MODERNIZATION AND SOCIAL EFFECTS

MODERNIZATION

Modernization it the process of economic and social change that is brought about by the introduction of the industrial mode of production into a society.

Modernization theory is a theory used to explain the process of Modernization within societies. The theory looks at the internal factors of a country while assuming that, with assistance, "traditional" countries can be brought to development in the same manner more developed countries have. Modernization theory attempts to identify the social variables which contribute to social progress and development of societies, and seeks to explain the process of social evolution. Not surprisingly, modernization theory is subject to criticism originating among communist and free-market ideologies, world systems theorists, globalization theory and dependency theory among others. Modernization theory not only stresses the process of change but also the responses to that change. It also looks at internal dynamics while referring to social and cultural structures and the adaptation of new technologies.

In Social Science:     In the social sciences, Modernization refers to a model of a evolutionary transition from a 'pre-modern' or 'traditional' to a 'modern' society. The teleology of modernization is described in social evolutionism theories, existing as a template that has been generally followed by societies that have achieved modernity. While it may theoretically be possible for some societies to make the transition in entirely different ways, there have been no counterexamples provided by reliable sources[1].

The concept of modernization comes from a view of societies as having a standard evolutionary pattern, as described in the social evolutionism theories. According to this each society would evolve inexorably from barbarism to ever greater levels of development and civilization. The more modern states would be wealthier and more powerful, and their citizens freer and having a higher standard of living. This was the standard view in the social sciences for many decades with its foremost advocate being Talcott Parsons. This theory stressed the importance of societies being open to change and saw reactionary forces as restricting development. Maintaining tradition for tradition's sake was thought to be harmful to progress and development.

SOCIAL EFFECTS

Modernization is a concept in the sphere of social sciences that refers to process in which society goes through industrialization, urbanization and other social changes that completely transforms the lives of individuals.

·                    Family

·                    Education

·                    Religion

·                    Science

·                    Politics

·                    Urbanization

·                    Demography

·                    Social stratification

·                    Personal values

·                    Culture

Family:                       The extended family system, found nearly in all traditional societies, is shattered. The modern industrial society requires geographic and social mobility among its members. The nuclear family takes its place in which traditional kinship ties are loosened.

Education:                 Educational organizations take over many of the family’s earlier socialization functions. Education is extended to the masses because an industrial work force must be skilled and literate.

Religion:                    Traditional religious ties have been loosened and now the people interpret the world through secular belief systems instead of religious principles.

Science:                     Technical efficiency becomes a value and people look to technology for the solutions to their problems, including the problems that the technology creates.

Politics:                      A strong centralized state emerges and it regulates more areas of social and economic life.

Urbanization:            Cities grown rapidly because industry, education institutes, hospitals and other facilities are concentrated in urban and people attracted by job opportunities.

Demography:            Modern medical facilities are extended to the population which has reduced death rate sharply. The adoption of family planning practices is low, therefore, demography have been changed and children ration in the population is increasing day by day. They are dependent on their parents because they are only consumers not the producers.

Social Stratification: As industrialization proceeds, the growing wealth of the society tends to be more equally shared. Stratification based on ascribed characteristics tends to dissolve.

Personal Values:         People became more change oriented and they look to the future rather than to the past.

Culture:          Culture is no longer maintained and enacted in the small rural community. It becomes a widely shared mass culture, spread from society to society by the mass media and through travel.

[1] Brugger and Hannan, p. 1–3.

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