Modernity Theory and Social Change

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Table of Contents

Thesis
Introduction
Positive and Negative effects of Modernity
Work Cited

Thesis

In today’s society, one’s progress and success is hindered by focusing on culture and tradition. Thus, the only way to be successful in society today is through formal education and a focus on global capitalism/economy. The theory of modernity is that in order to progress in society today, one must start to move away from socio cultural/traditional values as it hinders progress (Abu-Rabi’ 235).

The theory of modernity has recently become a debatable topic in today’s society. Modernity has also often been associated together with technology hence the effect it has had on the society since its introduction (Conrad 65).

In this paper, we will look at cases where such transformations as caused by modernity and technology have occurred leading to success and where they have not, leading to poverty and other issues.

Introduction

Modernity, in simple terms can be defined as an existing modern era such as the one we are currently in, the 21^st Century. It is a process which involves social as well as cultural change, making the present fundamentally different from the past (Conrad 67). Human interventions have over the years made it possible for transformations such as urbanization, eccentricity, mass literacy, industrialization as well as proliferation of mass media to occur (Eysteinsson 13). Modernity has also encouraged the advancement in sciences and arts as well as changed education and religion by allowing deep-seated ideas become public (Arnason & Maria 145).

Positive and Negative effects of Modernity

Some individuals have argued that modernity has destroyed traditions as well as valuable cultures while others approve of modernity saying it has helped enhance economic stability and improved the standards of living. Modernity theory tends to try explaining the uniqueness of modern societies through controlling social processes and resulting in increased efficiency (Alexander & Seidman 52).

In the past, modernity or modernism was thought to only mean the amalgamation of lonely local communities, moving towards the traditional values and embracing eccentricity as well as social equality (Abu-Rabi’ 239). But as years go by, there occurs changes within the society and traditional as well as socio cultural values, which were once considered as having played a vital role within traditional societies, are becoming outdated. Modern concepts are being introduced and the society is slowly embracing them (Anderson 123).

Modernity brought with it both positive and negative influences to the society. Some of the positive influences include low infant rate mortality as well as eradication of most fatal diseases (Karl 347). With modernity came the rise of capitalism. Capitalism gave individuals the right to compete in free market as well as gain much wealth (Abu-Rabi’ 244). It also enabled people earn income according to the status they held in society for instance, doctors and engineers earning more income than teachers or casual laborers (Alexander and Seidman 54). As a result, great contribution to the economy was made and other individuals have been enabled to generate wealth as well.

In industries, modernity has made it such that modern systems of communication as well as improved infrastructure and transportation systems occur. This has enabled conveyance and exchange of information much more easier and quicker as compared to how it was done in the past (Mendels 252).

Modernity, science and technology tries to educate the society in letting go of cultural as well as traditional values and embrace modern technology which enhances the progress of a society (Dale 11). It also keeps a society in pace with other developed societies hence establishes and forms solid relationships between them. Technology, the state, religion as well as the law each has acquired their own personal identity (Anderson & Seidman 127). In other words, technology has favored economic growth and freedom of societies through capitalism and materialism (Eysteinsson 32).

Modernity has also had a positive impact on the marital arena in that women have become more liberalized and have more freedom to not only express themselves but also earn equal or more income as their male counterparts (Abu-Rabi’ 239). Traditionally, women were required to be homemakers as well as child-bearers. They were never allowed to work. But the introduction of modernity has brought with it education on the importance of equality for all and has become an eye-opener for most communities (Anderson and Seidman 129). Thus, women are now able to also compete in the free market arena as well as own property and wealth.

Infrastructure and architecture has not been left behind with the introduction of science, technology as well as industrialism. Ways of improving the construction and appearance of modern buildings are coming up, thanks to modern technology (Arnason and Maria 145). Areas which were once impassable are becoming more and more accessible due to introduction of modernity and as a result, job opportunities are created in the process (Conrad 67).

The negative effects of modernity, on the other hand, include introduction of technology which has led to creation of nuclear weapons. With the advancement in the knowledge and skills acquired through modern technology, individuals have learnt to not only create weapons of mass destruction but to also use them as threats to enemy societies (Conrad 73). This in turn leads to a devastating effect on societies as is in the case of civil wars (Anderson 125).

Environmental problems such as pollution have also been created as a result of modernity. This is due to rise of factories and industries which in rare cases often find appropriate ways of disposing off their waste products (Alexander and Seidman 78). In the end, harmful gases as well as toxic wastes are released into the society’s environment, resulting in health issues of the individuals living around the factories and industries (Alexander and Seidman 98).

Through modern education systems, individuals have realized the right of equality owed to them despite different backgrounds, ethnicity or incomes. Though this might seem like a positive influence, it is on the contrary, a negative influence in that discrimination and racism results (Conrad 75). Those individuals or economies having a higher income status tend to influence and take advantage of the ‘smaller’ and ‘weaker’ individuals or economies by manipulating their decisions so as to achieve or acquire more wealth on their side (Polyani 300). This in turn leaves an imbalanced economy as well as societal position.

Although modernity has been seen to lead to success in a society, it has also led to poverty and other issues.

If Poverty then, what is the root of capitalism and the market which makes it that we can abstract another’s misery inorder to have our comforts?

With the onset of modernity, a contradiction arose between requirements of the society and those of the market economy (Eysteinsson 40). Controlling the market economy meant utilization of labor as well as land, thus minimizing the society’s control over them. This in turn ensured a free market and profit flow (Karl 237). Modernity created capitalism and a particularly dangerous form which leads to poverty within the society as a whole (Ibid 254).

In capitalism the case is always that the supply precedes the demand. In modern society competitive markets have arisen with a great desire to create high profits. This has in turn lead to serious crises resulting in increase in unemployment, bankruptcies as well as a steady decline in the production process (Eysteinsson 39).

Capitalism tends to individualize ownership of property. It grants the society a right to private property (Karl 244). It also largely depends on designation of power from the state so as to enforce market regulation (Ibid 248). In the past, production was controlled by use of products but all this changed with the introduction of capitalism (Mendels 243). It opts to throw away unsold goods or products rather than given them back to the society. It only serves where there is a gain in return and in most cases, people cannot and are not in a position to afford such high costs of production (Abu-Rabi’ 243). Capitalism summarizes another’s misery inorder for the ‘rich’ in society to have their comforts.

For production to continue with its existence there has to be exchange of the products. At the same time the market for those products need also expand inorder to keep up with the rate of production (Karl 299). With increased productivity comes decreased labor power but capitalism tends to try lowering production costs so as to obtain surplus profits (Eysteinsson 41).

The rise of industrialization as a result of modernity has lead to increased poverty in that due to the great hunger to accumulate capital as well as profits, it tends to undermine the cultural/traditional values of accepting inequality (Karl 275). Industrialization has also lead to the collapse of traditional communities. Lack of employment created by industrialization has resulted in ‘higher powers’ using the low income earners as a route to earning illegal income via such vices as drug trafficking (Mendels 256).

Over-estimation of market limits for products has caused devastation due to excess industry, excessive means of trying to survive as well as excess civilization (Eysteinsson 42). In the area of food production, a negative effect can also be seen in that due to multi-national corporations taking over and eliminating producers, they tend to ignore certain fundamental phases in production, leading to a less desirable, chemically engineered final product (Karl 280). With the introduction of modernity, immigration from rural to urban areas in search of better work increased thus leaving the farms unattended. It became harder for the increasing population to keep up with the existing production and this led to food scarcity in the society (Mendels 255).

The economy has declined drastically in most societies due to lack of governmental regulations on conditions affecting the economy (Karl 301). With the rich competing for the acquisition of more wealth, the common man is left to bear the brunt thus leading to a decline in living conditions and an unstable economic status (Alexander and Seidman 118). Greed has led to corruption, concentrated wealth as well as foreign debts by societies, contributing to poverty.

On the other hand, increase in economic growth may lead to increased levels of inequalities in urban areas. This is due to the unfavourable investment environment created as a result (Alexander and Seidman 111). Modernity has in the long run reduced the society’s involvement in the formal sector of the economy leading to social unrests and diversion from productive investments to boost the economy as a whole (Anderson 143).

In conclusion, though one’s progress and success in today’s society may be hindered by focusing on culture and tradition, modernity as well as introduction of science and technology has completely changed and dictated one’s way of living, speaking, thinking as well as behaving.

Despite existing conflicts between modernity and traditional/socio cultural values, science and technology has expanded the society’s vision as well as the general understanding of the world. Those values which would otherwise have been considered as traditional as well as modern have come to coexist socially.

Inorder for a society to move from traditional and socio-cultural values into modernity, normal societal behaviors as well as way of thinking needs to be transformed. This can only be achieved through formal education which will ensure a better and productive life. Societies must also try and maintain their traditional values by mingling them with the modern concepts, inorder to have balance between modernity and socio-cultural values.

Work Cited

Abu-Rabi’, Ibrahim M. Beyond the Post-Modern Mind. American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, 7. 1990. pp. 235-256.

Alexander, J.C. and Seidman, S. (eds.). Culture and Society: Contemporary Debates. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1990. pp. 52 – 140

Anderson, Walter Truett. Reality Isn’t What it Used to Be: Theatrical Politics, Ready-to-Wear Religion, Global Myths, Primitive Chic, and Other Wonders of the Postmodern World. San Francisco, CA: Harper San Francisco. 1990. pp. 123 – 152.

Arnason, H. H., and Maria F. Prather. History of Modern Art: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Photography. NY: Abrams, 1998. pp. 142 – 150.

Conrad, Peter. Modern Times, Modern Places: How life and art were transformed in a century of revolution, innovation and radical change. NY: Alfred A. Knopf, March, 1999. pp. 65 – 98.

Polyani, Karl. The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our Time. Boston: Beacon Press. pp. 235 – 305

Eysteinsson, Astradur. The Concept of Modernism. Ithaca, NY: Cornell UP, 1992. pp 13 – 45.

Winograd, Terry and Flores, Fernando. Understanding Computers and Cognition. Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley. 1987. pp. 26 – 11

Mendels, F. Proto- Industrialization: The First Phase of the Industrialization Process. Journal of Economic History: 32. 1972. pp.241–261.

Dale, A. Robbins. What do they mean by Traditional Values? Victorious Publications. Grass Valley. 1990. pp. 4 – 20.

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