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Modernization theory
About: Modernization theory is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 14641 publications have been published within this topic receiving 232469 citations.
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed data from many Large-N comparative survey projects and found that certain mass attitudes that are linked with modernization constitute attributes of given societies that are fully as stable as standard social indicators.
Abstract: A revised version of modernization theory implies that certain cultural variables (deeply-instilled attitudes among the public of a society) play an important role in democratization?and considerable empirical evidence supports this claim. Nevertheless, these variables are rarely used in econometric analysis of democratization. Why? One important reason is a tendency to view subjective mass orientations as volatile, relatively "soft" data. Analyzing data from many Large-N comparative survey projects, this article demonstrates that: (1) certain mass attitudes that are linked with modernization constitute attributes of given societies that are fully as stable as standard social indicators; (2) when treated as national-level variables, these attitudes seem to have predictive power comparable to that of widely-used social indicators in explaining important societal-level variables such as democracy; (3) national level mean scores are a legitimate social indicator; and (4) one gets maximum analytic leverage by analyzing data from the full range of societies. We find numerous strong correlations between these subjective indicators and important societal attributes such as democracy, which suggest that causal linkages exist?but we do not attempt to demonstrate them here. Previous research has tested some of these linkages, finding support for causal interpretations, but conclusive tests of all the linkages shown here would require several book-length treatments. We briefly review some of the evidence supporting the conclusion that modernization leads to enduring mass attitudinal changes that are conducive to democracy.
608 citations
Book•
01 Jan 1998
TL;DR: A study of what the postcolonial condition means to rural people in India is presented in this article, where Akhil Gupta challenges the dichotomy of "developed" and "underdeveloped", as well as the notion of a monolithic post-colonial condition.
Abstract: A study of what the postcolonial condition means to rural people in India. Focusing on the "green revolution" of the 1960s, Akhil Gupta challenges the dichotomy of "developed" and "underdeveloped", as well as the notion of a monolithic postcolonial condition. Drawing links between village life, national trends and global forces, Gupta concludes with a discussion of the implications of environmentalism as exemplified by the Rio Earth Summit.
604 citations
09 Aug 2007
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a comparison of different political behavior in political behavior and argue that public opinion does not matter in political decision-making process and propose a methodology of comparative political behavior research.
Abstract: PART I INTRODUCTION PART II MASS BELIEF SYSTEMS AND COMMUNICATION PART III MODERNIZATION AND SOCIAL CHANGE PART IV POLITICAL VALUES PART V NEW DEBATES IN POLITICAL BEHAVIOR PART VI POLITICAL PARTICIPATION PART VII DOES PUBLIC OPINION MATTER? PART VIII THE METHODOLOGY OF COMPARATIVE POLITICAL BEHAVIOR RESEARCH
594 citations
591 citations
Book•
07 Jan 2004
TL;DR: The collapse of modernization theory and the post-modern turn and the aftermath of modernization theories are discussed in this article, with a focus on the European past and the American present, respectively.
Abstract: Introduction - modernization theory and American modernism Contests - the European past and the American present The Harvard Department of Social Relations SSRC's Committee on Comparative Politics The MIT Center for International Studies The collapse of modernization theory The postmodern turn and the aftermath of modernization theory.
583 citations