernizationmodernizationThe engine of growth is the capitalist

class in the modern sector, given their profit maximizing, individually rational, modern values and behaviour.

Under conditions of international trade, there tends to be a presumption that such international economic interactions will have a favourable net impact, with the expectation of global economic convergence i.e. the poor catching up with the rich.

Economic modernizationEconomic modernizationLewis develops a model of growth

which explicitly recognizes developmental differences between countries and makes a further distinction within developing countries by characterising them as dual economies.

Labour surplus traditional sector and modern sector in developing countries.

Economic modernizationEconomic modernizationTraditional sector is agriculture

based – low technology, capital and worker productivity.

Modern sector – high productivity manufacturing or urban centered industrialization – requires growth in savings and increased capital accumulation.

Rostow’s evolutionary ladder of Rostow’s evolutionary ladder of development (economic factors)development (economic factors)

1 Traditional society: poverty, primary production and traditional values

2 Pre-conditions for take-off: the West assists development through aid and industrial investment

3 Take-off: high economic growth and investment in infrastructure begins

4 The drive to maturity: economic and cultural factors lead to increasing prosperity for all

5 The age of high Mass consumption

Rostow's Stages of Growth Rostow's Stages of Growth Walt Rostow wrote in the late 50's and early 60's in response to the many seemingly successful Marxist theories of economic development Marxist writers had developed a number of stages through which a country had to pass, Rostow came up with a similar list.

Rostow - Stages of GrowthRostow - Stages of Growth

1. Traditional Society Characterised by

◦ subsistence economy – output not traded or recorded

◦ existence of barter ◦ high levels of agriculture

and labour intensive agriculture

Rostow - Stages of GrowthRostow - Stages of Growth

2. Pre-conditions for Take off:◦ Development of

mining industries◦ Increase in capital

use in agriculture◦ Necessity of external

funding◦ Some growth in

savings and investment

Rostow - Stages of GrowthRostow - Stages of Growth

3. Take off:◦ Increasing

industrialisation◦ Further growth in

savings and investment◦ Some regional growth◦ Number employed in

agriculture declines

Rostow - Stages of GrowthRostow - Stages of Growth

4. Drive to Maturity:◦ Growth becomes self-

sustaining – wealth generation enables further investment in value adding industry and development

◦ Industry more diversified◦ Increase in levels of

technology utilised

Rostow - Stages of GrowthRostow - Stages of Growth

5. High mass consumption◦ High output levels◦ Mass consumption of

consumer durables◦ High proportion of

employment in service sector

Modernisation theory – role of the Modernisation theory – role of the West in developing countriesWest in developing countries

i. Western investment in factories, expertise and equipment – use loans from World Bank (Trickle down)

ii. Western funding to introduce meritocratic education (values of universalism, individualism and competition (Hoselitz)

Modernisation theory – the West and Modernisation theory – the West and the developing countries (continued)the developing countries (continued)

iii Mass media to disseminate modern ideas e.g. nuclear families (Inkles)

iv Urbanisation to be encouraged (Hoselitz)

With such help from the west poor With such help from the west poor countries would develop countries would develop

a. capitalist entrepreneurial middle class to develop business opportunities

b. High mass consumption

c. An urban population

d. Lifestyles of conspicuous consumption

Criticism of modernisation Criticism of modernisation theorytheory1. It is ethnocentric because

(a) it devalues traditional values and social institutions e.g. extended families (b) it ignores increasing inequality within and between countries(c) it is not a neutral theory as it suggests (it promotes western capitalist values)

2 Education in developing world mainly benefits small, local elites (those at the top)

3 It assumes unlimited natural resources for industrial expansion. (ignores ecological issues)

4 There is no, one single way to advancement and historical context is also important.

5 The cultures of developing countries e.g the importance of the family, may be a response to economic insecurity and low levels of material well-being not the cause of it. (Inglehart and Baker 2000)

Critiques of ModernizationCritiques of ModernizationModernization can break down

traditional authority without necessarily replacing it with modern structures

Modernization can cause problems: ◦Psychological stress/ issues of identity◦Violence and political disorder

Neo modernisation theorists stress Neo modernisation theorists stress importance of cultural valuesimportance of cultural values

Huntington argues there are eight cultural zones

Christian traditions and values led to economic prosperity for the Western zone

Non western zones resent this prosperity

Huntington Huntington Argues with the idea that

modernization means political and economic development going hand in hand

Worries that efforts to promotes modernization can produce political disorder

Modernization not the same as Modernity◦Instability might be related to the rate of

change◦Economic growth can lead to social

tensions

HuntingtonHuntingtonKey variables

◦Degree of institutionalization

◦Degree of participation

“We are not poor, there are no beggars here;for people from outside, yes there is povertybecause they see us unwashed or they see ourhouses in poor shape, for them this is poverty,but for us this is not poverty. When we want tofish in the river, if we want to talk or think, wehave space. In the end, where there is land,there is no poverty.”

(Venancio Mborobainchi, President of the Urubicha Communal Center, cited on the CIPCA website 2007).

Influence of modernisation Influence of modernisation theory todaytheory today1. Paternalism of NGO’s – ‘people

first’ policies are based on western ‘help’ as it is deemed that poor countries cannot help themselves

2. Neo-liberals want a free market and advocate ‘helping’ poor countries. (Arguably they want it both ways depending on what suits them.)

Some may respond by rejecting modernisation and return to fundamentalism Eg the Arab World and fostering of international terrorism (Sept 11th)

Marxists say it is not cultural but economic factors which matter most, and western ideas about modernisation are laden with capitalist values

Social Mobilization and Social Mobilization and Political DevelopmentPolitical DevelopmentDeutsch (1961)

◦Social Mobilization: “the process in which major clusters of old social, economic, and psychological commitments are eroded or broken and people become available for new patters of socialization and behavior”

◦Two-Stages: Breaking from the old Forming stable new patterns

Measures of MobilizationMeasures of Mobilization

1. Exposure to modernity2. Mass media3. Voting participation4. Urbanization5. Change to non-agricultural

employment6. Literacy7. Per capita income

Mechanisms for Mechanisms for ModernizingModernizingMediaCultural DiffusionForeign Aid “Social Evolution”

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