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Modernization Theory

The modernization theory is the galaxy of the results of the modernization research in different areas such as politics, society, economy, culture, history, etc. Here we introduces the three kinds of the theory, which is the Classic Modernization Theory, Post-Modernization Theory and the Second Modernization Theory.

Classic Modernization Theory

Post Modernization Theory

Second Modernization Theory

In 1950s, some scientists in the field of sociology, economy and politics initiated the modernization research. In 1958, D. lerner had published his book of "The passing of traditional society, modernizing the middle east".  

In  1960s, a lot of books on modernization research emerged, such as " Modernization: the Dynamics of Growth" (M. Weiner, 1966,), "Political Modernization in Japan and Turkey" (R. E. Ward, 1964),  "Modernization and the structure of societies" (M. J. Levy, 1966 ), "The Dynamics of Modernization, A Study in Comparative History" (C. E. Black, 1966), etc.

The Modernization describes  the process and changes since Industrial Revolution in 18th century in all aspects of human. Which is the course of  the developed countries in the period of the middle of 18th century to the middle of 20th century, and also the process of that the developing countries run after advanced country.

The Modernization course includes the transformation from traditional politics, economy, society, culture and civilization to modern politics, economy, society, culture and civilization.

The Classic Modernization Course is the transition from traditional agriculture economy, society, politics, culture and civilization to modern  industrial  economy, society, politics, culture and civilization.  

The feature of classic modernization 

The problems of the Classic Modernization:

It described  the process of the changes of Developed countries in the period of the  middle of 18 century to the  middle of 20 century,

it described the process of the progress of developing countries run after,

it do not describe  the progress of developed countries since 1970.

Industrial civilization is not the final stage  of the human civilization.

"Modernization theorists are partly right" ( Inglehart, 2000)

Almost at the same time, the west scientists studied the development of advanced industrial society, and  suggested some new theories, such as Post-Industrial Society, Postmodern, Post-Modernization, Knowledge Society, Information Society, etc.

For example, Prof. R. Inglehart said: it seems clear to us that Modernization is not linear. In advanced industrial societies, the prevailing direction of development has changed in the last quarter century, and the change in what is happening is so fundamental that it seems appropriate to describe it as " Postmodernization" rather than "Modernization." (1997)

 In the version of Prof. D. Bell, the history of human includes three stages: before industrial society, industrial society and post industrial society, he believed that the post industrial society is coming (1973). But Postmodernism suggested the three stages were before modern society, modern society and post modern society.  Prof. R. Inglehart described the changes in advanced industrial society since 1970 as the Postmodernization.(1997)

It is easy to find a long lists of the reference on this issue. Lyotard, Jean-Francois. 1984. The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota. Crook. S., et al . 1992.  Post-modernisation: change in advanced soceity. UK Brunel University. Inglehart, R. 1997. Modernization and Postmodernization: cultural, economic, and political changes in 43 societies. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press

 Societal Goals and Individual Values

Resource: D. Inglehart, 1997

"World Values Surveys" since 1970 (1981～1982，1990～1991，1995～1998) has fund that, some societies such as Nigeria are starting to modernize; others such as China are now modernizing very rapidly; still others such as South Korea seem to be reaching a turning point where they may be about to begin post-modernization; and still others such as Britain, Germany, USA, Nordic countries and Netherlands are now the postmodern societies.(Inglehart, 1997 ).

The problems of the Post-Modernization :

(1) Paradox of the post-modern

According to Webster's dictionary, modern is relating to the period from about 1500 to the present. Does the present is the post-modern? If does so, both of modern and post-modern are relating to present. 

So, post-modern is confused itself on the concept of time. Modern is a very popular word in around world.

(2) It does not represent some new development since 1970, such as Knowledge Economy, Information Economy, Network Economy, Knowledge Society, Network Society, Information Society, etc.

(3) It can not describe the situation of developing countries.

The historic paradigm shift occur just as Kuhn (1962) fund that in the development of scientific knowledge.

In 1998，China scientist, Prof. He Chuanqi published his paper " Knowledge Economy and the Second Modernization" and then the book " Second Modernization" by High Education Press in 1999, Prof. He suggested the "Second Modernization Theory" (SMT). 

The process of the human development from 2.5 million years ago to AD. 2100  could be divided into four stages, they are Tool Age, Agriculture Age, Industrial Age and Knowledge Age, and each of the Age includes four phases: start phase, development phase, mature phase and transition phase.

The First Modernization is the process and changes of the transition from Agriculture Society to Industrial Society, Agriculture Economy to Industrial Economy, Agriculture Civilization to Industrial Civilization, Agriculture Age to Industrial Age.

The Second Modernization is the process and changes of the transition from Industrial Society to Knowledge Society, Industrial Economy to Knowledge Economy, Industrial Civilization to Knowledge Civilization, Industrial Age to Knowledge Age.

To advanced societies, First Modernization had took about 200 years (1763-1970), and Second Modernization will take about more than 100 years (1971-2100). To developing countries, they have to faced the challenge of both FM and SM.

SMT  not only defined  the Classic Modernization as the First Modernization and Post-Modernization as the starting stage of the Second Modernization, but also open to new concepts such  as new economy, new society, new culture , new civilization, etc.

　Feature of SM

Prof. E.Triyakian suggested " new modernization" (1991)

Prof. W. Zapf advanced " continuous modernization"

Prof. J. Huber described " ecological modernization"

Prof. U. Beck raised " reflexive modernization"