Modernization, Political: Alternate Paths

Abstract

Political modernization has different meanings. It may be used to refer to successful and enduring adaptation of a non-traditional political system to societal change. Political modernization may also be used as a synonym of, or a proxy for, political development. The most widespread use of political modernization is that of a deep-seated transformation of a nonmodern political system in a post-traditional modern political order. The defining characteristics of political modernization embrace above all (a) rationalization of authority, (b) differentiation of new political functions and development of specialized structures to perform these functions, and (c) mass participation. All these characteristics may be framed by a democratic political order, such as in a constitutional democracy, a semi-democratic order or a nondemocratic political system, such as in the case of the former socialist countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Different routes lead to political modernity. Among these, the European route and the paths of the New Worlds, the ‘colonial zone’ and the post-communist countries deserve first mention. The diversity of political modernization gave rise to major revisions of classical modernization theories. Theories of complex modernization processes have substituted theories of simple modernization patterns. Given the different routes to political modernization, a wide variety of determinants of successful or unsuccessful efforts have been singled out that underpin the modernization of a nation's polity. These determinants include structural–economic factors, such as sustained economic growth, and, above all, a wide variety of political variables.