What Are The Strengths and Weaknesses of Modernization Theories

BASIM M.
AMATE
1. What are the strengths and weaknesses of Modernization Theories?
Modernization theory is a grand theory encompassing many different disciplines as it

seeks to
explain how society progresses, what variables affect that progress, and how societies
can react
to that progress. Modernization theory casts development as a uniform evolutionary
route that all societies follow, from agricultural, rural, and traditional societies to
postindustrial, urban, and modern forms (Bradshaw, 1987; Escobar, 1995; Chirot and
Hall, 1982; Shrum, 2000). In other words, all societies, once engaged in the
modernization process, follow a predetermined sequence of developmental stages
which it is one of strengths including traditional economies, transition to takeoff, takeoff
itself, drive to maturity, age of high consumption, and postindustrial society (Chirot and
Hall, 1982: 82). Modernization theory emphasizes internal forces and sources of
socioeconomic development such as formal education, market-based economy, and
democratic and secular political structures. here were rival definitions of modernization in
the social sciences; this entry, however, will be concerned mainly with the use of the
term for a general theoretical orientation a set of linked assumptions framing analysis of
and debates about the nature and challenges of development. In this regard
modernization was a historically unique type of social change, which was inexorable,
transformational in its effects, and progressive in its consequences.
Modernization theorists often saw traditions as obstacles to economic growth. According
to Seymour Martin Lipset, economic conditions are heavily determined by the cultural,
social values present in that given society. Furthermore, while modernization might
deliver violent, radical change for traditional societies, it was thought worth the price.
Critics insist that traditional societies were often destroyed without ever gaining the
promised advantages if, among other things, the economic gap between advanced
societies and such societies actually increased. The net effect of modernization for some
societies was therefore the replacement of traditional poverty by a more modern form
of misery, according to these critics. Others point to improvements in living standards,
physical infrastructure, education and economic opportunity to refute such criticisms.
2. What are the criticisms of Modernization Theories?
From the 1970s, modernization theory has been criticized by numerous scholars,
including Andre Gunder Frank (1929–2005) and Immanuel Wallerstein (1930-2019).
[30]
In this model, the modernization of a society required the destruction of the
indigenous culture and its replacement by a more Westernized one. By one
definition, modern simply refers to the present, and any society still in existence is
therefore modern. Proponents of modernization typically view only Western society as
being truly modern and argue that others are primitive or unevolved by comparison. That
view sees unmodernized societies as inferior even if they have the same standard of
living as western societies. Opponents argue that modernity is independent of culture
and can be adapted to any society. Japan is cited as an example by both sides. Some
see it as proof that a thoroughly modern way of life can exist in a non western society.
Others argue that Japan has become distinctly more western as a result of its
modernization.
As Tipps has argued, by conflating modernization with other processes, with which
theorists use interchangeably (democratization, liberalization, development), the term
becomes imprecise and therefore difficult to disprove.
The theory has also been criticised empirically, as modernization theorists ignore
external sources of change in societies. The binary between traditional and modern is
unhelpful, as the two are linked and often interdependent, and 'modernization' does not
come as a whole.
Modernization theory has also been accused of being Eurocentric, as modernization
began in Europe, with the Industrial Revolution, the French Revolution and
the Revolutions of 1848 and has long been regarded as reaching its most advanced
stage in Europe. Anthropologists typically make their criticism one step further and say
that the view is ethnocentric and is specific to Western culture.
The following are other Criticisms of Modernisation Theory
Firstly, there are no examples of countries that have followed a Modernisation Theory approach
to development. No countries have followed Rostow’s “5 stages of growth” in their entirety.
Remember, “Modernisation Theory” is a very old theory which was partly created with the
intention of justifying the position of western capitalist countries, many of whom were colonial
powers at the time, and discrediting Communism. This is why it is such a weak theory.
Secondly, Modernization Theory assumes that western civilisation is technically and morally

superior to traditional societies. Implies that traditional values in the developing world have little
value compared to those of the West. Many developed countries have huge inequalities and the
greater the level of inequality the greater the degree of other problems: High crime rates, suicide
rates, poor health problems such as cancer and drug abuse.
Thirdly, Dependency Theorists argue that development is not really about helping the
developing world at all. It is really about changing societies just enough so they are easier to
exploit, making western companies and countries richer, opening them up to exploit cheap
natural resources and cheap labour.
Fourth, Neo-Liberalism is critical of the extent to which Modernisation theory stresses the

importance of foreign aid, but corruption (Kleptocracy) often prevents aid from getting to where it
is supposed to be going. Much aid is siphoned off by corrupt elites and government officials
rather than getting to the projects it was earmarked for. This means that aid creates more
inequality and enables elites to maintain powe
Fifth, Post-Development thinkers argue that the model is flawed for assuming that countries
need the help of outside forces. The central role is on experts and money coming in from the
outside, parachuted in, and this downgrades the role of local knowledge and initiatives. This
approach can be seen as demeaning and dehumanising for local populations. Galeano (1992)
argues that minds become colonised with the idea that they are dependent on outside forces.
They train you to be paralysed and then sell you crutches. There are alternative models of
development that have raised living standards: Such as Communist Cuba and The Theocracies
of the Middle East
Sixthly, industrialisation may do more harm than good for many people – It may cause Social
damage – Some development projects such as dams have led to local populations being
removed forcibly from their home lands with little or no compensation being paid.
3. Similarities between Classical Modernization and New Modernization.

The similarities between classical modernization studies and new modernization studies can be
observed in the constancy of the research focus on Third World development; the analysis at a
national level; the use of three main variables: internal factors, cultural values and social
institutions; the key concepts of tradition and modernity; and the policy implications of
modernization in the sense that it is considered to be generally beneficial to society as a whole.
However, there are also important distinctions between the classical studies and the new
studies of the modernization school. For example, in the classical approach, tradition is an
obstacle to development; in the new approach, tradition is an additive factor of development.
With regard to methodology, the classical approach applies a theoretical construction with a
high-level of abstraction; the new approach applies concrete case studies given in an historical
context. Regarding the direction of development, the classical perspective uses an
unidirectional path which tends toward the United States and European model, the new
perspective prefers a multidirectional path of development. And finally, concerning external
factors and conflict, the classicals demonstrate a relative neglect of external factors and conflict,
in contrast to the greater attention to external factors and conflicts practiced by the new
approach. The major assumptions of the modernization theory of development basically are:
Modernization is a phased process; for example Rostow has 5 phases according to his theory of
economic development for a particular society, and I will mention them later. Modernization is a
homogenizing process, in this sense, we can say that modernization produces tendencies
toward convergence among societies, for example, Levy (1967, p. 207) maintains that : “as time
goes on, they and we will increasingly resemble one another because the patterns of
modernization are such that the more highly modernized societies become, the more they
resemble one another”. Modernization is a europeanization or americanization process; in the
modernization literature, there is an attitude of complacency toward Western Europe and the
United States. These nations are viewed as having unmatched economic prosperity and
democratic stability (Tipps: 1976, 14). In addition, modernization is an irreversible process, once
started modernization cannot be stopped. In other words, once third world countries come into
contact with the West, they will not be able to resist the impetus toward modernization

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BASIM M.

Modernization theory is a grand theory encompassing many different disciplines as it

2. What are the criticisms of Modernization Theories?

The following are other Criticisms of Modernisation Theory

Secondly, Modernization Theory assumes that western civilisation is technically and morally

Fourth, Neo-Liberalism is critical of the extent to which Modernisation theory stresses the

3. Similarities between Classical Modernization and New Modernization.

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