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Theories Of Modernization Theory

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About 50 years ago, the freshly decolonized, 'underdeveloped ' nations began a quick process to make themselves worthy of West. 'Development ' when it comes to modernization meant economic growth and industrialization. But this modernization theory ' is increasingly being challenged today. Many countries around the world freshly decolonized and newly named underdeveloped or developing, embarked on different projects of national development. Some began to setup indigenous industries for export, others opted for industrial production to substitute for imports and this process was underpinned by what we call modernization theory.
Theory of Modernization is one of the media dependency theories, used to explain the progression of modernization …show more content…

In general, modernization theorists are concerned with economic growth within societies as indicated, for example, by measures of gross national product. Mechanization or industrialization is ingredients in the process of economic growth. Modernization theorists study the societal, political, and cultural consequences of economic growth and the conditions that are vital for industrialization and economic growth to take place. Essentially, modernization theory suggests that societies that have advanced technology especially in industrial sector, produces not only economic growth but also structural and cultural modifications that makes absolute statements regarding the success of people. The relationship between developed and developing world also boosts up. This is where the term Globalization intervenes, Globalization is actually the amalgamation of social, cultural and economic aspect, the process in which businesses make worldwide influence and start their operations internationally. Globalization has increased since Industrial Revolution and has led to cross-borders communications and joint ventures. The common characteristics that societies tend to develop as they become modern may vary from one form of modernization theory to another but generally, all assume that institutional structures and individual activities become more highly specialized, distinguished, and unified into social, political, and economic forms characteristic of advanced Western societies. …show more content…

Modernization theory is a part of the critical theory that became popular in the 1970s and 1980s. It criticized the influence of Western modernization. This is held to be a case of Western cultural and economic imperialism or dominance. (Schiller, 1976).
The third step of modernization theory rising in the 1990s is the theory of late-, high- or post modernity. It tries to be more impartial, by not being in favor or against Western modernization. Rather it attempts to discover the contradictions and ambiguities in the modernization process and to describe the consequences of modernity for individuals in existing society.
Theory of modernization has always been the target of critiques. First, development is not necessarily unidirectional. Secondly another critique of the modernization theory regards the need to eliminate traditional values. Third World countries do not have a homogeneous set of traditional values; their value systems are highly heterogeneous and mixed A second side for criticism here is the fact that traditional and modern values are not necessarily always mutually exclusive: China, for example, despite advances in economic development continues to operate on traditional values and this is also seen in the case of Japan. Furthermore, it is not possible to say that traditional values are always different from modern

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