AMERICAN MODERNIZATION THEORIES FROM ASIAN PERSPECTIVES

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Since the 1960s, theories of modernization and development have become a central theme of social science studies in the United States. This reflects the new status of post-war America which has emerged as the leading power of the world. As a world power, the United States could not afford to be indifferent to the direction of change occurring within the newly independent states, as the cold war developed between the Western powers and Communist powers. In order to induce orderly change, in lieu of Communistic revolutionary change, the United States developed the idea of modernization and development, that is, orderly social change by national planning, "lest the new nations be drawn into the Communistic sphere of influence." In this sense, modernization was the effort "to make the world environment safe for the Western powers."

목차 (Table of Contents)

• 1. The Origin and Background
• 2. The Concept of Modernization
• 3. The Critical Views of Modernization Theories
• (1) Revisionist's view
• (2) Pessimistic and Alarmist View
• (3) The Viewpoint of the New Left and Dependency Theorists
• (4) Asians' Viewpoint
• 4. The Utility and Limitation of Modernization Theories
• 5. Conclusion
• ·Footnotes