...Week 3: Dependency and Modernization Theory Key Concepts: Political decay/ failed state: Definition: A failed state is a state perceived as having failed at some of the basic conditions and responsibilities of a sovereign government. In order to make this definition more precise, the following attributes, proposed by the Fund for Peace, are often used to characterize a failed state: * loss of control of its territory, or of the monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force therein, * erosion of legitimate authority to make collective decisions, * an inability to provide public services, and * an inability to interact with other states as a full member of the international community. * Often a failed state is characterized by social, political, and/or economic failure. Common characteristics of a failing state include a central government so weak or ineffective that it has little practical control over much of its territory; non-provision of public services; widespread corruption and criminality; refugees and involuntary movement of populations; and sharp economic decline. The level of government control required to avoid being considered a failed state varies considerably amongst authorities. Furthermore, the declaration that a state has "failed" is generally controversial and, when made authoritatively, may carry significant geopolitical consequences. Example: Modernization theory Discussion Question:In what ways has the first world...
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...Modernization theory is a description and explanation of the processes of transformation from traditional or underdeveloped societies to modern societies. In the words of one of the major proponents, "Historically, modernization is the process of change towards those types of social, economic, and political systems that have developed in Western Europe and North America from the seventeenth century to the nineteenth and have then spread to other European countries and in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries to the South American, Asian, and African continents Modernization theory has been one of the major perspectives in the sociology of national development and underdevelopment since the 1950s.Many thinkers wrote about the modernization theory such as David Harrison,Rostow and Daniel lerner.One of the key thinkers in twentieth century Development Studies was W.W. Rostow, an American economist and government official. Prior to Rostow, approaches to development had been based on the assumption that "modernization" was characterized by the Western world (wealthier, more powerful countries at the time), which were able to advance from the initial stages of underdevelopment. Accordingly, other countries should model themselves after the West, aspiring to a "modern" state of capitalism and a liberal democracy. Using these ideas, Rostow penned his classicStages of Economic Growth in 1960, which presented five steps through which all countries must pass to become developed: 1) traditional...
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...Examine the debates between modernization and dependency theory. Which one is more compelling? This essay will analyze the definitions of modernisation and dependency theory, the similarities and differences between them and it will evaluate which one is more convincing. Modernization is an imposing theory around many different disciplines for the reason that it attempts to explain how society develops and what variables are involved in the development and how society react to these changes looking at internal factors such as social and cultural structures. As Diana Kendall mentions, "Urbanization accompanied modernization and the rapid process of industrialization." (Kendall 2007) Modernization theory has developed in three different parts; the first part appeared in the 1950s and 1960s, when the dominance of materialistic western, individualist culture and individual achievement became the influential and dominant way of life during this period of time. The second part of modernization theory is part of the “idea of progress” that was accepted in the 1980s with the thought of people themselves could develop and transform their society. The last part of modernization theory takes place in the 1990s and it tries a more neutral approach without being in favor or against western modernization. Rather it attempts to expose the disagreements in the modernization process and to explain the consequences of modernity for individuals in contemporary society (Giddens, 1991a, 1991b)...
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...the industrialized society, our world economical growth was fast. Many scholars and researchers have been trying to understand why the developing nations are still under developed. The modernization and Dependency theories will explain some of our world socio-economic differences between the developing and developed countries. This essay discussed about the major differences between Modernization and Dependency theories, and their impact on the developing nations. Modernization Theory A theory designed to explain the process of modernizing societies. The theory considers the internal factors of development of any country, based on the installation, that the "traditional" countries may be involved in the development the same way as are the developed countries. According to Gavrov (2005), modernization theory endeavors to recognize the social variables, which add to social development and expansion of society, and will attempt to elucidate the procedure of social development. At the same time Gavrov (2005) stated that none of the scientists does not deny the process of modernization of society (the transition from traditional to industrial society), the theory itself has undergone considerable criticism from both Marxists and the representatives of free-market ideas, and supporters of the theory depend on the reason that is a simplified representation of the historical process. According to Tipps (2003) the basic structural changes in this phase of modernity clear four elements: ...
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...physical, technological, economic, social, cultural and political institutional factors (Singh, 1999). The thrust of this paper is however, not on definition of terms but a chronicle of the modernization theory, its basic tenants and its critical appreciation in the development context of the third world countries. In development discourse the modernization movement of the 1950s and 1960s is an economic theory that is rooted in capitalism. The concept of modernization incorporates the full spectrum of the transition and drastic transformation that a traditional society has to undergo in order to become modern (Hussain et al., 1981). Modernization is about Africa following the developmental footsteps of Europe. According to modernity, policies intended to raise the standard of living of the poor often consist of disseminating knowledge and information about more efficient techniques of production. The modernization theory assumes a total change of policies intended to raise the standard of living of the poor often consist of disseminating knowledge and information about more efficient techniques of production. For instance , the agriculture modernization process involves encouraging farmers to try new crops, new production methods and new marketing skills (Ellis and Biggs, 2001). In general, modernization led to the...
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...Modernization Theory effects of the modernization process on human communication History and Orientation A macro-theory with a historical and sociological inspiration. Developed in large-scale historical research investigating the effects of the modernization process on human communication. Modernization means the appearance of ‘modes of social life or organization which emerged in Europe from about the seventeenth century onwards and which subsequently became more or less worldwide in their influence’(Giddens, 1991). Modernization theories explain the changing ways of communication and media use in traditional and (post)modern societies. Core Assumptions and Statements Modernization theory has evolved in three waves. The first wave appeared in the 1950s and 1960s. One made the attempt to explain the diffusion of Western styles of living, technological innovations and individualist types of communication (highly selective, addressing only particular persons) as the superiority of secular, materialist, Western, individualist culture and of individual motivation and achievement (Lerner, 1958), Schramm, 1964). This first wave of theory produced three variants (McQuail, 2000: 84): 1. | Economic development: mass media promote the global diffusion of many technical and social innovations that are essential to modernization (Rogers, 1962). See Diffusion of Innovations theory. | 2. | Literacy and cultural development: mass media can teach literacy and other essential...
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...Essay preview AS and A Level Sociological Differentiation & Stratification "Compare and contrast modernisation theory and dependency theory as explanations of development and under-development" The two theories, modernisation and dependency both give valid and just explanations for development and underdevelopment. There is a notable likeness in them both but there are also many differences and neither escape criticisms. Modernisation theory was before dependency theory and was developed in the 1950/60s; the theory is based on 4 main assumptions. Western societies are the most advanced in terms of technological, social and political terms, countries go through a series of stages on their route to becoming advanced, this path is a 'natural' form of development and there must be something preventing them from doing this and finally, these underdeveloped nations can advance without an changes taking place in the finance and trading patterns of the capitalist world. The modernisation theory is politically conservative as it sees nations being undeveloped because they lack the qualities that developed nations have, this is compared with the dependency theory who see this underdevelopment due to the exploitation of advanced nations. W.W. Rostow is one of the most notable modernisation theorists; he argued that there are a number of stages that a traditional society has to pass through to become a modern society. His work is combined with the four key elements above and his...
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...310 Professor Ahmed Abd Raboh Term Paper Criticize the modernization theory using all available materials on modernization and its critique, providing your own opinion on how modernization leads to development. The way people, societies, and countries develop and interact with each other have a strong influence on deviance. Although societies may differ in appearance and way of life, they all have crime, religion, family structure, politics, and economy. The vast differences in societies are constantly studied and theorized. Grand theories, for example, are meta-theories that examine an aspect of society on a global or national scale. One particular theory of interest is the modernization theory. The modernization theory suggests that the main causes of crime are the repercussions of the rapid development and modernization of nations (Howard 148). The theory of modernization is composed of three distinct Parts: (1) Identification of types of societies, and explanation of how those designated as modernized or relatively modernized differ from others; (2) specification of how societies become modernized, comparing factors that are more or less conducive to transformation; and (3) generalizations about how the parts of a modernized society fit together, involving comparisons of stages of modernization and types of modernized societies with clarity about prospects for further modernization. (Defining Modernization) Part one explains that there must be qualities that differentiate...
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...Future of Modernizations SOC/120 January 8 2012 Modernization manifests itself in the U.S. In many different ways. The reading suggest Peter Berger defined the key factors of modernizations as being an increase in diversity, a decrease in traditional communities, more awareness to personal choice, and a look towards the future and realization of time. One main key feature in modernization manifesting itself is the fact that most of the population lives in the bigger parts of cities. 80 percent of the population according to population bureau, 2010. Their statistics showed that individuals would much rather live in bigger cities, even after knowing that health care pollution were greater in these places. The studies showed that rural areas can give one a healthier living standard, but people continue to choose to live with consequences that the may be encountered with. I think that people do not even realize the difference between the two, they just find that living in the bigger cities makes their life seem easier. The statistics also showed that the individuals that live in the bigger parts of the cities tend to rely on drugs and alcohol more than the individuals that choose to live in rural areas. I really do not see modernization trends changing anytime soon. Modernization has been happening for many years and has improved individuals life's over a period of time. I think that we have...
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...The Harrod-Domar Growth Model Every economy must save a certain proportion of its national income, if only to replace worn-out or impaired capital goods (buildings, equipment, and materials). However, in order to grow, new investments representing net additions to the capital stock are necessary. If we assume that there is some direct economic relationship between the size of the total capital stock, K, and total GNP, Y—for example, if $3 of capital is always necessary to produce a $1 stream of GNP—it follows that any net additions to the capital stock in the form of new investment will bring about corresponding increases in the flow of national output, GNP. Suppose that this relationship, known in economics as the capital-output ratio, is roughly 3 to 1. If we define the capital-output ratio as k and assume further that the national savings ratio, s, is a fixed proportion of national output (e.g., 6%) and that total new investment is determined by the level of total savings, we can construct the following simple model of economic growth: 1. Saving (S) is some proportion, s, of national income (Y) such that we have the simple equation SsY (4.1) 2. Net investment (I) is defined as the change in the capital stock, K, and can be represented by K such that IK (4.2) But because the total capital stock, K, bearsa direct relationship to total national income or output, Y, as expressed by the capital-output ratio, k, it followsthat or K Y k K Y k ...
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...result in further delaying the modernization of the developing countries. Society being comprised of inter-related parts that work to benefit each other, Modernization Theory, thus when one part malfunctions or fails to uphold its duty, society may become chaotic. This can be seen in the Cuba peak oil crisis, which was as a result of the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Cuba’s dependency on the Soviets aid forced the country to relearn or to create new structures to combat the large-scale decrease in economic growth and other negative effects on transportation, agriculture, medicine and other...
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...Critically Compare and Contrast Two Sets of the Following Theories of Development: Modernization, Structural Change and Dependency Since the end of World War 2 international development has become increasingly endeavoured upon by academics and politicians alike. The impulse to further understand growth and development was largely due to the dismantling of the European empires following the war. Nations now freed from their colonial ties strived towards a modern status as economies and societies. These Third-World nations were in search of a development model to stimulate their advance towards a modern and affluent society; this was mirrored globally, for various reasons ranging from economic self-interest to genuine humanitarianism. Development institutions such as the United Nations and International Monetary Fund were created, both in 1945, to aid international cooperation and economic development. The prominent theories of development have long been debated. Adelman (2001, p 103) said “no area of economics has experienced as many abrupt changes in its leading paradigm since Wold War 2 as economic development”. The two competing perspectives of development theory I shall compare and contrast are the Modernization and Dependency theories, both will also be applied to Latin-America. Modernization Theory dominated developmental economics in the 1950’s and 60’s. It explains underdevelopment is a result of traditional society systems, caused by internal problems within the...
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...CASE NO. 1 NOGO RAILROAD NOGO RAILROAD CASE ANALYSIS FORM I. PROBLEM Dave Keller, the new Communications Manager, has seek for external perspective on how to address the challenges in Nogo Railroad. After hearing the facts from Dave, we have identified the problem is “How will Nogo Railroad effectively address its employees’ concerns that will bring about a reduction in labor expense?” There are Macro and Micro Level problems to be considered. When these are effectively addressed, Nogo Railroad may be able to resolve problem mentioned earlier. A. MACRO 1. Innovation and Modernization. The company lacks the desire to innovate and modernize operations which tolerated inefficient and ineffective processes or practices. It is not a surprise to see Nepotism and Featherbedding. 2. Union Contracts. Poor negotiation of union contracts has left the company with liabilities. Changing the job description to make it relevant to times, is a restricted/limited by these outdated contracts. 3. Culture towards change. Resistance to change is not only prevalent in its employees. This also transcends in management (see problem#1). The leaders should embrace change and support its employees affected by the change. B. MICRO 1. Personal Doubts. The apprehension felt by Dave Keller needs to be address. His concerns towards his promotion and purpose should be resolved by Allan Yates. The new Communications Manager will only be effective if his...
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...This essay is an attempt to explain and discuss the characteristics that define a modernised individual/society in psychological, economic and political aspects. Furthermore, it will give a critique as to whether a school is the most potent force through which values can be cultivated. And finally the conclusion will be made. According to Toulmin (1990), a society is a group of people who live within some type of bounded territory and share a common way of life. This way of life is known as culture, and it includes their beliefs, norms, values, sanctions and customs. While been modernised means to be evolutionary transitioned from a pre-modern or traditional to a modern individual/society. The late concept of modernisation became popular in the 1950s. W.W. Rostow claims that societies have to pass through a linear process in order for them to achieve modernity, just as Europe did. Science and formal education takes a centre stage in the development of an individual/society. The individual is encouraged to come-up with scientific innovations on how best they can keep on developing their life in society, Finn (1993). The ...
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...Analysis on the Business Opportunities Article: A village in a million The article, “A village in a million” written by “The economist” on December 16th 2010, shows a great insight into the Indian culture, highlighting with it the job opportunities that are beginning to arise as the country modernizes and with it how long-held and deeply embedded traditions are on the verge of becoming extinct. Shahabpur is a small village located in eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. For centuries defined by its ancient ways and unique and diverse culture it is slowly being modernized. Shahabpur is located very close to the tracks and therefore not far from cities such as Mumbai. As the world progresses at a rapid rate coincidentally so does India. The farming in Shahabpur doesn’t bring in enough income, realising this many fathers send their children to work in factories in bigger cities, such as Mumbai furthermore many fathers are giving up their agricultural ways and moving towards factory work too, bringing in as much as 200rupees a day, twice what they can bring in back home. The business opportunities that arise from this vast movement to industrial work, is the opening of many more stores in Shahabpur bazaar and the increased exchange in money. As money comes in, Shahabpur is growing; three local schools have been set up, with more children being able to attend because of increased financial stability in the family. Parents are now realising the importance of education...
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