Paragraphs on Modernization and Development!
Modernization and development, due to historical and contextual similarities, are so close to each other that these are often used interchangeably. Modernization refers to the change in attitude and orientation of people towards such a pattern of life, the outcome of working on those lines is called development.
The early writings on modernization had two basic theoretical orientations: one, economic and technological development brings about change in culture and social structure as it happened in the West; and two, there has been the effect of innovation, technology and development of the West on the non-industrialized societies.
The theory of modernization sprouted from the functionalist sociology of Talcott Parsons. Parsons wrote how the relationships change when a society transits from non-industrial to industrial one. He draws a list of five specific dichotomous choices (pattern variables) which would determine role orientations.
In the case of a non-industrial society transforming into an industrial one, the changes in relationship have been depicted even before Parsons in the evolutionary perspective in sociology. Emile Durkheim presented change in society from mechanical to organic solidarity and Ferdinand Tonnies distinguished gemeinschaft from gesellschaft in the same sense to express the shift.
S.C. Dube identifies three points which are common to both the concepts:
(i) Modernization is a process of change which distinguishes between three stages of society, viz., traditional, transitional and modern.
(ii) Development makes distinction between undeveloped, developing and developed societies.
(iii) The concept of modernization is evolutionary.
Historically, almost all the societies have moved, after Renaissance, on the path of modernization – a process of change in society, where people’s actions are based on rationality, innovation and excessive use of technology.
Samuel P. Huntington points out the following nine characteristics of modernization, which are also used as indices of development:
1. Modernization and development are radical processes of change in technology and culture. These may be identified with the change from nomadic to agrarian age and the current change from agrarian to urban-industrial culture.
2. These are complex and multidimensional processes linked with cognitive, behavioural and institutional reform and structural reformations in society.
3. These are grand processes which originate at a place and then encompass other parts of the world with their ideology and technology.
4. These are long-term processes and develop in due course.
5. Both the concepts are systematic and change in one dimension entails change in others.
6. These processes involve several stages of change.
7. These are homogenizing processes under which variations between societies are reduced.
8. Both are irreversible processes, with occasional inconsistencies and commotions.
9. These are progressive, indispensable and desirable processes and contribute in the long run to physical and cultural prosperity of human beings.
It is important to note that the processes of development and modernization, except for a few aspects of them, have not been found to be uniform and ubiquitous in the world. Modernization is only partial and culture-specific. Talcott Parsons’ views on universalization of culture under the canvas of modernization would not stand verified.
Development has been unequal and dissimilar and has widened gap among individuals, groups, societies and nations in terms of their achievements. Alvin Toffler expresses his concern that only a small part of the world has been successful in the efforts of modernization and development.