Theories of Development: The Modernization Theory
Prompt: Discuss one theory of development - your choice! Include research into one example of this theory in action, somewhere in the world now or in history.
Development can be measured in so many different ways, making everyone's interpretation of the word different. It can be measured in terms of economic growth, social/ political factors, human rights, and/ or democracy. There are multiple forms of development as well, including: human, economic, socio-political, and freedom. Measuring a countries development is commonly measured in terms of economics and we can often do this by looking at their GDP per capita (the total value of goods/ services produced in a country, divided by the number of people). My personal favorite theory of development discussed is the modernization theory which states that there is one single or specific way a country must develop in order to modernize and continue to develop -- that way is by mimicking or imitating what industrial countries did. Walt Whitman Rostow is the original modernist theorist and broke the concept down into 5 stages.
‘Traditional societies’ is the first stage, a time in which a country is limited in terms of technology and is based on the condition of having just enough food to stay alive. Often these societies have pre-scientific views/ beliefs.
The second stage is titled ‘preconditions for take-off. what this means is that a society has begun to integrate new ways of regulation such as the production of money. Traditionally this stage has new and few beliefs pertaining to more so modern scientific facts/ evidence
‘Take off’ is the stage where societies promote economic growth and have a focus on the development of their country as a whole
‘Drive to maturity,’ the 4th stage is where a country has already begun to focus on their economic well being but is taking it to another level. Meaning new jobs are constantly being created, which decreases poverty. There is a high production rate of goods and services at this point
The final stage, ‘high mass consumption,’ is where production is at its peak and consumption of goods is widespread.
This set of stages, if followed, tends to lead to a more productive and sustainable society. These societies focus on building, producing, and growing.
An example of this theory of development, The Modernization Theory, is the United Nations. They have sought out to provide practical and specific plans for eliminating poverty worldwide. This falls into the idea of creating more sustainable and productive societies. By helping individual countries they are able to extremely reduce poverty and create more jobs. This allows for countries to reach that final stage of development and have production levels be at their peak. At this point the wealth and production of consumption of the modern consumer are widespread. The modernization theory is behind almost every U.N. organized program. The U.N. brings forth the idea that wealthier countries can work together to help the poorer ones. The U.N goals/ millennium development goals all contribute to this idea. The goals are:
to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger;
to achieve universal primary education;
to promote gender equality and empower women;
to reduce child mortality;
to improve maternal health;
to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases;
to ensure environmental sustainability; and
to develop a global partnership for development.
Development can be measured in so many different ways, making everyone's interpretation of the word different. It can be measured in terms of economic growth, social/ political factors, human rights, and/ or democracy. There are multiple forms of development as well, including: human, economic, socio-political, and freedom. Measuring a countries development is commonly measured in terms of economics and we can often do this by looking at their GDP per capita (the total value of goods/ services produced in a country, divided by the number of people). My personal favorite theory of development discussed is the modernization theory which states that there is one single or specific way a country must develop in order to modernize and continue to develop -- that way is by mimicking or imitating what industrial countries did. Walt Whitman Rostow is the original modernist theorist and broke the concept down into 5 stages.
‘Traditional societies’ is the first stage, a time in which a country is limited in terms of technology and is based on the condition of having just enough food to stay alive. Often these societies have pre-scientific views/ beliefs.
The second stage is titled ‘preconditions for take-off. what this means is that a society has begun to integrate new ways of regulation such as the production of money. Traditionally this stage has new and few beliefs pertaining to more so modern scientific facts/ evidence
‘Take off’ is the stage where societies promote economic growth and have a focus on the development of their country as a whole
‘Drive to maturity,’ the 4th stage is where a country has already begun to focus on their economic well being but is taking it to another level. Meaning new jobs are constantly being created, which decreases poverty. There is a high production rate of goods and services at this point
The final stage, ‘high mass consumption,’ is where production is at its peak and consumption of goods is widespread.
This set of stages, if followed, tends to lead to a more productive and sustainable society. These societies focus on building, producing, and growing.
An example of this theory of development, The Modernization Theory, is the United Nations. They have sought out to provide practical and specific plans for eliminating poverty worldwide. This falls into the idea of creating more sustainable and productive societies. By helping individual countries they are able to extremely reduce poverty and create more jobs. This allows for countries to reach that final stage of development and have production levels be at their peak. At this point the wealth and production of consumption of the modern consumer are widespread. The modernization theory is behind almost every U.N. organized program. The U.N. brings forth the idea that wealthier countries can work together to help the poorer ones. The U.N goals/ millennium development goals all contribute to this idea. The goals are:
to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger;
to achieve universal primary education;
to promote gender equality and empower women;
to reduce child mortality;
to improve maternal health;
to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases;
to ensure environmental sustainability; and
to develop a global partnership for development.
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