The credible polity is a continuous latent process that does not come to life only in times of transition in economic systems or political regime. Note that we can start from any specific location on the imperfect to perfect credible polity spectrum less than the perfect and, by application of its two principles, converge toward a perfect credible polity directly, without oscillation and theoretically in one shot.
Another implication of the analysis here is that as democracies start becoming more and more perfect in the sense implied by credible polities, we should start witnessing fewer and fewer changes in government and a convergence of all candidate governments to the center.
This essay has deliberately not looked at modernization theory as a constant theoretical idea that was proffered in an inviolable format to social scientists.
Instead it has favored a view to modernization theory that, while in its classical form is indubitably in need of reformulation, is a twofold gift to social scientists. First and foremost it provides an endogenous theory for social modernization. The gauntlet that empirical discoveries of irregularities and fifty years of research on social, economic, and political development has laid down is a significant challenge for constructing a contemporary endogenous modernization theory, but it is a task worth pursuing and, as this essay hints, not entirely insurmountable.
Second, modernization theory is not the purview of political science, sociology, or economics. Seen as such it will fail to progress into the next century and will likely be seen as an amusing exercise in grandiose theorizing by our predecessors.
Progress will likely be most fruitful when provided through the minds of rigorous and methodological social scientists who borrow from the traditions of social science without bias and fear of unorthodoxy. At www-management. For anyone interested in studying the role of credibility in modernization empirically, it is an excellent resource. At www. The NBER has a working paper series that includes many of the contributors cited in this chapter, and others well known for their work on economic growth and development theory, as well as on the political economy of growth.
Social Capital Gateway. Any empirical study of modernization must grapple with the effects of the nature, stock, and flow of social capital in a society over time and space. The Social Capital Gateway is an excellent resource with new and archived papers on the subject of social capital as well as links to databases, conferences, and educational resources.
Online Publications on Social and Cultural Evolution. Maintained by the Sociology Institute of the University of Zurich, Switzerland, this database contains a truly impressive list of resources. It covers theoretical and applied aspects of social evolutionary theory. A modernization theorist would find a lot of useful material, ranging from traditional approaches to sociocultural evolution to modern views of cyber-evolution and even the emerging link between modernization and social network theory.
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Search within Show Summary Details Modernization Theory. Modernization Theory. Keywords modernization theory classical modernization theory contemporary modernization theory economic development democratization weightless economy credible polity social modernization. Introduction Fundamentally, modernization theory studies the process of social evolution and the development of societies. Classical Modernization Theory Contributions to classical modernization theory can usefully be studied as belonging to two levels of analysis.
Classical Modernization Theory Facing New Evidence There are a few significant changes worth reviewing here that have breathed new life into the prospects of modernization theory reemerging as a pursuit worthy of its own dedicated researchers. Embedding Institutional and Instrumental Perspectives in Modernization Theory The responsibility that studying modernization theory places on the shoulders of its researchers when it comes to having a sound understanding of economic development theory cannot be overstressed.
Revising and Continuing the Classical with the Contemporary in Modernization Theory The preceding discussion has emphasized the benefit of a social modernization theory while simultaneously acknowledging the problematic elements of classical modernization theory. A New Modernization Theory through a Credible Polity and a Weightless Economy We can now turn to a review of how a new modernization theory might be constructed addressing the problems with the classical version discussed above as well as being able to tractably study the role of embedded social institutions as well as instrumental rational action.
The Credible Polity Numerous studies in the Northian tradition North ; have mentioned the importance of credibility in political institutions in creating positive economic development outcomes. The Credible Polity and the Weightless Economy In this discussion on modernization theory, the emphasis on credibility is in no small measure also a means of critically assessing the latent processes behind the development and aftermath of that very climacteric event, which causes a shift in political regime and, in so doing, makes the entire process much smoother in our understanding.
Some Remarks The credible polity construct is more than just a method of introducing political relevance to economic development simply for the benefit of researchers on modernization theory. Some Concluding Thoughts This essay has deliberately not looked at modernization theory as a constant theoretical idea that was proffered in an inviolable format to social scientists. References Acemoglu, D.
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Lack of infrastructure. Lack of technology. Lack of skills in the work force. Political instability. Lack of capital in the country.
See the next sheet for details of modernisation theory. Modernisation Theory 2: How countries should develop. Rostow believed that an initial injection of aid from the west in the form of training, education, economic investment etc. Rostow suggested that development should be seen as an evolutionary process in which countries progress up 5 stages of a development ladder.
Stage 1 — Traditional societies whose economies are dominated by subsistence farming. Such societies have little wealth to invest and have limited access to modern industry and technology. Rostow argued that at this stage there are cultural barriers to development see sheet 6.
Stage 2 — The preconditions for take off — the stage in which western aid packages brings western values, practises and expertise into the society. This can take the form of:. Science and technology — to improve agriculture. Infrastructure — improving roads and cities communications. Industry — western companies establishing factories.
These provide the conditions for investment, attracting more companies into the country. Stage 3 — Take off stage — The society experiences economic growth as new modern practices become the norm. Profits are reinvested in infrastructure etc. The country now moves beyond subsistence economy and starts exporting goods to other countries. This generates more wealth which then trickles down to the population as a whole who are then able to become consumers of new products produced by new industries there and from abroad.
Stage 4- the drive to maturity. More economic growth and investment in education, media and birth control. The population start to realise new opportunities opening up and strive to make the most of their lives.
Stage 5 The age of high mass consumption. This is where economic growth and production are at Western levels. Different theorists stress the importance of different types of assistance or interventions that could jolt countries out their traditional ways and bring about change.
Hoselitz — education is most important as it should speed up the introduction of Western values such as universalism, individualism, competition and achievement measured by examinations. This was seen as a way of breaking the link between family and children. Inkeles — media — Important to diffuse ideas non traditional such as family planning and democracy. Hoselitz — urbanisation. The theory here is that if populations are packed more closely together new ideas are more likely to spread than amongst diffuse rural populations.
The Asian Tiger economies combined elements of traditional culture with Western Capitalism to experience some of the most rapid economic growth of the past 2 decades. Many developed countries have huge inequalities and the greater the level of inequality the greater the degree of other problems: High crime rates, suicide rates, health problems, drug abuse.
Ethnocentric interpretations tend to exclude contributions from thinkers in the developing world. This is a one size fits all model, and is not culture specific.
Stage 3 — Take off stage — The society experiences economic growth as new modern practices become the norm. Profits are reinvested in infrastructure etc. The country now moves beyond subsistence economy and starts exporting goods to other countries. This generates more wealth which then trickles down to the population as a whole who are then able to become consumers of new products produced by new industries there and from abroad.
More economic growth and investment in education, media and birth control. The population start to realise new opportunities opening up and strive to make the most of their lives. Stage 5 — The age of high mass consumption. This is where economic growth and production are at Western levels. Different theorists stress the importance of different types of assistance or interventions that could jolt countries out their traditional ways and bring about change.
Firstly , there are no examples of countries that have followed a Modernisation Theory approach to development. This is why it is such a weak theory.
Secondly, Modernization Theory assumes that western civilisation is technically and morally superior to traditional societies. Implies that traditional values in the developing world have little value compared to those of the West. Many developed countries have huge inequalities and the greater the level of inequality the greater the degree of other problems: High crime rates, suicide rates, poor health problems such as cancer and drug abuse. Thirdly, Dependency Theorists argue that development is not really about helping the developing world at all.
It is really about changing societies just enough so they are easier to exploit, making western companies and countries richer, opening them up to exploit cheap natural resources and cheap labour.
Fourth, Neo-Liberalism is critical of the extent to which Modernisation theory stresses the importance of foreign aid, but corruption Kleptocracy often prevents aid from getting to where it is supposed to be going. Much aid is siphoned off by corrupt elites and government officials rather than getting to the projects it was earmarked for. This means that aid creates more inequality and enables elites to maintain powe.
Fifth , Post-Development thinkers argue that the model is flawed for assuming that countries need the help of outside forces.
The central role is on experts and money coming in from the outside, parachuted in, and this downgrades the role of local knowledge and initiatives. This approach can be seen as demeaning and dehumanising for local populations. Galeano argues that minds become colonised with the idea that they are dependent on outside forces. They train you to be paralysed and then sell you crutches. There are alternative models of development that have raised living standards: Such as Communist Cuba and The Theocracies of the Middle East.
Sixthly, industrialisation may do more harm than good for many people — It may cause Social damage — Some development projects such as dams have led to local populations being removed forcibly from their home lands with little or no compensation being paid.
In the clip below, Vandana Shiva presents a useful alternative perspective on the Green Revolution, pointing out that many traditional villages were flooded and destroyed in the process:. Finally, there are ecological limits to growth. Many industrial modernisation projects such as mining and forestry have led to the destruction of environment.
Despite its failings Modernisation theory has been one of most influential theories in terms of impact on global affairs.
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