Anthropology 1025F/G Lecture : The Construction of the Nation-State.docx
Document Summary
Progress and similar terms were used to distinguish european civilization from natives". Criteria were developed to measure the backwardness" of non-western societies. Two main typologies were used: human evolution (american, political structures (british) Under these typologies, natives were ranked according to what they did not have compared to europeans. In this context, certain concepts acquired particular meaning. Progress: anything newer than the odl should be better. Modern: the opposite of ancient" or the old. Development: as relating to technological advancements and economic standards of living. Modernization theory classified the world into modern and traditional societies. In the modern world, people were deemed rational, efficient, developed technology to maximize profit, forward-looking, and committed to dev"t. In traditional societies, time was thought to be circular, no progress, people were shackled by traditions, inefficient, etc. The free market was conceived as central to development, and the motor that drives growth is capitalism that in europe.