DEVELOPMENT AS

MODERNIZATIION
A S S O C . P R O F. D R .
K A LT H U M
UNDERSTANDING DEVELOPMENT
Hulme & Turner (1990) define development as a conscious action to bring about
the desired transformation in a society and suggest that development policies and
plans are designed to interrupt the free flow of social, economic and political
forces to transform society for better economic and social achievement.
Mabogunje (1980) similarly defined development in various positive
perspectives, including development as economic growth, as modernization, as
distributive justice and as socio-economic transformation.
UNDERSTANDING DEVELOPMENT
Thirwall (1994) implies development as change. He added that development
term is used to describe “the process of economic and transformation within
countries”
Goulet (1971) classifies development in three theme; life-sustenance, self-esteem
and freedom. This includes the fulfilment of basic needs, the feeling of not being
exploited and independence and also has freedom to choose and to determine
own destiny.
UNDERSTANDING DEVELOPMENT

It creates economic and social change of the ‘undeveloped’ societies (Hulme &
Turner, 1990; Leys, 1996 Escobar, 1995).

Development has taken place if a particular area experiences a reduction in the

incidence of poverty, unemployment and levels of inequality (ibid).
UNDERSTANDING DEVELOPMENT
On the other hand, Escobar (1995: 30) argues that:
Development was a strategy by the developed world to have control and
intervention over economic development of developing countries. Poverty and
underdevelopment became the indicators and the main reasons for the developed
countries to interfere with the developing country’s economic and social progress.
The treatment of poverty allowed developed countries and foreign aid agencies to
conquer new domains.
UNDERSTANDING DEVELOPMENT

This same theme has been taken by Robertson (1984) and Drakakis-Smith (1990)
who argue that
the development and poverty alleviation programmes allow developed countries
and foreign aid agencies to conquer new domains
UNDERSTANDING DEVELOPMENT
Robertson (1984) claims that neo-colonialism took place after World War II
because most developing countries which had gained their independence faced
high percentages of poverty, income inequality, unemployment and
underemployment.
To rebuild the countries, The governments accepted assistance from the developed
countries and international organizations such as the World Bank and the United
Nations.
UNDERSTANDING DEVELOPMENT
This provided opportunities for the developed countries to impose and enhance the
development concept which had been introduced during the colonization periods.
The idea was to help the developing countries to develop and at the same time to
continue colonizing through nation building, business partnership and dependency,
and also to maintain a certain amount of control over certain products that benefit
the colonial countries (Drakakis-Smith, 1990; Escobar, 1995: Friedmann, 1992).
UNDERSTANDING DEVELOPMENT
Development takes place by natural causes or by induction from development
agencies such as government and private agencies.

Natural development takes place as societies evolve or change due to natural cycle.
However, induced development or intended development takes place when a
development programme or several development programmes are implemented in
an area.
UNDERSTANDING DEVELOPMENT
The main objective of intended development is to promote development in the area
through the development programmes promoted through development the
government development policies (Nijkamp & Poot, 1998).
MODERNIZATION THEORY
Development is often associated with modernization. Therefore, we adapt
Modernization theory to discuss development and modernization
The theory examines the impacts of development on economy and society in
developing countries
and how development causes modernization and change to the society.
MODERNIZATION THEORY
Modernization theory describes the transformation of a society from its
traditional cultural values and economic and social activities to those of a
western urbanized industrialized society (Peet & Hartwick, 1999).
Modernization occurs indirectly, and as people become more developed and have
more income, they have a surplus of money to spend on things other than their
basic needs.
MODERNIZATION THEORY
Modernization theory stresses that it is unavoidable for a traditional society to
transform into a modern society.
Modernization theory states that development implies the bridging of the gap
between the developing countries and the developed countries by a process in
which the developing countries follows the development process of the
developed countries and gradually assumes the qualities of industrialized nations
(Hettne, 1990).
MODERNIZATION THEORY
modernization causes changes in economic activities and social values from
traditional to modern.
the employment categories of economic activities change from informal sector
to formal sector.
Where, the informal sector constitutes the largest portion of the employment
sector in rural areas of developing countries
MODERNIZATION THEORY
The outcome of development for developing countries was expected to have
transformed the life style and belief of the citizens so that they can be as
‘modern’ as developed countries (Escobar, 1995).
In the long run, modernization values will take over from traditional values
which up to a certain point causes the extinction of the native traditional values
and culture.
MODERNIZATION THEORY
According to modernization theory, there are various reasons preventing
development in the Third World (Rapley, 2002).
Among others are: shortage of capital, different cultural values such as the lack
of a profit motive to build an entrepreneur culture among locals, and low
education level among the poor where most of them are illiterate.
Other are limited technical and management skills and lack of basic
infrastructure (Nabudere, 1997; Streeten, 1981).
MODERNIZATION THEORY
Modernization theory has provided basic frameworks of changes caused by
development. Because it touches in general the economic and social changes
caused by development. It also discusses the factors preventing development in
Third World which provides general answer to the main research question.
However, there are various economic and social activities taken place triggered
by development that take place at micro level (local level).
MODERNIZATION THEORY
Among the changes are changes in household livelihoods, types of works,
everyday routine and relationship among household members (Seguino, 1995;
Krishna, 2004).
Household livelihoods _______________
Types of work ______________________
Every day routine ______________________
Relationship among household members _____________________