Modernization Theory and Its Relevance to
Contemporary Development Communication Programmes
Introduction
The death of modernization theory has once been claimed by Immanuel Wallertein (cited in Latham, 2003, p.721). The absence of partnership or cooperation in its implementation is considered as the main reason of its deficiency (Mefalopulos, 2008, p.8). However, Mefalopulos (2008.p.5-6) argues that the importance and applicability of this theory are still debatable since ‘it has been part abandoned but a new paradigm has yet to be fully embraced’. Gendzier (1985) and Luke (1991) (cited in Baber, 2001, p.71) also said that this teory is still influential to world policy and is still widely practiced. As one of the main theory, it is true that the relevance of modernization theory has been one of the most essential discussion in the field of development communication. Thus, this essay will argue that despite all the critiques to modernization theory, to some extent, it is still pertinent to development communication programmes, however it can not be the one and only answer to adress the problems of development.
This essay consists of three parts. The first part will explain about the concept of modernization theory. The second part will elaborate the pertinence of modernization theory based on its implementation in contemporary context. Then eventually in the last part, the essay will draw a conclusions and provide some recommendations.
What is Modernization Theory
Change is an inalienable piece of society. Social orders are always showing signs of change to adjust themselves to the contemporary lifestyle. Social researchers generally utilize the term modernization to allude to the procedure through which
Modernization theory is inadequate with Global Inequality, because it is not the answer to why poverty still has a huge effect on the world. This theory deals more with the conflicts between modernity and tradition. Underdeveloped countries are more into their cultures, they believe there are certain things that should not be taken away. Nations have tried to industrialize, yet cultures traditions affect the countries development. The traditions are usually superstitions, ethnocentrism, fatalism, pride, dignity, and modesty; these variables are a
Over time some societies become more modern than others creating an unequal balance among other states globally. It is the thought that the modernization theory in some societies, are left behind because of advances in technology and within the economy also (Macionis and Plummer, 2012:p 306). Rostow (1990: p12) suggested that the modernization theory is created by an outside government or corporation to introduce new technologies and build industries to make money. As the four phases of modernization are explained above, it is simple to understand how these societies built upon modernization can create global inequalities and unequal balance within an underdeveloped society. However,
Brave New World is a book written in 1932 by Aldous Huxley. One of the more memorable aspects of Brave New World is its setting: a dystopian future where the government regulates everything in society and all high art is banned. At the time the book was written technology was rapidly advancing, so Huxley decided to let the quickly advancing world shape the setting of Brave New World. Modernization heavily shapes Brave New World's setting.
development have been political, social and cultural. President Museveni of Uganda likened the advent of
India is one of the oldest civilizations that have made contributions to math and science. What the Ancients Knew: “India” explores the accomplishments of ancient India that are still used and have been modernized. The ancient Indians had a lasting influence through their developments in astronomy, metalworking, medical practices and the numeric system.
Within the last 60 years, Third World development has been a global priority, at the top of virtually every Western agenda. And with the rise of the global population and poverty levels continuing to rise along with it, it is very easy to see why human development is becoming such a topic of focus and discussion among members of the academia. But one question that everyone wants the answer too is, how does Third World development fit into Globalization? Despite apparent compatibility, when closely examined it is clear to see that Globalization actually contradicts Third World development due to the conflict of agendas. Both Globalization and Development hold views concerning market reform, social structure and regulation, which are
Modernization of indigenous culture is nothing uncommon and happens on a daily basis. Time is the only variation between subjects. Depending on many factors, a culture can be transformed over a long period of time or just overnight. The modernization of North America and Western Europe occurred during the 18th and 19th centuries and has since spread to many Eastern European and Asian countries (Macionis, 2011). Modernization is a combination of sorts, including industrialization and urbanization and is defined as the transformation of a society or culture from a rural and agrarian condition to a secular, urban, and industrial one (Macionis, 2011). Modernization is not necessarily modern in the general sense or a revolutionary view; it is
"Modernization" has been a standout amongst the most strongly arranged ideas of the hypothetical and verifiable sociologies throughout the most recent fifty years. Originations of the term have changed significantly over the span of this talk. Beginning as an idealistic and unmistakably framework subordinate subsidiary of the Western, European and North-American thought of advance, the idea ended up noticeably mindful of the inner conflicts, control structures, and unintended results of innovation. Modernization progressively created from an effortlessly workable and appropriate – and frequently spur of the moment – idea into a general heuristic thought, which brings up the issue with regards to the ties holding present day social orders together and the
The two theories which shall be compared are the modernisation theory and Neo Liberalism. The modernisation theory is a market oriented development theory which states that low income countries can develop economically if they give up their traditional ways which often can be dated back centuries and take on more modern economic principles, technologies and cultural values which comprise of an emphasis on productive investment and savings.
This is clearly seen in the centering of the Eurocentric theory of modernization. Modernization theory explains that all countries are on a trajectory towards modernization that consists of the same stages with the end goal of taking a "traditional" society and making it "modern". Modern in this context is understood to be Western and modernization theory according to Greenhalgh is actually westernization, which does not fundamentally provide modernization. Moreover, Greenhalgh and political economy of reproduction challenge if modernization is inherently a positive transformation, especially when linked to westernization (Greenhalgh 1995:16). However, according to demographic theorists women's status, and therefore their fertility narratives, are improved by modernization, implicitly stating that westernization is essentially better for women (Greenhalgh 1995: 10). Moreover, demography theory constructs low-fertility as explicitly better and "progressive", a factor political economy of reproduction disputes though its analysis of the negative effects of conflating westernization with modernization (Greenhalgh 1995: 16). Greenhalgh states, "What is good is culturally conditioned", a factor that demographic theories overlook and therefore do not account for the ways low
Modernity, it is a macro process of transition from traditional to modern society. “Formation of a modern political map of the world began in early 1800 in Western Europe and maybe characterized as the product of the twin revolutions.” European colonization of the New World, the economic and political development of new territories led to significant changes in the political map. Modernity it is a complex of multi-faceted process that took a place in Europe during the 18th century and had covered all aspects of society. The modernity of the production meant the industrialization - is constantly growing use of machines. In the social sphere modernization is closely linked with urbanization, an unprecedented growth of cities, which led to prevailing in the economic life of society. In the political sphere modernity meant the democracy of political structures, laying the preconditions for the formation of a civil society and rule of law. In the spiritual realm associated with secularization -: the release of all spheres of public and private life from the separation of religion and the church, their worldliness and intensive development of literacy, education, scientific knowledge. All of these are inextricably linked to each other processes of change emotional attitudes of man,
Modernization is a structural explanation that sees rural poverty as a result of a lack of economic and industrial development. According to modernization, traditional values and practices prevented the acceptance of new technologies and institutions. This point of view looks past the individual and points
Modernization theory is a hypothesis used to clarify the procedure of modernization that a country experiences as it moves from a simple society to a modern one. Dependency theory is the idea that assets spill out of a fringe of poor and immature states to a centre of rich states, enhancing the latter to the detriment of the former. These two theories contrast in that modernization theory clarifies how created states work and develop, whereas dependency theory outline how work and develop are restricted. Modernization theory clarifies the advancement and improvement of innovation in more steady regions of the world (Culp, 2014). Dependency theory looks at the impacts that modernization in one district has on different parts of the world. Dependency theory is more comprehensive than modernization theory. Modernization theory emphasises that instruction, innovation and broad communications are noteworthy reasons why created districts pull ahead from others. Be that as it may, modernization theory does not operate on a worldwide scale where the assets, work and power originate to make this advancement conceivable. In modernization theory, the majority of the advancements that local areas or states make originate from an aggregate interior exertion.
Development is defined as “the process of change operating over time- the process by which countries and societies advance and become richer’’. The modern 20th century defines development as” the process of change which allows all the basic needs of a region to be met, thereby achieving greater social justice and quality of life and encouraging people to fulfill their potential’’. Todaro defines development as “the process of improving the quality of all human lives through raising people’s living standards, their incomes, consumption levels of food, medical services, education, raising people’s self-esteem through the establishment of social, political and economic systems and institutions that promote dignity and respect and increasing people’s