The concepts of (local) development and modernization

1
The concepts of (local) development and
modernization
Paul Blokker
2
Overview Class

• Development and Modernization
• Main themes
• 1. Modernization as a Contested Concept
• Modernization theory and its main assumptions
• The typification of traditional and modern
  societies
• The obstacles to modernization identified
• Pattern variables
• The contested nature of modernization
• Multiple paths to Modernity?

3
Overview Class

• Development and Modernization
• Main themes
• 2. Development as a Contested Concept
• Different understandings of development
  mainstream, alternative, post-development
• Impossibility of development?
• Implications for local development
• The idea of reflexive development
• Multiple paths to development?

4
Overview Course

• Development and Modernization
• 3. Relevance
• An exploration into the contested nature and
  variety of meanings of modernization and
  development
• An understanding of the positive and negative
  features of existing approaches
• The need for a rethinking of modernization and
  development reflexivity.

5
Overview Course

• Social Capital
• Relevant literature of the reading list
• Blokker, P. (2005), Post-Communist
  Modernization, Transition Studies, and Diversity
  in Europe
• Knobl, W. (2003), 'Theories that won't pass away
  The Neverending Story.
• Nederveen Pieterse, J. (1998), 'My Paradigm or
  Yours? Alternative Development, Post-Development,
  Reflexive Development', in Development and
  Change, 29.
• Allaire, G. and M. Blanc (2003) Local/Global
  Institutional Systems of Environmental Public
  Action
• Trigilia, C. (2000), Economic Sociology,
  Blackwell Publishers, in particular chapter 7.
• Talcott Parsons
• Immanuel Wallerstein

6
1Theories of Modernization
7
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• (see Knoebl, Trigilia 2000)
• Modernization became a key concept in the 1950s
  and 1960s
• The main focus was on non-Western and decolonised
  societies that were to be developed
• The main expression of this concern classical
  modernization theory
• These theories addressed the twin problem of
  creating economic growth and building effective
  institutions.

8
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• (see Knoebl, Trigilia 2000)
• Modernization refers to large-scale historical
  and social processes of change
• Theories of modernization consist of
  macro-sociological, non-Marxist and
  interdisciplinary theories of social change
• The emphasis was on sociocultural factors and
  endogenous policies of backward countries.

8
9
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• Key assumptions of modernization theory (Knoebl
  96)
• 1. Modernization is a global and irreversible
  process, beginning with the dual revolutions
  (industrial and democratic) in Europe, but now
  concerning the whole world

9
10
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• 2. Modernization is a historical process, leading
  from traditional to modern societies, implying a
  strong antithesis or binary distinction between
  traditional and modern societies

10
11
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• 3. In traditional or so-called 3rd World
  countries, there is a dominance of personal
  attitudes, values, and role structures which can
  be described as ascription, particularism,
  and functional diffuseness. These constitute
  barriers for modernization

11
12
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• 4. In modern or Euro-Atlantic societies, there is
  a predominance of secular, individualistic, and
  scientific values and roles. These are considered
  to be part of modernity

12
13
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• 5. Modernization is a more or less endogenous
  process in societies that should be regarded as
  wholes

13
14
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• 6. Social change towards modernity in different
  societies will take place in a rather uniform and
  linear way.

14
15
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization

• Traditional Society Gemeinschaft
• Family, Proximity, Friendship
• Customs
• Barter
• Traditions
• Habit
• Inertia
• Religion
• Man as Social Man
• Communal Property

• Modern Society Gesellschaft
• Anonymous relationships
• Contract
• Market exchange
• Innovation
• Novelty
• Progress
• Secular
• Individualism
• Private Property

15
16
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• Approaches influenced by structural-functionalism
  (pattern variables)
• - emphasis on normative/cultural orientations
  typical for traditional societies ascription
  (rather than achievement)
• - traditional cognitive dimension vs. modern
  rationality
• - emphasis on functional differentiation
  specialised division of labour based on specific
  functional roles

16
17
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• Approaches influenced by structural-functionalism
  (pattern variables)
• - search for the functional elites (political,
  intellectual, economic) that introduced
  innovation on static societies (entrepreneurs,
  bourgeoisie, Bildungsbuergertum)
• - emphasis on the capacity of different
  institutional systems to adapt to and control
  their environment through structural
  differentiation

17
18
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• Approaches influenced by structural-functionalism
  (pattern variables)
• Pattern variables, characteristic of pre-modern
  societies
• Type "A
• 1. Ascription Status is largely ascribed (that is
  "given" to you by others). In basic terms,
  individual status is determined by the type of
  family into which you are born.

18
19
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• Approaches influenced by structural-functionalism
  (pattern variables)
• Pattern variables, characteristic of pre-modern
  societies
• Type "A
• 2. Diffuseness People develop relationships that
  satisfy a large range of needs.
• For example, a mother - child relationship
  satisfies a range of sociological and
  psychological needs.

19
20
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• Approaches influenced by structural-functionalism
  (pattern variables)
• Pattern variables, characteristic of pre-modern
  societies
• Type "A
• 3. Particularism People act differently towards
  particular people, based on the nature of their
  relationship.
• For example, you may trust your immediate
  family, but not a stranger.

20
21
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• Approaches influenced by structural-functionalism
  (pattern variables)
• Pattern variables, characteristic of pre-modern
  societies
• Type "A
• 4. Affectivity Relationships between people are
  largely affective (based on love, trust, close
  personal involvement and so forth), rather than
  instrumental (impersonal relationships based on
  what people can do for us in any given
  situation).

21
22
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• Approaches influenced by structural-functionalism
  (pattern variables)
• Pattern variables, characteristic of pre-modern
  societies
• Type "A
• 5. Collective Orientation People put the
  interests of the social groups to which they
  belong before their personal interests.

22
23
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• Approaches influenced by structural-functionalism
  (pattern variables)
• Pattern variables, characteristic of modern
  societies
• Type B
• 1. Achievement Status in society is achieved
  through the things you do (your personal merits),
  rather than simply being ascribed.

23
24
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• Approaches influenced by structural-functionalism
  (pattern variables)
• Pattern variables, characteristic of modern
  societies
• Type B
• 2. Specificity People enter into a wide range of
  relationships, each of which satisfies a specific
  need.
• For example, the relationship between a shop
  assistant and a customer is structured to fulfill
  a particular need.

24
25
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• Approaches influenced by structural-functionalism
  (pattern variables)
• Pattern variables, characteristic of modern
  societies
• Type B
• 3. Universalism Individuals act according to
  values and norms that are "universal" in their
  society.
• For example, the universal value that all are
  equal in the eyes of the law.

25
26
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• Approaches influenced by structural-functionalism
  (pattern variables)
• Pattern variables, characteristic of modern
  societies
• Type B
• 4. Instrumental Relationships are largely based
  on what people can do for us in particular
  situations (and what we can do for them).

26
27
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• Approaches influenced by structural-functionalism
  (pattern variables)
• Pattern variables, characteristic of modern
  societies
• Type B
• 5. Self Orientation People give primacy to the
  pursuit of their own interests, rather than those
  of the group or groups to which they belong.

27
28
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• - Internal critique to modernization theory
• a. Distinction traditional modern society
  insufficient static. Analysis of processes/take
  off needed
• b. Impossibility of indication carrier groups
• c. Conceptualization of tradition problematic
  tradition alwways contrary to modernization?
  Particularism disappears in modernity?

28
29
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• External critique to modernization theory
• a. Negligence of international factors and
  learning/imitation effects (Bendix Wallerstein)
• b. Evolutionary model of development in stages
  not confirmed by reality/ Western-centric
• c. Traditional modern distinction
  problematic/simplistic
• d. Western society as endstate
• e. Variety of pathways to modernity (Barrington
  Moore)

29
30
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• Revival of modernization theory
• At the end of the 1980s, there is a revival of
  modernization theory
• Renewed relevance transformation post-communist
  societies
• Many of the older problems reproduced
  (unilinearism modern-non-modern)
• Renewed criticism (path dependency multiple
  modernities).

30
31
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• Multiple Modernities
• Acceptance of idea of original modernity
  (European)
• Non-European societies develop different
  understandings of modernity (civilizational
  backgrounds)
• Modern imaginaries (autonomy, mastery) are
  translatable in different institutional
  constellations
• Varieties of pathways to become modern
• Variety of modernities (rival models communist
  modernity Japanese modernity)
• (transformation over time liberal modernity
  organized modernity reflexive modernity?)

31
32
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• Modernitys key characteristics (Blokker 2005)
• The first important characteristic is the
  negation of traditional authority and a
  religiously legitimated political order.
• By denying the foundation of political and
  societal order on other-worldly grounds,
  modernizing agents claim the possibility of
  constructing a new order on the basis of
  self-produced understandings of such an order.

32
33
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• Modernitys key characteristics
• The second, strongly related, key characteristic
  of modernity is the emphasis on human autonomy,
  i.e. the idea of the human being as a subject who
  is able to understand the world and act on these
  understandings.

33
34
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• Modernitys key characteristics
• The third characteristic is the idea that
  society (and nature) is malleable, and that human
  beings can therefore reconstruct their own
  societies on the basis of their own visions.

34
35
1. Modernization

• Theories of Modernization
• Modernitys key characteristics
• The fourth characteristic is the essentially
  future-oriented nature of modern ideas and
  programmes of modernization. By creating
  (utopian) visions of a better society, modern
  agents divide the present from the past, and
  claim that by means of decisive action these
  visions can be implemented in the present.

35
36
1. Modernization
Source Woolcock 2009, The next 10 years in
development studies From modernization to
multiple modernities, in theory and practice,
European Journal of Development Research 21, 49.
36
37
2Development
38
2. Development

• Development
• Development has for a long time been equalized
  with socio-economic modernization (in its
  classical understanding as Westernization)
• economic growth ( of GDP), division of labour,
  innovation, increasing human capital, breaking up
  of traditional social bonds, industrializing/post-
  industrializing the economy, opening up local
  markets

38
39
2. Development

• Development
• The distinction or tension is nowadays less
  between mainstream development versus alternative
  types,
• and more about structural adjustment (IMF)
  versus human and social development

39
40
2. Development

• Alternative Development (Nederveen Pieterse)
• Alternative Development
• 1. Participatory and people-centred
• 2. Widespread consensus that development is more
  successful when there is participation from the
  community
• 3. Development not only about GDP growth
• 4. Human development most appropriate goal and
  measure of development
• 5. Development from below.

40
41
2. Development

• Alternative Development (Nederveen Pieterse)
• Alternative Development
• Ranging from destructive critique of mainstream
  development to sets of proposals for alternative
  ways
• It can be confined to alternative ways of
  pursuing local development or it can entail an
  alternative vision of the global order
  (dependencia neo-Keynesianism neo- or
  post-Marxism

41
42
2. Development

• Alternative Development (Nederveen Pieterse)
• Alternative Development
• Three focal points
• 1. Agents (who is involved, how?)
• 2. Methods (what kind of means? endogenous,
  exogenous?)
• 3. Objectives or values (what are the end goals?
  Autonomy, democracy, growth, self-development?).

42
43
2. Development

• Alternative Development (Nederveen Pieterse)
• Alternative Development
• One possible definition
• Development is a process by which members of a
  society increase their personal and institutional
  capabilities to mobilize and manage resources to
  produce sustainable and justly distributed
  improvements in their quality of life consistent
  with their own aspirations
• (Korten, cited in Nederveen Pieterse)

43
44
2. Development
44
45
2. Development
45
46
2. Development

• Alternative Development (Nederveen Pieterse)
• Post-Development
• - Rejection of Western models and paradigms
  (science, progress, development) Development
  has become outdated
• - Resentment reaction against failures of
  development, corruption, imposition,
  environmental destruction
• - Emphasis on equity, self-subsistence,
  self-reliance
• - Anti-modern stance return to community
• - Simplistic, homogenized view of development
• - Critical, but no proposition of alternative.

46
47
2. Development

• Alternative Development (Nederveen Pieterse)
• Reflexive Development
• - Rejection of grand solutions, grand
  theory, singular truths
• - Acceptance of complexity and contextuality
• - Reflexivity
• - acknowledgement of double hermeneutic
  (Giddens)
• - post-paradigmatic
• - Constructivist knowledge is produced,
  including by social actors themselves.

47
48
2. Development

• Alternative Development (Nederveen Pieterse)
• Reflexive Development
• - Breakdown of faith in
• - technical progresss social progress
• - growth development
• - economic growth social development
• - Recognition of the limits of
  malleability/intervention
• - Popular and participatory reflexivity.

48
49
2. Development

• Example
• Environmental development
• (Allaire and Blanc)
• Growing concerns over local and global
  environmental quality
• Environmental services relating to both the local
  and the global
• Different levels and stakeholders involved
• Necessity of local collaboration (government,
  actors)

49
50
2. Development

• Example Environmental development
• Analysis of the local planning process that
  underpins the procurement of public environmental
  goods
• Cleaning up environment
• Creating recreational areas
• Furthering sustainability
• Increasing biodiversity

50
51
2. Development

• Example Environmental development
• Different levels involved
• EU agro-environmental schemes
• EU Structural Funds
• National employment and integration policies
• National and rural development funds and
  co-funding programmes

51
52
2. Development

• Example Environmental development
• Analytical model
• Institutional sectors (repertoires of
  evaluation)
• A policy network supported by conventions that
  homogenise the representations of problems to be
  solved
• 4 sectors
• Institutional ministry of agriculture and
  farmers unions
• Occupational and social integrational
• Environmental
• Local development

52
53
2. Development

• Example Environmental development
• Analytical model
• Double relation services
• 1. Public body and end-user
• 2. Public body and service-provider/experts/interm
  ediaries

53
54
2. Development
54