Development Conditions and Experience - Term Paper Example

Development Conditions and Experience Introduction Modernization theory refers to the process of transforming from tradition or from undeveloped countries to modern societies. Modernization theory assumptions still reproduced in the mainstream development thinking and policies. In historic terms, modernization is a change process towards advancement of social, political, and economical that has taken place in both North America and Western Europe from the 17th century. The primary attention of modernization focuses on how current societies turned out to be modern through the process of social, political, cultural, and economic growth (Haynes 2008, P.65). Generally, modernization theorists are highly focused on economic growth in societies such as gross national product measure. Modernization has led to the reproduction of mainstream development thinking and policies such as in mechanization and industrialization. The purpose of this essay is to outline to what extent are the main assumptions of Modernization theory still reproduced in mainstream development thinking and policies. There are three major historical elements, which influenced the modernization theory development after World War II. To begin with, after the Second World War, United State rose as a superpower. While other nations of the west such as France, Great Britain, and Germany become weak due to the Second World War, America emerged out of the war fully strengthened, becoming the leading nation with Marshall Plan implementation for construction of war-torn Europe (Haynes 2008, P.89). Secondly, they existed of the spreading of the movement of united world communist also influenced the development of modernization theory. The past Soviet union not only influenced Eastern Europe but also other countries such as Korea and China. These new states were eagerly searching for methods of developing their economic status and enhancing the countries’ political independence (Shah 2011, P.142). In accordance with modernization theory, current modern societies are highly productive hence portraying how assumptions of modernization have reproduced mainstream development thinking and policies. For instance, children in modern societies are better educated, with the needy receiving more welfare (Shah 2011, P.144). According to the analysis of Smelser, modern societies and mainstream development thinking and policies have a certain characteristic of social structural demarcation. This means that there is a clear definition of political roles and functions from national boards. Smelser further states that although there is increase of functional strength of modern institutions due to structural differentiation, it has however brought a problem of linking activities of different new institutions and integration (Shah 2011, P.147). Additionally, Coleman in his political sense stresses that there exist three major characteristics of a modern society. These features include political structure differentiation, political culture secularization with the culture of equality, hence enhancing the society’s political system capacity. The most important development assumptions of modernization theory are (1) modernization takes place in phase process. For instance, Rostow has five phases in accordance with his economic development theory for an exacting society. (2) Modernization is like a homogenizing process. In this sense, one can conclude that modernization creates tendencies to the convergence between different societies. For instance, Shah (2011, P.148) argues that, as time passes, we will resemble one another since the modernization patterns seem that the more societies are modernized, the more the societies resemble one another. (3) Modernization is an Americanization or Europeanization process. In the context of modernization literature, there exists a complacent attitude towards the United States and Western Europe. These countries are termed as having dissimilar democratic stability and economic prosperity (Engerman 2005, P.62). Additionally, the process of modernization is irreversible, meaning that once started it cannot terminate. In other words, the time when the third world nations will develop like the Western countries, they will be unable to avoid the impetus of modernization (Haque 2009, p. 87) Modernization refers to a progressive process whereby it is not only predictable but also desirable in the end. According to Coleman, the modernized governmental systems unlike traditional political system have higher chances of dealing with functions of legitimacy, national identity, penetration, distribution, and participation (Engerman 2005, P.65). Due to these modernized political systems, people believe modernization to have contributed to the reproduction of mainstream development thinking and policies. Lastly, modernization is a very long process. It refers to an evolutionary transformation, but not revolutionary change. Modernization takes generations not even centuries for it to be complete, and its accompanying and reflective impacts are only felt with time (Engerman 2005, P.67). All these modernization assumptions come from American and European evolutionary theory. However, there is a similar set of assumptions of modernization based mainly on the structuralism-functionalism theory, which stresses the significance of structural factors at the cultural stage, social institutions interdependence, and that established criteria of change using homeostasis equilibrium. These ideas especially derive from sociological theories of Parson. These modernization assumptions include: (1) Modernization is mainly a systematic progression. The modernization attributes forms a completely consistent, therefore appearing as a cluster but not in isolation. (2) Modernization is a changeable process. This implies that for a particular society to change to modernity it must totally replace its traditional values with the new set of modernity values. (3) Modernization is also an imminent process because of its transformative and systematic nature, which brings change to the society (Olsthoorn & Wieczorek 2006, p. 54). One of the modernization assumptions principal applications is the economic field, which relates to public policy decision making. Following this perspective, one can conclude that the economic modernization theory basis on the five phases of development according to Rostow’s model. In summary, the following are the five stages of modernization theory include traditional society, takeoff precondition, takeoff process, drive to maturity, and mass consumption society (Olsthoorn & Wieczorek 2006, p. 57). In accordance with this exposition, Rostow has come up with a possible solution to enable endorsement of Third World Modernization. If the challenge affecting Third World nations resides in the countries’ lack of effective investments, in that case this solution, concentrates on providing aid to such nations in the form of technology, capital, and expertise. The Alliance for success in Latin America and Marshall Plan are good example projects, which Rostow’s political theories influenced (Olsthoorn & Wieczorek 2006, p. 60). One can define the strengths of assumptions of modernization theory in several facets, which have really contributed to the reproduction of mainstream development thinking and policies. To begin with, there can be identification of research focus. Despite the fact that modernization assumptions main studies were of psychological, social psychologist, religious psychological, and political psychologist, there are other authors seem to extend modernization theory to other spheres (Cowen, Kazamias & Unterhalter 2009, p. 393). For instance, Bellah analysed the responsibility of Tokugawas religion towards pajanes economical development in South Asia, and its impacts on villages of Laos, Burma, and Cambodia. Some authors have addressed the responsibilities of modernization in the democratic Third World Countries while others focus on the consequences modernization poses to individual behaviour and attitudes. Another characteristic of modernization perception is an analytical framework (Cowen, Kazamias & Unterhalter 2009, p. 74). Most critical thinkers assume that the Third World Nations are traditional-based while Western nations are modern. In order for these countries to develop, they need to adopt and practice Western modernization values. Thirdly, the modernization methodology basis of general researches, for instance, the expositions staring the Third World Countries’ value factors, and the dissimilarity between dictatorships, stable dictatorships, and unstable democracies (Cowen, Kazamias & Unterhalter 2009, p.77). On the other hand, modernization theory was famous in the 1950s, although it was affected by heavy attacks of the 1960s. The theory’s critics include; to begin with, development is necessarily not unidirectional. This acts as an example of Rostow’s perspective ethnocentricity. Secondly, modernization perspective portrays only one possible development model (Cowen, Kazamias & Unterhalter 2009, p. 284). An example of this is the pattern of development existing in the United States. Nevertheless, contrasting this circumstance, one can notice that other countries have advanced their development such as South Korea, Taiwan, and therefore there is need to admit these countries’ development were successful through hardworking and strong authoritarian governments. Another set of modernization theory critiques demands the need to eliminate and replace the traditional values for a country to develop effectively (Cowen, Kazamias & Unterhalter 2009, p. 285). Third World nations lack homogeneous traditional values since their systems are heterogeneous. For instance, some authors have tried to distinguish between little values and traditional values. The other aspect of modernization critique here is that modern and traditional values do not necessarily need to be mutually exclusive. For example, China despite its advancement in economic development, the country continues to stick to its traditional values and similar situations exist in Japan yet there are among the developed countries (Cowen, Kazamias & Unterhalter 2009, p. 288). Moreover, it is impossible to argue that traditional principles are ever dichotomous from the present status of modernization, for instance, Emperor Loyalty can ‘be changed to firm loyalty. The similarity between new modernization and classical studies depicts in the current researches on Third World development, national level analysis, and use of the key variables such as cultural values, internal factors, and social institutions, modernity and main concepts of tradition, and modernization policies depending on the view that modernization benefits the society as a whole. There are other differences between classical modernization and new modernization studies (Boelens, Guevara-Gil & Getches 2010, p. 42). For instance, based on the classical modernization, traditional values are obstacles. On the other hand, based on the new modernization approach, traditional values serve as additive in the society development. Regarding methodology, classical approach uses theoretical framework, which has many abstractions, while the new modernization approach uses concrete studies found in historical context. Assumptions of modernization theory also influence the reproduction of mainstream development thinking in many sectors such as health, infrastructure and ICT sector. Just like modernization, development has resulted to be the key principle in many countries currently. Nations, which are termed as modernized are also developed, and this means that such countries receive more respects from higher institutions such as the U.S Nations and other trade partners from other countries respect them (Boelens, Guevara-Gil & Getches 2010, p. 45). The extent to which a certain country has developed or modernized portrays the country’s power and its significance on the international rank. Modernization of health sector in developing countries believes that changing traditional values to modern values does not merely imply that the country should advance its technology and introduce western practices (Boelens, Guevara-Gil & Getches 2010, p. 47). Developing countries recognize that transforming health care system to modernization implies reorganizing the current political agendas to aid in increasing resources and funding to the healthcare facilities (Boelens, Guevara-Gil & Getches 2010, p. 48). However, instead of copping the stages used by the developed countries, whose modernization roots are in colonization and industrialization, the undeveloped countries must use proximal intervention in order to target rural areas and put emphasize on prevention strategies instead of curative solutions. This is highly evidenced in China “barefoot doctors” and Christian Medical Commission. In addition, a strong medical institution advocated was Halfdan Mahler, who was the WHO Director for a long period since the year 1973 to 1988. According to held medical conferences, healthy modernization means that the health institutions should receive funds from well-organized programs especially those willing to fund epidemics such as HIV/AIDS Tuberculosis, and Malaria (Boelens, Guevara-Gil & Getches 2010, p. 51). These healthy funding to the developing countries has improved health standards of millions of people although, it impends future development. Some theorists of modernization often view traditional values as obstacles to development and economic growth of a country. Furthermore, although modernization could bring violence, radical change of the traditional societies were worth the price (Milgate 2009, p. 8). Modernization critics emphasize that customary societies were destroyed without achieving the promised benefits. Instead, the financial gap between the developed societies and the undeveloped ones actually increased (Milgate 2009, p. 11). The net impact of modernization according to some societies was the replacement of traditional values with a more modernized form. Other points of improvements included infrastructure, education, economic opportunity, and high living standards. The assumptions of modernization as a continuous process highly influenced the development of these sectors since people were aware that modernization and technology would keep on improving and advancing higher (Milgate 2009, p. 13). Developing countries recognize that transforming health care system to modernization implies reorganizing the current political agendas to aid in increasing resources and funding to the healthcare facilities. However, instead of copping the stages used by the developed countries, whose modernization roots are in colonization and industrialization, the undeveloped countries must use proximal intervention in order to target rural areas and put emphasize on prevention strategies instead of curative solutions (Milgate 2009, p. 14). In accordance with modernization theory, most countries are highly productive hence portraying how assumptions of modernization have reproduced mainstream development thinking and policies. For instance, children in modern societies are better educated, with the needy receiving more welfare (Engerman 2005, P.62). According to the analysis of Smelser, modern societies and mainstream development thinking and policies have a certain characteristic of social structural demarcation. This means that there is a clear definition of political roles and functions from national boards. Smelser further states that although there is increase of functional strength of modern institutions due to structural differentiation, it has however brought a problem of linking activities of different new institutions and integration (Milgate 2009, p. 8). Additionally, Coleman in his political sense stresses that there exist three major characteristics of a modern society. These features include political structure differentiation, political culture secularization with the culture of equality, hence enhancing the society’s political system capacity (Sen 2004, p. 157). Many developing countries use the assumptions of modernization theory as the guide for development such as China. In reality, assumptions of modernization theory prove to be the most prominent development framework in developing countries such as China. For example, China despite its advancement in economic development, the country continues to stick to its traditional values and similar situations exist in Japan yet there are among the developed countries (Sen 2004, p. 397). Moreover, it is impossible to argue that traditional principles are ever dichotomous from the present status of modernization, for instance, Emperor Loyalty can change to firm loyalty. Mainstream development thinking and policies in China have and still reproduce due to the assumptions of modernization theory, hence making the country to be among the topmost developed countries in the world (Engerman 2005, P.62). Conclusion In conclusion, Modernization leads to the reproduction of mainstream development thinking and policies such as in mechanization and industrialization. Modernization theory assumptions still reproduced in the mainstream development thinking and policies (Buttel, Mol & Spaargaren 2006, p. 198). In historic terms, modernization is a change process towards advancement of social, political, and economical that has taken place in both North America and Western Europe from the 17th century. In accordance with modernization theory, current modern societies are highly productive hence portraying how assumptions of modernization have reproduced mainstream development thinking and policies. For instance, children in modern societies are better educated, with the needy receiving more welfare (Buttel, Mol & Spaargaren 2006, p. 200). Assumptions of modernization theory have also influenced many countries to focus on developing many sectors such education, public heath, commerce, infrastructure, and many others. This is there is an assumption that modernization is a continuous process. Assumptions of modernization theory have also led to the establishment of new economic, social, and political policies in, the developing countries and the developed ones as well. According to the analysis of Smelser, modern societies and mainstream development thinking and policies have a certain characteristic of social structural demarcation. This means that there is a clear definition of political roles and functions from national boards. Smelser further states that although there is increase of functional strength of modern institutions due to structural differentiation, it has however brought a problem of linking activities of different new institutions and integration. Bibliography Haynes, J 2008, Development studies. Cambridge, UK, Polity. Shah, H 2011, The production of modernization: Daniel Lerner, mass media, and the passing of traditional society. Philadelphia, Temple University Press. Engerman, D. C 2005, Staging growth: modernization, development, and the global Cold War. Amherst [u.a.], University of Massachusetts Press. Olsthoorn, X., & Wieczorek, A. J 2006, Understanding industrial transformation views from different disciplines. Dordrecht, Springer. Cowen, R., Kazamias, A. M., & Unterhalter, E 2009, International handbook of comparative education. Dordecht, Springer. Boelens, R., Guevara-Gil, A., & Getches, D 2010, Out of the Mainstream Water Rights, Politics and Identity. London, Earthscan. Milgate, M 2009, After Adam Smith: A Century of Transformation in Politics and Political Economy. Princeton University Press. Sen, A. K 2004, Development as freedom. Oxford [u.a.], Oxford Univ. Press. Buttel, F. H., Mol, A. P. J., & Spaargaren, G 2006, Environment and global modernity. London [u.a.], SAGE. Haque, M. S 2009, Restructuring development theories and policies: a critical study. Albany, State Univ. of New York Press. Read More