Modernization
Transition from a traditional to an advanced society
Gradual but a complex process
Multifaceted concept- Changes at multiple levels
[Link] at the psychological level (Norms, values and orientations)
2. Changes in intellectual level (Expansion of man’s knowledge about the environment and diffusion
[Link] knowledge)
3. Changes at the demographic level (Improvement in standards of living)
4. Changes at the social level (From family to voluntary organizations and groups)
5. Changes at the economic level (Growth of market agriculture, improvement in commerce and
development of industrialization)
POLITICAL MODERNIZATION
Political modernization it is an approach of comparing modern
political system political institutions and value keep on changing
,changes are often made by revolution but in many cases the
society undergo gradual evolutionary changes. There are various
methods of measuring this process change. And collective known
as political modernization
Source: VN Khanna (Comparative Study of Government and Politics)
Understanding political modernization by different authors
1. WW Rostow - Five stages of development
2. AFK Organski - four stages of political modernization in the
process of nation building
3. Samuel P Huntington – Political Modernization and decay
WW ROSTOW
Rostow is considered as the most influential thinker in the formalization of the modernization theory.
In his book, The Stages of Economic growth: A Non-Communist Manifesto (1960), he described the
concept of ‘Stages of development. He presented the different phases of societies to reach at the final
stage of modernization. According to Rostow, each society can be classified into five stages of growth as
follows.
1. Traditional Societies - This stage is described as a subsistent, agriculture-based economy with
intensive labor and population without any scientific temperament. These societies primarily rely
on agriculture due to the technological and infrastructural constraints, and their value system is
dominated by “long run fatalism”, in which one has a very limited range of occupational options.”
Rostow considered Chinese dynasties, Middle Eastern Civilization and medieval Europe under this
traditional society category.
2. Pre-condition to takeoff - The second stage of development is also known as the transitional
stage, where they moved from agriculture to manufacturing. The Second stage of growth
encompasses societies in transition: this is the time when preconditions for take-off are
developed; for it takes time to transform a traditional society for there betterment .
3. Take-off
It is the take-off stage that marks a short period of intensive growth. “During the
takeoff, new industries expand rapidly, yielding profits, a large portion of which is
reinvested in the new plant; and these new industries, in turn, stimulate further
expansion in the urban areas and in the other modern industrial plant, through
their rapidly expanding requirements for factory workers, support services and
other manufactured goods.” The new class of entrepreneurs grows, and it directs
the growing flow of private-sector investment. The economy makes use of
previously untapped natural resources and production methods” (Rostow 1959).
4. Drive to maturity
According to Rostow, reaching this stage takes place over a long period of time. At this
stage, we can observe the rise in standards of living, the use of technology increase, and
the overall growth of the national economy. “Formally we can define maturity as the
stage in which an economy demonstrates the capacity to move beyond the industries
that powered its take-off and to absorb and apply efficiently across a wide range of its
resources – if not the entire range- the most advanced fruits of modern technology”
(Rostow 1959).
5. Age of high mass consumption
This is the last stage of development according to Rostow. States like the United States
are able to reach this stage. After reaching this stage societies are shifting towards stable
economic growth and governance. At this stage, economic growth also leads toward
social welfare and security. The emergence of the welfare state can be located at this
stage. According to Rostow, the process of change is simpler and self-sustaining. Service
industry dominating the economy like banking ,insurance, finance , marketing
entertainment etc. the production and supply now replaced by consumption and demand
.