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Total Categories: 6
Modernization theory posits that economic decline inevitably leads to the collapse of democratic systems.
Answer: False
This statement misrepresents the core tenets of modernization theory, which generally suggests that economic development and modernization are conducive to the emergence and stability of democratic systems, not that economic decline leads to their collapse.
A central tenet of modernization theory posits that societies progress through distinct developmental stages, culminating in the adoption of liberal democratic governance, often modeled on Western examples.
Answer: True
Classical modernization theory, particularly influential in the mid-20th century, proposed a linear progression of societal development, viewing Western liberal democracy as an advanced and desirable endpoint.
Classical modernization theories derived significant inspiration from the sociological analyses of which foundational thinkers?
Answer: True
Classical modernization theories drew significantly from the sociological analyses of prominent thinkers such as Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Talcott Parsons.
Scholars supporting modernization theory often cite evidence suggesting a positive correlation between economic development and democratization.
Answer: True
Proponents of modernization theory frequently present empirical evidence indicating a robust positive correlation between levels of economic development and the prevalence or stability of democratic political systems.
The modernization theory of the 1950s and 1960s was primarily influenced by dependency theory and world-systems analysis.
Answer: False
The modernization theory of the 1950s and 1960s was primarily influenced by classical evolutionary theory and interpretations of Max Weber, not by dependency theory or world-systems analysis, which emerged later as critiques.
The connection between modernization and democracy is a peripheral topic in comparative politics research.
Answer: False
The relationship between modernization and democratization is a central and enduring topic within the field of comparative politics, not a peripheral one.
Modernization theorists generally viewed traditions as facilitators of economic development.
Answer: False
Modernization theorists typically viewed traditions and traditional values as obstacles or impediments to economic development and modernization, rather than facilitators.
What is the fundamental premise of modernization theory regarding societal development?
Answer: As societies advance economically and educationally, their political systems tend towards liberal democracy.
Modernization theory posits that as societies advance economically, become wealthier, and achieve higher levels of education, their political systems tend to evolve towards liberal democracy and rationalist principles.
Classical modernization theories drew significantly from the sociological analyses of which prominent thinkers?
Answer: Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Talcott Parsons
Classical modernization theories drew significantly from the sociological analyses of prominent thinkers such as Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Talcott Parsons.
Scholars supporting modernization theory often cite what type of evidence?
Answer: Evidence indicating economic development is a significant predictor of democratization.
Proponents of modernization theory frequently present empirical evidence indicating a robust positive correlation between levels of economic development and the prevalence or stability of democratic political systems.
The modernization theory of the 1950s and 1960s was influenced by which historical intellectual traditions?
Answer: Classical evolutionary theory and interpretations of Max Weber.
The modernization theory of the 1950s and 1960s was influenced by classical evolutionary theory and a specific interpretation of Max Weber's ideas concerning the transition from traditional to modern societal structures.
How did modernization theorists, like Seymour Martin Lipset, view traditions in relation to economic progress?
Answer: As obstacles to economic development.
Modernization theorists, including Seymour Martin Lipset, often viewed traditions as obstacles to economic development, believing that economic outcomes were heavily influenced by a society's prevailing cultural values.
What was a primary ideological motivation behind U.S. foreign aid programs based on modernization theory in the 1960s?
Answer: To prevent the spread of communism and foster stable, democratic societies.
The ideological motivation was to promote modernity as a means to prevent the spread of communism and to foster stable, democratic societies, aligning with American foreign policy goals during the Cold War.
Seymour Martin Lipset's seminal work primarily focused on the role of traditional cultural values as impediments to economic development.
Answer: False
While modernization theorists, including Lipset, acknowledged the influence of cultural values and traditions on development, Lipset's primary focus was on the correlation between socioeconomic development (wealth, education, industrialization) and the existence of democracy, rather than solely on cultural values hindering economic progress.
Gabriel Almond and Walt Rostow were key figures associated with the *revised* modernization theory proposed in the 2000s.
Answer: False
Gabriel Almond and Walt Rostow are considered key figures of *classical* modernization theory from the mid-20th century, not the revised theories of the 2000s.
Seymour Martin Lipset's 1959 observation proposed that wealth is irrelevant to the existence of democracy.
Answer: False
Seymour Martin Lipset's 1959 observation famously proposed the opposite: that wealth and economic development are closely correlated with and highly relevant to the existence of democracy.
Lipset summarized that industrialization, urbanization, wealth, and education are interconnected factors whose political correlate is democracy.
Answer: True
Lipset's influential summary posits that these interconnected socioeconomic factors (industrialization, urbanization, wealth, education) are strongly correlated with the presence of democracy.
Who is credited with the most influential articulation of classical modernization theories in the 1950s and 1960s?
Answer: Seymour Martin Lipset
Seymour Martin Lipset is widely credited with the most influential articulation of the classical modernization theories that dominated social science discourse during the 1950s and 1960s.
What is Seymour Martin Lipset's key observation regarding economic development and political systems?
Answer: Economic development is closely linked to the existence of democracy.
Seymour Martin Lipset's influential observation, made in 1959, is that economic development is closely linked to the existence of democracy, a proposition that has spurred extensive research in the field.
Lipset summarized that industrialization, urbanization, wealth, and education are interconnected factors whose political correlate is:
Answer: Democracy
Lipset summarized that industrialization, urbanization, wealth, and education are so interrelated that they constitute a major factor whose political correlate is democracy.
Some critics propose that economic development is the sole driver that causes democratization.
Answer: False
This assertion mischaracterizes the critiques; rather, critics often argue that economic development is not the *sole* driver, or that the relationship is more complex, with democracy potentially fostering development or other factors being crucial.
Opposition to modernization theory emerged by the late 1960s because it was considered too specific and failed to account for unique national contexts.
Answer: False
The opposition that emerged by the late 1960s was largely due to modernization theory being considered too general and failing to account for the diverse developmental paths and unique national contexts of various societies.
Critics in the 1960s argued that the modernization-democracy link was too heavily based on Third World experiences and ignored European history.
Answer: False
The critique in the 1960s was that modernization theory often generalized from European historical experiences, failing to adequately account for the distinct contexts of Third World nations.
A criticism of modernization is that it often leads to the destruction of indigenous cultures, replacing them with Westernized ones.
Answer: True
This is a common criticism, suggesting that the process of modernization frequently results in the erosion or displacement of indigenous cultures by Western cultural norms and practices.
Dependency theory argues that the underdevelopment of poor nations is primarily due to their own internal cultural failings.
Answer: False
Dependency theory fundamentally rejects this premise, arguing instead that the underdevelopment of poor nations is a direct consequence of their exploitation within the global economic system by wealthy nations.
Why did modernization theory face opposition by the late 1960s?
Answer: It was deemed too general and failed to account for diverse developmental paths.
Opposition to modernization theory emerged by the late 1960s primarily because it was considered too general and failed to accurately account for the diverse developmental paths of different societies.
What is a significant criticism regarding modernization's impact on indigenous cultures?
Answer: Modernization often leads to the destruction of indigenous cultures in favor of Western ones.
A significant criticism is that modernization often necessitates the destruction of indigenous cultures and their replacement with Westernized ones, sometimes without delivering the promised benefits.
Dependency theory argues that the underdevelopment of poor nations is a result of:
Answer: Exploitation by wealthy nations within the global system.
Dependency theory argues that the underdevelopment of poor nations is a direct result of exploitation by wealthy nations within the global system. It rejects modernization theory's premise that all nations follow similar developmental paths, asserting that global economic structures inherently disadvantage poorer countries.
Modernization theory experienced a significant resurgence after 1991, largely influenced by Francis Fukuyama's interpretation of the end of the Cold War.
Answer: True
The theory saw a notable resurgence in academic discourse following the end of the Cold War in 1991, with Francis Fukuyama's work on the 'end of history' being a significant catalyst.
Inglehart and Welzel's 2005 revision emphasized that democratization arises from 'traditionalist values' linked to economic development.
Answer: False
Inglehart and Welzel's revision emphasized that democratization arises from 'self-expression values' and mass participation, which are linked to advanced economic development, rather than traditionalist values.
Inglehart and Welzel believe that widespread mass political participation and self-expression values are ideal for establishing democracy.
Answer: True
Inglehart and Welzel's revised theory posits that advanced modernization fosters self-expression values and mass participation, which are indeed conducive to the establishment and sustenance of democracy.
Dahlum and Knutsen found strong empirical support for Inglehart and Welzel's thesis regarding self-expression values enhancing democracy.
Answer: False
Contrary to supporting Inglehart and Welzel's thesis, Dahlum and Knutsen's empirical analysis found no significant support for the claim that self-expression values enhance democracy.
When did modernization theory experience a notable resurgence in academic discourse?
Answer: After 1991, influenced by Francis Fukuyama's work.
Modernization theory experienced a significant resurgence after 1991, notably influenced by Francis Fukuyama's interpretation of the end of the Cold War as evidence supporting the theory's predictions.
According to Inglehart and Welzel, what conditions are ideal for establishing democracy?
Answer: Significant modernization leading to mass participation and self-expression values.
Inglehart and Welzel argue that the ideal conditions for establishing democracy arise from significant modernization and economic development that result in widespread mass political participation and the prevalence of self-expression values.
What did the study by Acemoglu, Naidu, Restrepo, and Robinson find regarding the impact of democracy on GDP per capita?
Answer: Democracy has a positive impact on GDP per capita.
A study by Acemoglu, Naidu, Restrepo, and Robinson found that democracy has a positive effect on GDP per capita, suggesting that democratic governance can contribute to economic growth.
Critics of modernization theory point to countries like Japan and Germany as clear examples where industrialization consistently led to stable democratization.
Answer: False
Cases such as Japan and Germany, where industrialization preceded democratization or occurred under non-democratic regimes, are frequently cited by critics as counterexamples to the direct and consistent link proposed by modernization theory.
Germany's economic modernization in the 19th century, predating its democratization after World War I, is cited as evidence supporting modernization theory.
Answer: False
Germany's historical trajectory, with significant economic modernization preceding its eventual democratization, is often cited by critics as a complex case that challenges a simple, direct causal link proposed by modernization theory.
China's rapid economic modernization, coupled with ongoing human rights abuses, supports the expectation that economic development leads to democratic progress.
Answer: False
China's experience, demonstrating substantial economic modernization alongside continued authoritarian rule and human rights concerns, serves as a prominent counterexample to the expectation that economic development inevitably leads to democratic progress.
Randall Peerenboom uses Taiwan and South Korea as examples of countries that failed to democratize despite high economic growth.
Answer: False
Randall Peerenboom uses Taiwan and South Korea as examples of countries that *did* democratize following high economic growth, illustrating a more nuanced relationship than simple modernization theory might suggest.
Gerardo L. Munck's meta-analysis supported the claim that higher economic development levels consistently lead to increased democracy.
Answer: False
Gerardo L. Munck's meta-analysis of studies on the modernization-democracy link indicated that most research does *not* consistently support the claim that higher economic development levels lead to increased democracy.
Samuel P. Huntington suggested in the 1960s-70s that democracies were more effective at generating economic growth than authoritarian regimes.
Answer: False
During the 1960s-70s, Samuel P. Huntington and other modernization theorists posited that authoritarian regimes were often more effective at generating rapid economic growth compared to democratic systems.
Which of the following is a key criticism of modernization theory regarding industrialization and democracy?
Answer: Cases like Japan and Germany show industrialization did not necessarily lead to stable democratization.
Critics point to cases like Japan, Germany, and the Soviet Union, where industrialization did not necessarily lead to stable democratization. They also cite instances of democratic backsliding in economically advanced regions of Latin America as counterexamples.
How has Germany's historical trajectory been used in the debate surrounding modernization theory?
Answer: As a counterexample where economic modernization preceded democratization, challenging the theory's direct link.
Germany's economic modernization in the 19th century predating its democratization after World War I has been cited as a counterexample. However, some scholars, like Sheri Berman, argue that democratic tendencies were already emerging in Imperial Germany.
China's rapid economic modernization, contrasted with ongoing human rights abuses, is presented as evidence that:
Answer: Economic development does not necessarily correlate with democratic progress or liberalization.
China's rapid economic modernization, contrasted with ongoing human rights abuses and government oppression, challenges the theory's expectation that economic development should correlate with democratic progress and liberalization.
Gerardo L. Munck's meta-analysis of studies on Lipset's argument revealed what about the link between economic development and democracy?
Answer: Most research does not support the claim that higher development leads to more democracy.
Gerardo L. Munck's meta-analysis of studies on Lipset's argument indicated that most research does not consistently support the claim that higher economic development levels lead to increased democracy.
In the 1960s-70s, Samuel P. Huntington suggested that which type of regime was more effective at generating economic growth?
Answer: Authoritarian regimes
In the 1960s and 1970s, Samuel P. Huntington and other modernization theorists suggested that authoritarian regimes were often more effective at generating rapid economic growth compared to democracies.
How is globalization defined in relation to modernization?
Answer: Globalization is defined as the integration of economic, political, and social cultures, related to the spread of modernization.
Globalization is defined as the integration of economic, political, and social cultures, and it is seen as a process related to the spread of modernization across national borders.
What is identified as a negative consequence of the dominant neoliberal model of globalization?
Answer: It tends to increase disparities between the wealthy and the poor within a society.
A significant negative consequence of the dominant neoliberal model of globalization is the tendency to increase disparities between the wealthy and the poor within a society.
How did globalization, particularly through communication technologies, contribute to the spread of modernization?
Answer: By spreading capitalist economic models and modernization principles across borders.
Globalization, facilitated by advancements in communication technologies like telephony and the internet, has helped spread capitalist economic models and modernization principles across borders.