Question

Give two characteristics of modernization.

Hint:

Modernization is not just about technology (cell phones, factories); it is fundamentally about a change in values (achievement orientation vs. ascription) and social structures.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding Modernization
Modernization is a process of social change involving the transformation of traditional societies into modern ones, typically driven by industrialization and technological advancement.
Step 2: Two Key Characteristics

• Rationalism and Scientific Temper: Modernization involves a shift from relying on tradition, superstition, and religious dogma to relying on reason, science, and logic for decision-making and understanding the world.
• Industrialization and Urbanization: It is characterized by a shift from an agrarian economy to an industrial one, accompanied by the movement of population from rural villages to urban cities.

{(Other characteristics include: High social mobility, growth of democratic institutions, and secularization.)}