Jimma University

Continuing and Distance Education

Department of Sociology
Center: Addis Ababa
The Sociology of Modernization and Development

Individual Assignment

Submitted by: - Nardos Melaku Hailu

ID Number: - DUO116/14-0
Year 3, Term 1
Submission Date: - March. 22, 2024
 1. Brief explanation of the major dimensions of modernization

 Growth of mass-based human resources: The growth of mass-based human

resources refers to the increase in the size and education level of the workforce in
modern societies. As societies undergo modernization, there is a shift from
agrarian economies to industrial and service-based economies, leading to a larger
population engaged in non-agricultural activities. This growth is often
accompanied by improvements in education and skills training, enabling
individuals to contribute to economic development and participate in various
sectors of the economy.

 Occupational diversification: Occupational diversification is a key aspect of

modernization, wherein societies move away from a predominantly agricultural or
limited occupational structure and experience a broader range of job opportunities.
As societies modernize, they witness the emergence of new professions and
industries, such as technology, finance, healthcare, and entertainment. This
diversification offers individuals a wider array of career choices, promotes
specialization, and fosters economic growth by tapping into different sectors of the
economy.
 Organizational differentiation: Organizational differentiation refers to the growing
complexity and specialization of institutions and organizations within modern
societies. As societies modernize, traditional social structures and institutions
undergo transformations to accommodate the changing needs and demands of the
population. This leads to the establishment of diverse organizations, including
governmental bodies, corporations, non-profit organizations, and educational
institutions, each with their own specific functions and roles. Organizational
differentiation is a reflection of the increasing division of labor and specialization
in modern societies.

 State capacity growth and state activity extension: Modernization often involves
the growth of state capacity and the extension of state activities. As societies
become more complex, the role of the state expands beyond basic governance
functions to include areas like social welfare, public health, education,
infrastructure development, and economic regulation. State capacity growth refers
to the strengthening of administrative institutions, legal frameworks, and public
services, enabling governments to effectively address the needs of their citizens
and provide essential services for societal progress.

 Mass political involvement: Modernization is often accompanied by increased

political involvement and participation by the masses. As societies develop and
education levels rise, individuals become more aware of their rights, interests, and
the political processes. This leads to the growth of civil society organizations,
 political parties, and social movements advocating for various causes. Mass
political involvement can manifest through voting in elections, engaging in
protests, joining advocacy groups, and expressing opinions through media and
social platforms, thus shaping the political landscape of modern societies.

 Rationalization and secularism: Rationalization and secularism are key dimensions

of modernization that influence social and cultural aspects. Rationalization refers
to the application of reason, logic, and scientific principles to various domains of
life, including governance, law, education, and decision-making processes. It
involves the shift from traditional or religious-based beliefs and practices to more
evidence-based and pragmatic approaches. Secularism, on the other hand, refers to
the separation of religion and state, with a focus on the neutrality of the state in
matters of faith and the promotion of religious pluralism. These dimensions reflect
the increasing emphasis on rationality, scientific inquiry, and the autonomy of
individuals in modern societies.

2. The ways in which Nonwestern countries modernize

It can be explained in two forms which are Endogenous (Evolutionary) and Exogenous
(Diffusionist). The first one which is the endogenous form d modernization is owed to
Internal causes, self-development and transformation of Western Europe and North
America. There is also another one called adoptive which is basically the catching up
done by nonwestern countries. It is performed to catch up to the pioneer countries of
Western Europe and Northern America. It is basically an adoptive reflex as a result of the
modernity experienced. The adoptive type of modernization has two divisions which are
expressed as self-westernization and under foreign custody.

Self-westernization is to bridge the gap created by the technological difference that came
to be because of the modernization of the western civilization and for the preservation of
government autonomy which can either be defense modernization and Liberal
modernization. While the former one basically deals with borrowing from the results of
the innovation without acquiring the ability to actually innovate.
 3. Human needs centered Development Vs. GNP in measuring
development

The idea of human-centered development implies that the normative priority given to
economic development should have a specific focus on human beings directly and not on
abstractions such as the glorification of state sovereignty, the deification of private
property or the exclusion of human interests from the vast aggregates of global capital
accumulation. In a broad sense, this implies that there is a normative global imperative
that requires the acknowledgment and adoption of a human right to development. GNP is
the total market value of all final goods and services produced by a country in one year. It
is a measure of economic activity, or how much is produced in a country. The more that a
country produces per person, the more "developed" it is assumed to be. The GNP of India
is $336 billion and the GNP of Switzerland is $288 billion. India produces more than
does Switzerland, but everybody would agree that Switzerland is more economically
advanced. Why?

The answer is population. the population of India is 988 million and the population of
Switzerland is 7 million. Therefore we must compare GNP PER CAPITA. To calculate
GNP per capita (or income per person) we divide the GNP by the population. The GNP
per capita of Switzerland is $40,630 and the GNP per capita of India is $ 340. Remember;
always use GNP PER CAPITA when comparing the economic conditions of different
countries.

4. Dependency Theory vs. Modernization Theory

To start off with, in modernization theory outlined the deficiency in poor countries and
on ways to overcome drawbacks. It viewed traditional societies as negative, stagnant and
stuck which lead to it being not innovative, no signs of progress and growth seen and lack
of motive to make profit. Modernization ignores/ bypasses slavery and the conquest of
new world when discussing on scientific innovation and development. It credited
capitalism which leads to innovation and technological growth. They also emphasize on
political modernization that followed the economic advancements. This meant, traditional
beliefs and backward systems were challenged and eradicated as a result. While western
countries actually went through massive changes through out the years, third world
countries were not going neither economic nor political transformations. This theory
makes it a point to mention that developed nations are helpers for the poor ones and are
only assisting developing countries for better economic and political transformations.

Of course it is expected that the masterminds behind the dependency theory come from
laton America and other nations kind of lagging in the development aspect. This theory
argues that for one nation to be underdeveloped, others must be developed. It is not that
much of a challenge to put a finger on the active process of impoverishment linked to the
development of some nations. Basically, the main argument between the two theorists is
that while the former believes that developed nations are assistants and guides to the
development of the undeveloped ones, the later say that for the developed nations to
remain as it is, they build their civilization on the burial ground of the underdeveloped
nations with the active process of keeps them there a d profiting off their needs and
drawbacks.

5. Community Development Strategies Vs. Other growth and development strategies

The community development strategies are aimed to solve the problem of outsiders
deciding what should happen within the community. The collaborative participation
opens communication and helps reduce resistance to change created by the community
development program. The keys to growth in the process of community development are
to be found in the person and personality for the agent-of-change, in the capacity of the
community to evolve groups of people with self-help motivation, and in the channels of
communication, external to those groups, which lend them support, encouragement, and
recognition from the larger community, along with the technical and material help
required.

6. Socialist vs. Capitalist modes of Industrialization

The capitalist economic model relies on free market conditions for the creation of wealth.
The production of goods and services is based on supply and demand in the general
market. This economic structure is referred to as a market economy.
In a socialist economic model, the production of goods and services is either partially or
fully regulated by the government. This is referred to as central planning, and the
economic structure that is created is known as a planned economy or a command
economy.

Factors that influenced capitalism and socialism

Mechanization of the manufacturing process led to the Industrial Revolution which gave
rise to two major competing economic systems: capitalism and socialism. Under
capitalism, private owners invest their capital and that of others to produce goods and
services they can sell in an open market. Prices and wages are set by supply and demand
and competition. Under socialism, the means of production is commonly owned, and part
or all of the economy is centrally controlled by government. Several countries’ economies
feature a mix of both systems.

Socialist industrialization” is nothing more than accumulating some of the same “hunks
of stuff” that market allocation of resources brought into being.
That is why socialist partisans, between 1920 and 1950, pushed to have the Friedrich
Engels definition substituted for the above definition that was the standard definition in
1920, unfortunately, with great success. Their belief, that just having “steam engines,
railroads, and mass production lines” would bring the wealth of industrial productivity
was vain, as seen in the collapse of “The socialist camp” by 1991. Industrialization is a
change in the relationships of people, not an accumulation of “hunks of stuff”. It is the
change in relationships of people that brings greater productivity, and the wealth of
industrial society around the world.

Socialism is an economic system in which there is government ownership (often referred

to as “state run”) of goods and their production, with an impetus to share work and
wealth equally among the members of a society. Under socialism, everything that people
produce, including services, is considered a social product. Everyone who contributes to
the production of a good or to providing a service is entitled to a share in any benefits that
come from its sale or use. To make sure all members of society get their fair share,
governments must be able to control property, production, and distribution.

Under capitalism, people invest capital (money or property invested in a business

venture) in a business to produce a product or service that can be sold in a market to
consumers. The investors in the company are generally entitled to a share of any profit
made on sales after the costs of production and distribution are taken out. These investors
often reinvest their profits to improve and expand the business or acquire new ones. To
provide their product or service, owners hire workers to whom they pay wages. The cost
of raw materials, the retail price they charge consumers, and the amount they pay in
wages are determined through the law of supply and demand and by competition. When
demand exceeds supply, prices tend to rise. When supply exceeds demand, prices tend to
fall. When multiple businesses market similar products and services to the same buyers,
there is competition. Competition can be good for consumers because it can lead to lower
prices and higher quality as businesses try to get consumers to buy from them rather than
from their competitors.