modernisation theory

Seite 1

Modernistion

Basis principles :

Best economic consequence = individuals are free, no government constraints to make own economic decisions i.e unrestricted capitalism .

Majority world should follow the rich world .More Western capitalism/industrial nations. WEAKNESS! ETHNOCENTRIC (implying western societies have no problems and traditional values have no value)

All societies are at one of Rostow's stages .

Stage 1: Traditional society - subsistence agriculture, little profit , small communities jobs passed down in families .

Stage 2: Technological development- This when society moves from stage 1 , because the preconditions for 'take off' are created i.e efficient productions and more profit made.

Stage 3: Industrialization- when entrepreneurs reinvest cash to expand businesses and generate more profit.

Stage 4: Growing industrialization -this creates new set of social and logistical needs such as educated workers and roads to transport goods. stable government and taxation created to meed these needs.

Stage 5: Mass Consumption- when wealth trickles down to workers as wages and people's lifestyle improves .

Underdevelopment occurs because nations lack key ingredients such as TECHNOLOGY or lack of ENTREPRENEURS to move from one stage to the next .

Encourage development , CAPITAL needs to be injected in TW, either as AID or as investment by TRANSNATIONAL COMPANIES

Any money should be spent on technological change. eg computers or cultural change ..eg education.

PARSONS - (FUNCTIONALIST) SAYS :

CULTURAL FACTORS hinder development .

TW cultures are based on collectivism and ascribed status , this restricts entrepreneurial growth.

people are locked in small rural communities and are backward thinking , they are also resistant to change.