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A comprehensive essay on modernization theory
A comprehensive essay on modernization theory
A comprehensive essay on modernization theory
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Comparative Analysis of Modernization
Afghanistan and Japan
Introduction:
“The concept of modernization comes from a view of societies as having a standard uni-linear evolutionary pattern, as described in the social evolutionism theories” (Modernization). Modernization is the process of transition from a traditional and pre-modern society to a modern society. Societies must follow this process to achieve modernity. Also, urbanization and industrialization are two other processes that are linked to modernization. It can be said that thesetwo are the vehicles for the achievement of modernity.From the 16th to 19th century, modernization was introduced in European countries (Twente)through a long process of war making and state making. Europeans build up their military, economy, and culture via this process and became modernized countries. Then in 20th century, the term modernization was transferred to the whole world. Modernization theory was used very well in some countries which were eager for the rapid development including Japan.By looking at the history of modernization in the whole world, we cognize that the process of modernization succeed in some societies but failed in some other societies despite of their effort to apply the process. Afghanistan is one of those countries that has actually failed in the process of modernization; however Japan is an example of countries who have succeed in becoming a modernized society. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the process of modernization theories that have failed in Afghanistan but were successful in Japan and obstacles that this process faced in Afghanistan.
Historical Background of Modernization:
Afghanistan:
The first modernization process of Afghanistan was started ...
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5. “A War to be Won,” Williamson Murray and Allan R. Millet, Harvard University Press, 2000.
War is the means to many ends. The ends of ruthless dictators, of land disputes, and lives – each play its part in the reasoning for war. War is controllable. It can be avoided; however, once it begins, the bat...
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McDonald. “Just War Theory.” Humanities. Boston University. College of General Studies, Boston. 24 February 2014. Lecture.
“Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime.” As depicted in the quote by Ernest Hemingway war is a difficult situation in which the traditional boundaries of moral ethics are tested. History is filled with unjust wars and for centuries war was not though in terms of morality. Saint Augustine, however, offered a theory detailing when war is morally permissible. The theory offers moral justifications for war as expressed in jus ad bellum (conditions for going to war) and in jus in bello (conditions within warfare).The theory places restrictions on the causes of war as well as the actions permitted throughout. Within early Christianity, the theory was used to validate crusades as morally permissible avoiding conflict with religious views. Based on the qualifications of the Just War Theory few wars have been deemed as morally acceptable, but none have notably met all the requirements. Throughout the paper I will apply Just War Theory in terms of World War II as well as other wars that depict the ideals presented by Saint Augustine.
Hamamoto, D.Y. (2002). Empire of Death: Militarized Society and the Rise of Serial Killing and Mass Murder. New Political Science, 24 (1), 105-120. doi: 10.1080/07393140220122662
This article explores the idea that governments knowingly victimize civilians under war when they feel weakened or defenceless. The article provides two main reasons that states engage in victimization of civilians; desperation or appetite for territorial conquest. The former refers to lowering costs of war on the states part by increasing the enemy’s cost and lowering the enemy’s morale for continuing the battle. The latter refers to a states want for more land to claim, using force and death to get what they want, by subduing or eliminating the enemy. The civilians who are targeted for these purposes are also chosen strategically. Mistreatment of civilians of the enemy occurs when specific values or traditions are seen as barbaric to the
There are many sociological key concepts that would relate to the war in Afghanistan. The three that I have chosen are structural social mobility, modernization theory, and gender stratification.
With the introduction and/or evolution of modernism characterized by the invention of new technologies, a different way of doing things, freedom among other things, traditional values and cultures that exist in a community are eventually threatened. As a result, the reactionaries attempt to find a way of maintaining tradition while the revolutionaries try to embrace the change. With reference to the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, the author has not only successively and effectively discussed the culture of the Afghanistans, but has also brought out the rivalry between traditional and modern cultures.
The next theory is the modernization theory, which is the basis for the rest of the essay. The modernization theory is that since the West led the push to modernization, many components of Western culture are embedded in modern society. “As the first civilization to modernize, the West is the first to have fully acquired the culture of modernity.” This theory also heavily relies on the idea that in order to modernize, the country must Westernize and lose its traditional culture. It is then proposed that although in present day many societies are modern, it does not mean they are all the same.
Modernisation theory has been a dominant theory since post-World War II (McMichael 2012:5) to describe development and social change. It is structured and outlined through five different stages of 'development ladder' proposed by Walt Whitman Rostow in The Stages of Economic Growth: A Non-Communist Manifesto. (1961:4) The first premise of modernisation theory reflected by 'development ladder' is that development happened in a sequential process through stage by stage while the second premise underpinned by ‘development ladder’ is conformity towards West's values and norms. However, these two premises are found to be problematic as they are neglecting the differences in societies and assuming that the 'development ladder' system is applicable to all societies. Thus, Rostow's 'development ladder' is highly challenged as it gathers a lot of critiques.
Tilly, C. (1985). War Making and State Making as Organized Crime. In: P.B Evans, D. Rueschemeyer & T. Skocpol Bringing the state back in. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 171.
Modernization is the term used for the transition from the traditional society of the past to modern society as it is found today in the West. Modernization theory refers to a variety of non-Marxist perspectives which have been put forward to explain the development or underdevelopment of countries. Modernization theory is a model of economic and social development that explains global inequality in terms of differing levels of technological development among societies. Modernization theory presents the idea that by introducing modern methods in "technology, agricultural production for trade, and industrialization dependent on a mobile labour force," the underdeveloped countries will experience a strengthening in their economies. Modernization theory offers an account of the common features of the process of development drawing on the analysis of Durkheim and Weber. Development implies the bridging of these gaps by an imitative process, occurring in stages, such that traditional sectors and/or countries gradually assume the qualities of the 'modern' western countries. There are many proponents of Modernization Theory, such as, Walter Rostow, W.A. Lewis, Talcott Parsons, and Daniel Lerner, however the theory has it's roots in the ideas of Durkheim and Weber. The proponents of the modernization theory all felt that the rest of the world needed to look to the Western model of modernity and pattern their society like the West in order to progress. Modernization theory was developed as an alternative to the Marxist account of social development. Modernization Theory Divides the World into two kinds of societies: "modern" and "traditional." Traditional societies are backward looking : Dominated by religious a...