Modernisation Theory notes

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Modernisation Theory

Glossary

Aspiration Something you hope to achieve

Capitalist Our economic system, or someone who is successful in it

Deffered gratification Planning for money and success in the future, not now

Dichotomy A way of thinking which sees things as either one thing or the other - only two alternatives

Durable Lasting for a long time

Entrepeneurial Interested in running a business and

making money

Ethnocentric A way of thinking in which the thinker assumes that his/her culture's way is the only right way

Evolutionary universals Found in all societies as they change from traditional to modern

Precedent Once something has been done, it becomes easier to do it again

Prescient Having the ability to see what the future will be like

Social Mobility Individuals or families moving from one social class to another

Substistence farming Growing food and keeping animals to feed your family, not for sale

Transitional In the process of changing from traditional to modern

Trickle Down Gradual filtering down from top to bottom

Urbanization Increase in the proportion of people living in cities rather than the countryside

Modernisation theorists say that for a country to be seen as modern, it has to undergo an evolutionary advance in science and technology which in turn would lead to an increased standard of living for all

Internal factors which stop some countries from developing

Traditional culture and values

Lacking modern values

High birth rates and population growth

Lacking technology and institutions like banks

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Post World War II - Cold War 1960s

World divided between two competing systems: capitalism (USA) and communism (Soviet Union)

MODERNISATION THEORY

Modernisation theorists aimed to:

Explain why poorer countries failed to evolve into modern societies

Reduce the spread of communism by presenting capitalist values as the solution to poverty

ROSTOW'S EVOLUTIONARY LADDER OF DEVELOPMENT (ECONOMIC FACTORS)

Traditional Society: poverty, primary production and traditional values

Pre-conditions for take-off: the West assists development through aid and industrial investment

Take-off: high economic growth and investment in infrastructure begins

The drive to maturity: economic and cultural factors lead to increasing prosperity for all

The age of high Mass Consumption

PARSONS (CULTURAL FACTORS BLOCK DEVELOPMENT

Traditional Values block a country from developing e.g valuing the extended family blocks geographical mobility

TRADITIONAL VALUES

Ascription -> In the past you did not have to work to get where you wanted e.g the son of a King would become a King. Gender decided a lot about a person's life

Particularism -> Being concerned with the local area i.e the community rather than the wider area

Collectivism -> The family/community's views are more important than your own

MODERN VALUES

Achievement ->You now get where you want to be in life through working hard

Universalism -> Being concerned with wider areas e.g Nations or the whole world

Individualism -> Your own interests are the most important

Glossary

Notes