Modernising the World - Notes

IntroExplains the process of modernisation in societies

Background Post WW2 Countries remained poor despite exposure to capitalism Such instability seen by US economists

Aims Explain why poorer countries haven't developed Provide a solution to poverty Introduce western values

Rostow Development - evolutionary process to climb ladder Stage 1 - Traditional Societies Stage 2 - Preconditions for Take Off Stage 3 - Take Off Stage 4 - Drive to Maturity Stage 5 - Age of High Mass Consumption

Parsons Traditional values act as barrier Need to adopt values like meritocracy Leads to emergence of 'entrepreneurial spirit'

Motors Hoselitz (1960) - meritocratic education Inkeles (1969) - mass media Speed up spread of Western Values Diffuse ideas of need to be geographically mobile

Criticisms Ethnocentric Ecological Limits Degrades developing countries Ignores the crisis of modernism, e.g. Wales Excludes sociologists in developing world Cannot be extended to all societies - planet is limited

Modernising the World