Author: Pinaki Barmon & Dr. Chaman Singh
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.70798/Bijmrd/03080012
Abstract: Modernization is a multifaceted social, economic, and political process that has profoundly transformed human societies. It signifies the transition from traditional, agrarian communities to industrialized, urbanized, and technologically advanced systems. Theorists have examined modernization through diverse lenses, producing models that explain its origins, pathways, and global implications. From classical sociological perspectives by Weber and Durkheim to mid-20th-century modernization theory, dependency frameworks, and world-systems analysis, modernization discourse has evolved in tandem with global transformations. Contemporary perspectives emphasize globalization, postcolonial critiques, and sustainability paradigms, reflecting the complexity of modernization in a multipolar, interconnected world. This paper offers a comprehensive study of these theoretical perspectives, tracing their historical development, examining their core assumptions, and evaluating their relevance in understanding contemporary modernization. It argues that modernization is not a linear or universal process but a dynamic and contested phenomenon shaped by cultural, historical, and geopolitical factors. By exploring both classical and modern approaches, this paper demonstrates that modernization theory remains vital for analyzing current challenges such as inequality, technological disruption, and environmental sustainability.
Keywords: Modernization Theory, Social Transformation, Globalization, Dependency Theory, Sustainability.
Page No: 83-89