Modernization Theory in Literature

Modernization Theory: Term, Definition and Concept

Definition:

Modernization theory is a macro-sociological and developmental theory that posits that all societies progress through similar evolutionary stages of development. It suggests that “underdeveloped” nations can achieve modernization and economic progress by adopting the characteristics of “developed,” Western industrialized nations.

Concept:

• Linear Progression: Modernization theory argues for a unidirectional and sequential path of development from traditional to modern society. This transition involves processes of industrialization, urbanization, and the adoption of technological advancements.
• Convergence Model: This theory maintains that as nations modernize, they become increasingly similar to each other, particularly in economic and political spheres. Industrialized nations are seen as the endpoint of societal development.
• Emphasis on Internal Factors: The focus lies on the internal traits and structures of underdeveloped countries. It identifies aspects like traditional value systems, lack of education, and low investment as impediments to progress.
• Role of the West: Western nations are often presented as the model for development. Modernization sometimes includes an emphasis on adopting Western values of rationality, individualism, and democracy.

Critiques of Modernization Theory

• Ethnocentric Bias: Critics charge the model with a Eurocentric worldview that ignores the diversity of paths to development and denigrates non-Western cultures.
• Oversimplification: It has been criticized for overlooking the complexity of historical and social factors influencing development, offering a reductionist view of complex societal change.
• Dependency Theory Counterpoint: Underdevelopment is sometimes theorized as a product of the global capitalist system and relations of dependency, not just the internal features of underdeveloped states.

Modernization Theory in Contemporary Discourse

While linear models of development have been largely challenged, elements of modernization theory remain influential:

• Technological Advancement: The role of technology in driving economic and social change remains a key point of analysis.
• Globalization and Interdependence: The impact of globalization and the increasing interconnection of economies and cultures is a contemporary focus within modernization discussions.
• Revised Modernization: Revised versions acknowledge complexities and the need for locally driven development solutions that respect cultural diversity.

Modernization Theory: Theorists, Works and Arguments

Theorist	Works	Arguments
Max Weber	The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (1905)	Weber’s analysis of Protestant values and their connection to economic development set the stage for later modernization models. He theorized that the importance of work ethic, rationalism, and individualism played a key role in capitalist advancement.
Talcott Parsons	The Social System (1951), Societies: Evolutionary and Comparative Perspectives (1966)	Parsons developed a structural-functional approach to modernization. He viewed societies as evolving from traditional patterns to modern, differentiated social structures. This transition involves moving away from kinship-based systems towards industrial society, with economic achievement and rationality taking prominence.
Walt Rostow	The Stages of Economic Growth: A Non-Communist Manifesto (1960)	Rostow presented an influential stage-based model of economic development. He argued societies evolve through: 1) Traditional Society, 2) Preconditions for Take-Off, 3) Take-Off, 4) Drive to Maturity, and 5) Age of High Mass Consumption. Rostow saw advanced industrialized nations as representing the apex of social evolution.
Daniel Lerner	The Passing of Traditional Society: Modernizing the Middle East (1958)	Lerner emphasized the role of mass communication and the development of “empathy” in aiding individuals’ transition from a traditional mindset to a modern orientation. He viewed urbanization and education as crucial processes in fostering this change.
David McClelland	The Achieving Society (1961)	McClelland focused on psychological factors and the “need for achievement.” He argued societies possessing individuals with a higher need for achievement were more likely to experience accelerated economic development.

Modernization Theory: Key Principles

1. Linear Progression of Development: Modernization theory views societal development as following a predictable, sequential path from “traditional” to “modern” stages.
2. Western Model as Ideal: It champions Western industrialized nations as the epitome of societal progress. Their economic structures, political systems, and values are idealized.
3. Industrialization and Economic Growth: Industrialization and technological advancements are considered the primary drivers of progress. Economic development is a pre-requisite for broader social modernization.
4. Breakdown of Traditional Structures: The transition involves a transformation from traditional societies marked by kinship ties, local traditions, and agrarian economies to urbanized, market-based societies.
5. Convergence: As nations modernize, modernization theory anticipates that they will become increasingly similar to each other in economic, political, and social spheres.
6. Value Transformation: Individualism, rationality, secularism, and achievement orientation are deemed necessary cultural preconditions for development. Traditional values might be viewed as hindrances to adopting these traits.
7. Role of Education and Mass Media: Modernization emphasizes the importance of mass education for building a skilled workforce and fostering a receptive mindset toward modern values. Mass media acts as a vehicle for spreading ideals and information contributing to societal change.

Modernization Theory: Application in Critiques

Methodology

1. Choose a Novel: Select a novel set in a society undergoing rapid changes associated with modernization, such as industrialization, urbanization, or the influence of globalization. Novels that grapple with tensions between traditional values and emerging realities are particularly suitable.
2. Identify Markers of Modernization: Look for elements signifying modernization within the novel. These could include:
   • Shifts in economic systems (subsistence to industrialized or market-based).
   • New technologies altering daily life and production.
   • Movement of populations from rural to urban areas.
   • The breakdown of traditional hierarchies or family structures.
   • Changes in education, access to information, or individual worldviews.
3. Examine Contradictions and Tensions: Modernization is rarely a smooth process. Analyze how the novel depicts:
   • Characters clashing over traditional values vs. the appeal of a ‘modern’ lifestyle.
   • Communities disrupted or displaced by development projects.
   • Inequalities fueled by uneven distribution of the benefits of modernization.
   • Psychological distress associated with rapid social change or the erosion of tradition.

Guiding Questions

• Does the novel portray modernization as a purely positive or negative force? Does it present a nuanced view?
• Does the author side with characters embracing or resisting modernization?
• Does the novel offer a Western-centric perspective, or critique this viewpoint?
• How does modernization reshape power dynamics within the novel’s world (class, gender, ethnicity, etc.)?

Example: Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart

The novel focuses on Okonkwo, a powerful figure in a traditional Igbo village, as he is confronted by encroaching British colonialism and Christian missionaries. Through his tragic story, the novel can be examined using a modernization lens:

• Modernization as Disruption: Colonialism introduces foreign governance, religion, and an emphasis on individual gain. This threatens communal identities and existing hierarchies in the village.
• Internal Conflicts: Characters are torn between embracing aspects of colonialism that might give them advantages, while others fear the loss of their culture and social cohesion.
• Incomplete Modernization: The novel doesn’t neatly fit a modernization theory paradigm. It ends with a complex picture, not simple advancement, but the irreversible dismantling of the traditional Igbo world.

Modernization Theory: Criticism Against It

• Eurocentrism:
  • Modernization theory is criticized for its Eurocentric bias, as it assumes that Western models of development are universally applicable and superior to non-Western societies’ indigenous practices.
• Linear Progression:
  • Critics argue that modernization theory promotes a linear and deterministic view of progress, overlooking the diversity of paths to development and ignoring the possibility of alternative forms of modernity.
• Cultural Imperialism:
  • The theory has been accused of promoting cultural imperialism by imposing Western values and norms on non-Western societies, leading to the erosion of local cultures and identities.
• Neglect of Structural Inequality:
  • Modernization theory often neglects the role of structural inequality, both within and between societies, in shaping development outcomes. It overlooks how power dynamics, exploitation, and historical legacies contribute to underdevelopment.
• Negation of Traditional Knowledge:
  • Critics argue that modernization theory disregards the value of traditional knowledge and practices, dismissing them as backward or primitive, and fails to recognize their potential contributions to sustainable development.
• Environmental Degradation:
  • The emphasis on economic growth and industrialization in modernization theory has been criticized for its contribution to environmental degradation and the depletion of natural resources, undermining long-term sustainability.
• Failure to Address Social Issues:
  • Modernization theory tends to prioritize economic development over social issues such as gender inequality, poverty, and social justice, leading to inadequate attention to these pressing concerns in development policies and interventions.

Modernization Theory: Terms Used in It

1. Development: The central concept, often focused on economic growth and technological progress, envisioned as an endpoint of social evolution.
2. Traditional Society: Characterized by an emphasis on kinship ties, local customs, agrarian economies, and limited social mobility. Represents the starting point of the modernization trajectory.
3. Modern Society: Refers to an industrialized, urbanized, and market-based society focused on individual achievements, rational thought, and secularism.
4. Industrialization: The process of transition from an agrarian economy to one based on mass manufacturing and technological advancements. Often presented as the engine of modernization.
5. Urbanization: The shift in populations from rural settlements to urban centers. This urbanization fuels new labor markets and impacts family structures.
6. Rationality: The prioritization of logical thinking, efficiency, and scientific explanations over tradition, belief, or spiritual frameworks.
7. Individualism: An emphasis on the importance of individual achievement and ambition over collective or community norms.
8. Secularization: The process of moving away from religious institutions and beliefs as the core organizing force in social and political life.
9. Westernization: The adoption of values, institutions, and technologies, associated with Western Europe and North America. Sometimes a deliberate aim, at other times a by-product of modernization processes.
10. Convergence: The idea that as societies undergo modernization, they increasingly become similar in economic, political, and social structures.

Modernization Theory: Suggested Readings

1. Eisenstadt, S. N. The Protestant Ethic and Modernization: A Comparative View. Basic Books, 1968.
2. Escobar, Arturo. Encountering Development: The Making and Unmaking of the Third World. Princeton University Press, 1995.
3. Inglehart, Ronald, and Christian Welzel. Modernization, Cultural Change, and Democracy: The Human Development Sequence. Cambridge University Press, 2005.
4. Rostow, W. W. The Stages of Economic Growth: A Non-Communist Manifesto. Cambridge University Press, 1990.
5. Wallerstein, Immanuel. The Modern World-System I: Capitalist Agriculture and the Origins of the European World-Economy in the Sixteenth Century. University of California Press, 2011