In these essays, choose one particular society (it can be Canada or any other), and describe how, how much, and with what effects that characteristic can be found in the society you have chosen. In each case, include an assessment of whether modernization has been generally good or bad for the society and whether it should/could be either promoted or resisted.Each essay should be between about 1000-1250 words in length (so that means two essays with a total of 2000-2500 words.
Important Characteristics of Modernity
1. Multi-dimensionalism:
The structure of modernity is multi?dimensional. While explaining modernity, four major institutional aspects of modernity have been identified:It consists of four dimensions:
(1) Capitalism,
(2) Industrialism,
(3) Administrative power, and
(4) Military power.
2. A Pattern of Evolution:
Although it is difficult to specify the exact date of the emergence of modernity, what is called the European “enlightenment” began sometime during 15th or 16th century. What is called modernity in the sense used here, however, developed in a recognizable form and was given a decisive formulation in the 17th and 18th centuries.In the 19th century, modernity became identified with industrialism and the sweeping social, economic and cultural changes associated with it. In the 20th century many advanced industrial societies attained the status of modernity.
3. Role of internal and external forces:
The development of modernity is largely due to the interplay of internal and external forces. The west made its identity in relation to endogamous factors emanating from America and Europe. For instance, the invention of steam, an endogamous factor, influenced the whole production system. But, the European modernity was also influenced by the colonized countries. These countries provided raw material and new markets. Likewise, the effects of integration into the colonial and imperial systems started Asian and African countries on a path to modernity.
4. Modernity consists of a cluster of institutions:
Modernity is made up of a large number of institutions. Each of these institutions has its own pattern of change and development.These institutions include:
(1) Nation-state,
(2) A developing and expansionist economy, particularly market economy,
(3) Increasing role of private property,
(4) Industrialism,
(5) Growth of bureaucratic organizations,
(6) Dominance of secular, materialist, rationalist and individualist values, and
(7) The formal separation of the ‘private’ from the ‘public’.5.
Growth of capitalist market relations over global scale:Modern capitalism is very much organized at international level. There are formal institutions which promote global capital markets. But, industrial capitalism is not without its evil effects. There have emerged striking patterns of social inequality; there has come a serious divide between the rich and the poor. Distinctive class relations, based on those who own and control the means of production and those who only have their laboring power to sell, have become serious.In these developing countries new social strata and occupational groups have emerged. Modernity is also initiating ‘new’ social movements which put forward competing demands. As a result, there have come into existence complex patterns of asymmetrical life chances, both within nation-states and between them.
WRITE 2 ESSAYS EACH OF WORD 1200-1500 EACH
