Modernization theory is a socio-economic theory, sometimes known as (or as being encompassed within) development theory, which highlights the positive role played by the developed world in modernizing and facilitating sustainable development in underdeveloped nations, often contrasted with dependency theory. It is also a part of the wider theme of theories in sociology, known as the sociocultural evolution. Socio-economic theory usually refers to a combination of: economic theory social theory This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... development theory This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... A developed country is a country that has achieved (currently or historically) a high degree of industrialization, and which enjoys the higher standards of living which wealth and technology make possible. ... Sustainable development is an umbrella that attempts to bridge the divide between economic growth and environmental protection, while taking into account other issues traditionally associated with development. ... A developing country is a country with low average income compared to the world average. ... International Relations Theory Realism Liberalism Idealism Neoconservatism Institutionalism Functionalism Marxism Critical theory Isolationism Dependency theory is the body of social science theories by various intellectuals, both from the Third World and the First World, that create a worldview which suggests that the wealthy nations of the world need a peripheral... [[Image:Cultural evolution. ...

Overview

During the 1950s, its initial focus was placed on the mass media as a modernizing force in the Underdeveloped World. Economically, the mass media was viewed as integral to the diffusion of modern forms of social organizations and technology over traditional economies, with literacy playing an especial cultural role in this. Modernization theorists also maintained that this would serve to promote a diffusion of liberal-democratic political ideals within less developed countries. Mass media is a term used to denote, as a class, that section of the media specifically conceived and designed to reach a very large audience (typically at least as large as the whole population of a nation state). ... The diffusion of ideas or artifacts from one culture to another is a well-attested and uncontroversial concept of cultural anthropology. ...

Several branches of the theory exist today, and it is generally viewed as a model whereby the Third and Second Worlds are seen to benefit (with aid and guidance from the First World) economically, politically, culturally, and demographically through the acculturation of the modern policies and values of the Western world. For the Jamaican reggae band, see Third World (band). ... A map of countries often considered to make up the Second World. ... The terms First World, Second World, and Third World were used to divide the nations of Earth into three broad categories. ... Pocahontas, in England, as Mrs John Rolfe, 1616: engraving after Simon Van de Passe Acculturation is the obtainment of culture by an individual or a group of people. ... The term Western World or the West can have multiple meanings depending on its context. ...

Theories of modernization have been developed and popularised in 1950s and 1960s. It combines the previous theories of sociocultural evolution with practical experiences and empirical research, especially those from the era of decolonization. The theory states that: Modernization is closely linked to classical liberalism. ... Colonialism in 1945 Decolonization refers to the achievement of independence by the various Western colonies and protectorates in Asia and Africa following World War II. This conforms with an intellectual movement known as Post-Colonialism. ...

• Western world countries are the most developed, and rest of the world (mostly former colonies) are on the earlier stages of development, and will eventually reach the same level as the Western world
• Development stages go from the traditional societies to developed ones
• Third World countries have fallen behind with their social progress and need to be directed on their way to becoming more advanced

Developing from classical social evolutionism theories, theory of modernization stresses the modernization factor: many societies are simply trying (or need to) emulate the most successful societies and cultures. It also states that it is possible to do so, thus supporting the concepts of social engineering and that the developed countries can and should help those less developed, directly or indirectly. The term Western World or the West can have multiple meanings depending on its context. ... For the Jamaican reggae band, see Third World (band). ... Social progress is defined as a progress of society, which makes the society better in the general view of its members. ... Social engineering has several meanings: Social engineering (political science) Social engineering (computer security) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Theory of modernization has been subject to some criticism similar to that levied on classical social evolutionism, especially for being too ethnocentric, one-sided and focused on the Western world and culture. Ethnocentrism (Greek ethnos nation + -centrism) is a set of beliefs or practices based on the view that ones own group is the center of everything. ...

Dependency theory

A theory antithetical to the Modernization model which emerged largely as a response to it was Dependency theory. One of its branches, and the one most critical of Modernization theory, was the World Systems Theory developed by Immanuel Wallerstein. International Relations Theory Realism Liberalism Idealism Neoconservatism Institutionalism Functionalism Marxism Critical theory Isolationism Dependency theory is the body of social science theories by various intellectuals, both from the Third World and the First World, that create a worldview which suggests that the wealthy nations of the world need a peripheral... Unlike former sociological theories, which presented general models of social change with particular focus at the societal level, world-systems theory (or world system perspective) explores the role and relationships between societies (and the subsequent changes produced by them). ... Immanuel Wallerstein Immanuel Wallerstein (born 1930) is a U.S. sociologist. ...

Wallerstein argued that the 'periphery' (the semi-periphery and periphery, both between and within countries) localities are, in fact, exploited and kept in a state of backwardness by the developed core; a core which profits from the peripheries' cheap, unskilled labour and raw materials (i.e. from those nations' lack of a skilled workforce and industries that can process raw materials locally).

Contributors

Among the scientists who contributed much to this theory are Walt Rostow, who in his The Stages of Economic Growth: A Non-Communist Manifesto (1960) concentrates on the economic system side of the modernisation, trying to show factors needed for a country to reach the path to modernisation in his Rostovian take-off model. David Apter concentrated on the political system and history of democracy, researching the connection between democracy, good governance and efficiency and modernisation. David McClelland (The Achieving Society, 1967) approached this subject from the psychological perspective , with his motivations theory, arguing that modernisation cannot happen until given society values innovation, success and free enterprise. Alex Inkeles (Becoming Modern, 1974) similarly creates a model of modern personality, which needs to be independent, active, interested in public policies and cultural matters, open for new experiences, rational and being able to create long-term plans for the future. Walt Whitman Rostow (also known as Walt Rostow or W.W. Rostow) (October 7, 1916 - February 13, 2003) was an American economist and political thinker prominent for his staunch opposition to Communism and belief in the efficacy of capitalism and free enterprise. ... This box:  • • An economic system sucks(social institution) which deals with the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services in a particular society. ... The Rostovian take-off model is one of the major historical models of economic growth. ... David Ernest Apter (born December 18, 1924) is an American political scientist. ... A political system is a social system of politics and government. ... The history of democracy traces back from its origins in ancient world to its re-emergence and rise from the 17th century to the present day. ... David McClelland (1917-1998). ... Psychology is an academic and applied field involving the study of the human brain and behavior. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

References

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• Kiray, Mubeccel B. Secme Yazilar (Baglam, Istanbul, 1999)
• Gilman, Nils. Mandarins of the Future: Modernization Theory in Cold War America (Johns Hopkins University Press (ISBN 0-8018-7399-1) Baltimore 2003)
• Altun, Fahrettin Modernlesme Kurami: Elestirel Bir Giris (Kure Pr., 2nd ed., Istanbul, 2005)
• Lerner, Daniel and Schramm, Wilbur L. (Fwd. by Lyndon B. Johnson) Communication and change in the developing countries (East-West Center Press, Honolulu, 1967)
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• Wallerstein, Immanuel M. The modern world system (Academic Press, 1976)
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• Wallerstein, Immanuel M. The politics of the world-economy: The states, the movements, and the civilizations, essays (Cambridge University Press, 1984)
• Engerman, David C. (ed.) Staging growth: Modernization, development, and the global Cold War (University of Massachusetts Press, 2003)
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• Latham, Michael E. Modernization as ideology: American social science and "nation building" in the Kennedy era (University of North Carolina Press, 2000)
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• Preston, P.W. Development theory: an introduction (Blackwell, Cambridge, 1996)
• Scott, Catherine V. Gender and development: Rethinking modernization and dependency theory (Rienner Publishers, Boulder, 1995)
• Joas, Hans. (trans. by Rodney Livingstone). War and modernity (Polity Press, Oxford, 2003). See: "Modernization Theory and the Problem of Violence," pp. 43-55.
• Rogers, Everett M. Diffusion of innovations (Free Press, NY, 1983)
• Spybey, Tony. Social change, development, and dependency: Modernity, colonialism and the development of the West (Polity Press, Oxford, 1992)
• Inayatullah, Naeem and Blaney, David L. International relations and the problem of difference (Routledge, London, 2004)
• Simoniia, Nodari A. Synthesis of traditional and modern in the evolution of Third World societies (Greenwood Press, NY, 1992 Nev and rhin)
• Lerner, Daniel. The Passing of Traditional Society (Macmillan Press 1958)