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Development Economics
R P Pradhan
BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus
Objective!
Understand the Modernisation theory(ies).
1) Introduction
2) Working definition
3) Major features of MT
4) MT characterisation of traditional & modern societies
5) Epistemological roots
6) Context of MT
7) MT view of development
8) Different approaches of MT
9) Criticisms
Introduction
Modernisation theory was particularly influential in the 1950s
and 1960s. Sought to explain the process of modernisation
within societies.
[BY]
1. Looking at internal factors within a country which contribute
to social progress and development.
Development = Modernization
Path to development is only through capitalism and
industrialization
Development is essentially an irreversible process (linear
process)
Development process involves stage by stage
Development can be stimulated either by internal dynamics
or external forces
Economic growth is both the means and end in this process.
Development is measurable through the increase in GNP.
2. Emile Durkhiem (1858 1917) proposed the idea that just like
natural selection in nature, societies are also subject to evolution
and progress; moving from simple to more complex societies.
In short Durkheim, and others proposed unilinear
evolutionary theories, which maintain that all societies pass
through the same sequence of stages of evolution to reach
the same destiny.
BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus
Epistemological Roots of MT
[CONTEMPORARY]
Parsons (19021979), saw society in its natural state as being stable and
balanced.
That is, society naturally moves toward a state of homeostasis ( State of
Equilibrium).
Decolonisation
1) Traditional society
2) Pre-conditions of take-off
3) The Take-off
4) The Drive to maturity
5) The age of high mass consumption
2.
3. Psychological:
David McClelland McLelland: in the values and motives men have
that lead them to exploit opportunities to take advantage of
favourable trade conditions, in short, to shape their destiny
4. Political Approach:
James Coleman stresses three main features of modern societies:
a) Differentiation of political structure (specialisation of roles in the
political sphere);
b) Secularization of political culture -with the ethos of equality
which
c) Enhances the capacity of a societys political system in terms of
scale and efficacy.
BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus
Criticisms
1. Development is not necessarily unidirectional. Shows only one possible
model of development
2. Ethnocentricity (The favored example is the development pattern of the
United States/European).
3. The need to eliminate traditional values. Third World countries do not have
an homogeneous set of traditional values; their value systems are highly
heterogeneous. For example Redfield 1965, distinguishes between the great
traditional values (values of the elites), and the little tradition (values of the
masses).
4. Illiberal and statist.
5. A second aspect for criticism here is the fact that traditional and modern
values are not necessarily always mutually exclusive: China, for example,
despite advances in economic development continues to operate on
traditional values and this appears to be the same situation in Japan.
6. Assumes unlimited amounts of natural resources.