Concepts of Modernization in Western Sociology: the Methodological Aspect
How to Cite
Zhvitiashvili A.S. 2018. Concepts of Modernization in Western Sociology: the Methodological Aspect — Sociologicheskaja nauka i social’naja praktika. Vol. 6. No. 2. P. 17-33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19181/snsp.2018.6.2.5854
Abstract
This article examines concepts of modernization in Western sociology. It outlines two main models: isomorphic and non-isomorphic. The criteria for thus outline is the principle of correlation of the real (economic relationships) and symbolic (cultural and political subsystems). In the isomorphic model, modernization is understood to be a comprehensive, societal process affecting all areas of society. It maintains the view of the necessity of some general characteristics of the transition to a modern society which allow such a transition to be termed modernization. The undervaluation of socio-cultural specifics of non-western societies characterizes this approach, which complicates the process of their Westernization. This is partly related to a reduction in modernization in favor of differentiation. In a range of cases, the understanding of the correlation between economic and political modernization moves from a correlational relationship to a causal one. Moreover, in the isomorphic model, the stadial and civilizational approaches are sufficiently similar to one another than they become mutually interchangeable. Supporters of the non-isomorphic model broaden the boundaries of what is understood to be modernization, as opposed to Westernization. This broadening of these definitions has theoretical, methodological and practical significance. This helps to evaluate the ability of various civilizations to enter the modern world and develop in it. Along with this, among some supporters of the non-isomorphic model a tendency has been observed of the erosion of the idea of modernization due to the inclination towards the identification of many types of modernization in many societies, the reduction of modernization in favor of transformation, and the undervaluation of exogenous factors. Criticisms of S. Lipsett’s approach comes down to the principle of correlation between profit and democracy. In the non-isomorphic model, the balance between the stadial and civilizational approaches often interrupted in favor of the previous one. Supporters of both models are separated by the principle of correlation between the real and symbolic in Lipsett’s approach. One group adopts it, the other criticizes it. However, the weaknesses of the Lipsett approach are not a justification for rejecting it. It is sufficient to view it as a series of hypotheses, compared with which the concept of “multiple modernizations” problematic more problematic.
Keywords:
Western sociology, correlation between the real and the symbolic, isomorphic model, no isomorphic model, treating by Lipset, multiple modernities
References
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Touraine A. Modernity and Cultural Specificities. International Social Science Journal. 1988. № 18. P. 443–458.
Beck U. Obschestvo riska. Na puti k drugomu modern. [Risk Society. On the Road to another Modern]. Per. s nem. Sedelnika V., Fedorovoy N., posl. Filippova А. М.: Progress-Tradiziaya, publ., 2000. 480 p. (In Russ.).
Bell D. Gryaduschee postindustrialnoye obschestvo. Opyt socialnogo prognozirovaniya. [Coming of Postindustrial Society. A Venture in Social Forecasting]. Per. s angl., ed. by Inozemzeva V.L. М.: Academia publ., 1999. 949 p. (In Russ.).
Castells М. Informazionnaya epokha: economica, obschestvo i kultura. [Information Age: Economics, Society and Culture]. Per. s angl., ed. by Shkaratana О.I. М.: GU VShE publ., 2000. 458 р. (In Russ.).
Eisenstadt S. Revolutsiya i preobrazovaniye obschestv. Sravnitelnoye izucheniye tsivilizatsiy. [Revolution and the Transformation of Societies. A Comparative Study of Civilizations]. Per. s angl. Gordona V.А., nauch. red. per. Erasov B.S. М.: Аspect Press publ., 1999. 416 р. (In Russ.).
Huntington S. Stolknoveniye tsivilizatsiy. [The clash of civilizations and the remaking of world order]. Per. s angl. Velimeeva T., Novikova U. М.: Astrel publ., 2006. 602 р. (In Russ.)
Luman N. Differentsiatsiya. [Differentiation]. Per. s nem. Skuratova B. М.: Logos, 2006. 320 p. (In Russ.)
Parsons T. O sotsialnyh sistemah. [About Social Systems]. Ed. by Chеsnokovоy V.F., Belanovskogo S.А. М.: Аkаdemicheskiy proekt publ., 2002. 832 р. (In Russ.).
Parsons Т. Sistema sovremennyh obschestv. [The System of Modern Societies]. Per. s angl. Sedov L.А., Kovalev А.D. Ed. by Kovaleva М.S., vstupl. Kovaleva М.S. М.: Аspect Press publ., 1998. 270 р. (In Russ.).
Ritzer J. Makdonaldizatsiya obschestva. [The Mcdonaldization of Society]. Per. s angl. Lasarev А.V. М.: Praxis publ., 2011. 592 p. (In Russ.).
Tikhonova N.Е., Anikin V.А., Gorunova S.V., Lezhnina U.P. Evolutsiya kontseptsii modernizatsii vo vtoroy polovine XX veka. [Evolution of the concept of modernization in the second half of the XX century]. Sotsiologiya 4М. 2007. № 25. Р. 22–47. (In Russ.).
Weber М. Protestantskaya etica i duh kapitalisma. [Protestant ethic and spirit of capitalism]. Per. s nem. Levin М.I., Fillipov А.F., Gaydenko P.P., sоst., red. i posl. Davydov Uy.,N., Gaydenko P.P., komm. Filippova А. F. М.: ROSSPEN publ., 2006. Р. 19–186. (In Russ.).
Welzel Ch., Inglehart R. Chelovecheskoye razvitiye i vzryv demokratii: variazii izmeneniy rezhimov sredi 60 obschestv. [Human development and the «explosion» of democracy: Variations of regime change across 60 societies]. Soziologiya: teoriya, metody, marketing. 2008. № 1. Р. 85–118. (In Russ.).
Asemoglu D., Johnson S., Robinson J.A., Yared P. Income and Democracy. American Economic Review. 2008. Vol. 98. № 3. P. 808–842.
Beck U. World at Risk. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2010. 240 p.
Beck U., Giddens A., Lash S. Reflexive Modernization: Politics, Tradition and Aesthetics in the Modern Social Order. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1994. 225 p.
Cardoso G., Accernero G., Lapa T., Azevedo Z. Social Movements, Participation and Crisis in Europe. Europe’s Crisis. Ed. by Castells M. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2017. P. 405–428.
Cohen S., Zusman J. Manufacturing matters: the myth of the postindustrial economy. N. J.: Basic books publishers, 1987. 196 p.
Eisenstadt S. Modernization: Protest and Change. N. J.: Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, 1966. 400 p.
Eisenstadt S. Multiple Modernities. Daedalus. 2000. Vol. 129. № 1. P. 1–29.
Eisenstadt S. The contemporary Scene – multiple modernities. The Annals of the International Institute of Sociology. 2000. Vol. 7. Ed. by Scheuch E., Sciulli D. Leiden: Brill [Electronic resource]. URL: //http: //www.openisbn.com/preview/9004116648 (Date of access: 03.11.2014).
Huntington S.P. The Goals of Development. Comparing Nations and Cultures. Readings in a Cross-Disciplinary Perspective. Ed. by Inkeles A., Sasaki M. N. J.: Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, 1996. P. 470–490.
Lipset S. M. Political Man. The Social Bases of Politics. N. Y.: Anchor Books, 1963. 300 p.
Przeworski A., Limongi F. Modernization and Facts. World politics. 1997. № 49. [Electronic resource]. URL: //http: //muse.jhu.edu/journals/world_politics/v049/49.2przeworskihtml (Date of access: 20.11.2017)
Rosa H. Social Acceleration: A New Theory of Modernity. N. Y.: Columbia University Press, 2013. 324 p.
Touraine A. Modernity and Cultural Specificities. International Social Science Journal. 1988. № 18. P. 443–458.
Citation Formats
Other cite formats:
Harvard
Zhvitiashvili, A. S. (2018) ’Concepts of Modernization in Western Sociology: the Methodological Aspect’, Sociologicheskaja nauka i social’naja praktika, 6(2), pp. 17-33. doi: https://doi.org/10.19181/snsp.2018.6.2.5854.
Section
THEORY AND METHODOLOGY
Publisher: Federal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FCTAS RAS)