POLS1701 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Reductionism, Social Change, Walt Whitman Rostow
Lecture 2 - 6/03 - Politics of Modernisation Theory
Theories have become common sense perspective - naturalisation and entrenchment
of ideas as they pervade mainstream narratives and are presented as natural etc. -
this becomes a guide for ethics, etc.
Development in India is seen to be held back by traditional communities - they then end
up displaced etc. and this is justified, seen as necessary - dam example
Theory frames a crucial difference between traditional (backwards) and modern
(dynamic, progressive, desirable), and so tradition is seen as something to be
overcome
Understanding historical context of theories helps understand how it became so
mainstream - important
Promotes liberal capitalism as a means to development
Socialism has similar theories too (without capitalism as method)
Core assumptions traced to 18th century European thought - Industrial Revolution etc.
Post-Development school of thought: rejects reductionism, advocates other ways of
being - concept of development is highly contested - this is not the dominant thought
Social change has many different dimensions
Urbanisation is seen as a core marker of dev. - this involves overcoming of rural
farmers etc.
Huntington: ag. declines in importance in comparison to commercial agriculture and
industrialisation
^ These ways of thinking are an outcome of modernisation theorys influence
Narrow thought emerged post World War 2, int. institutions were established with the
task of development, national accounting emerged, indicators such as GDP
During war, many economies were war-oriented, dev. had to rebuild these economies
Legacies of colonialism were still prevalent
Struggles for liberation were framed as development
These both consolidated idea of development as nationalistic development - this is
problematic
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Lecture 2 - 6/03 - politics of modernisation theory. Theories have become (cid:1684)common sense(cid:1685) perspective - naturalisation and entrenchment of ideas as they pervade mainstream narratives and are presented as natural etc. this becomes a guide for ethics, etc. Development in india is seen to be held back by traditional communities - they then end up displaced etc. and this is justified, seen as necessary - dam example. Theory frames a crucial difference between traditional ((cid:1684)backwards(cid:1685)) and modern ((cid:1684)dynamic, progressive, desirable(cid:1685)), and so tradition is seen as something to be overcome. Understanding historical context of theories helps understand how it became so mainstream - important. Promotes liberal capitalism as a means to development. Socialism has similar theories too (without capitalism as method) Core assumptions traced to 18th century european thought - industrial revolution etc. (cid:1684)post-development(cid:1685) school of thought: rejects reductionism, advocates other ways of being - concept of development is highly contested - this is not the dominant thought.
