Level-Specific Modernization

Abstract

So many countries, so many customs (American proverb); while so many layers, so many features. Modernization takes place in almost all countries and at all layers of human civilization including the world, international, national, regional, organizational, and individual layers. As the important part of modernization science (Fig. 5.1), level-specific, stage-related, and field-relative modernization overlaps with each other. There are both similarities and differences among all level-specific modernizations. The adaptability of the core theory of general modernization varies at different levels. Country is the basic unit of modernization, so modernization at every layer is closely related to national modernization.

Appendices

Summary

Modernization takes place at different levels such as world, international, national, regional, organizational, and individual level. Different levels of modernization have both similarities and differences. Country is the basic unit of modernization, and each level of modernization is closely related to national modernization.

5.1.1 World Modernization

World modernization is a form of manifestation of modernization at world level.

Generally, world modernization is the change of human civilization and international differentiation; the frontier process of the formation, development, transformation, and international interaction of human modern civilization; the composite process of alternate innovation, selection, diffusion, and regression of the elements of human modern civilization; and the change of international system, international differentiation, and international competition for catching up with, reaching, and maintaining the world’s advanced level of development. It includes modernization of the world as a whole, world modernization in six fields, and the spatial and temporal distribution of world modernization, as well as the modernization of world behavior, structure, institution, and ideas.

Modern civilization can be divided into two stages, namely, preliminary modern civilization and advanced modern civilization. Preliminary modern civilization means industrial civilization, and advanced modern civilization means knowledge, while ecological civilization is a manifestation or an aspect of knowledge civilization.

Modernization at world level is not an “independent unit” of modernization, but an analysis level. World modernization is connected with national and international modernization. Generally, world modernization is the international environment of national modernization, national modernization is the important foundation for world modernization, and the interaction between national modernization and international environment is international modernization.

World modernization follows ten basic principles. They are asynchronous process, uneven distribution, structural stability, early bird effect, fast–fast effect, power effect, adaptation effect, latecomer effect, creator effect, and Matthew effect.

5.1.2 International Modernization

International modernization is a manifestation of modernization at transnational level.

Generally, international modernization is an interaction between national modernization and international environment. It is international interaction in the process of modernization, including international interactions at different levels and in different fields during modernization, as well as the modernization of international behavior, structure, institution, and ideas. It involves three aspects: national modernization, international environment, and international interaction.

The process of international modernization roughly has 12 features: universality, diversity, stage-relative, complexity, evolution, nondetermination, differentiation between countries, effect of national level, effect of national strength, continual existence of international war, gradually enhanced international cooperation, and effect of industrial civilization. The age of industry is different from the age of knowledge in features of international modernization.

The process of international modernization follows four principles, namely, synergy, interest-driven interaction, path selection, and quadrant interaction, as well as eight rules: acting and reacting force, different action effects, like attracts like, good spreading, goal orientation, national interests, maxmini, and bounded rationality. These rules are relative, and there are many exceptions such as activities by international humanitarian organizations.

5.1.3 National Modernization

National modernization is a form of manifestation of modernization at national layer.

Generally, national modernization is a sort of national civilization change and international competition; it is the frontier process of the formation, development, transformation, and international interaction of national modern civilization, as well as a composite process of alternate innovation, selection, diffusion, and recession of the elements of national modern civilization. It is also the change in international competition, national stratification, and civilization distribution with the aim of catching up with, reaching, and maintaining the world’s advanced level of development. It includes modernization of a country as a whole, modernization in six fields, and the spatial and temporal distribution of national modernization, as well as the modernization of national behavior, structure, institution, and ideas.

National modernization is the basic unit of modernization study and practice. In the process of modernization study and practice, national modernization is at the core. In the system of modernization theories, the national modernization theory and the general theory on modernization have the highest degree of consistency with each other.

National modernization follows ten principles: asynchronous process, uneven distribution, structural stability, status changeability, behavioral predictability, incremental demand, diminishing utility, optional paths, no repeated state, and axis transition.

Dynamic models include innovation drive, three-innovation drive, two-wheel drive, associative action, four-step super cycle, composite interaction of three types of civilization, innovation diffusion, innovation spillovers, and competition drive.

National modernization has three basic paths in the twenty-first century: second modernization, catch-up modernization, and integrated modernization in the term of policy, and first modernization, second modernization, and integrated modernization in the term of theory.

5.1.4 Regional Modernization

If we define regions as domestic regions, then regional modernization is the important foundation and organic part of national modernization. National modernization is the objective environment and condition for regional modernization. Regional modernization interaction is generally subordinate to national modernization. Regional modernization is a manifestation of modernization at regional level.

Generally, regional modernization is a sort of regional civilization change and regional competition; it is the frontier process of the formation, development, transformation, international, and interregional interaction of regional modern civilization, as well as a composite process of alternate innovation, selection, diffusion, and recession of the elements of regional modern civilization. It is also the change in regional competition, regional differentiation, and stratification, with the aim of catching up with, reaching, and maintaining the world’s advanced level of development. It includes modernization of a region as a whole, modernization in six fields, interaction of regional modernization, the modernization of subregions such as urban and rural areas, mountainous and plain areas, as well as the modernization of regional behavior, structure, institution, and ideas.

During regional modernization, the change of economic structure (industrialization and deindustrialization), as well as urbanization and suburbanization, is not absolute but elastic, and the change of society and civilization is bound to happen.

Regional modernization is not simply a mini version of national modernization. For province-level regions (at provincial level), regional modernization is highly consistent with national modernization; for county-level regions (at county level), the relationship between regional modernization and national modernization is diverse.

5.1.5 Organizational Modernization

Organizational modernization, namely, modernization at organizational level, is a manifestation and analysis level of modernization phenomena.

Generally, organizational modernization is a process of the formation, development, reorganization, and interaction of modern organization; the innovation, choice, diffusion, and exit of the elements of modern organizations; and the organizational competition for catching up with, reaching, and maintaining the world’s advanced level of development. It includes the modernization of global, national, regional, and sector’s organizations as well as individual institutions and that of government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and profit organizations, as well as the modernization of organizational behavior, structure, institution, and ideas.

Modernization of different types of organizations has different features, showing great diversity.

Management modernization is an important part of organizational modernization. Business management is a process of evolution from elementary to intermediate and then to senior management; management in different stages has different features, which when put together are the basic track and nine models of management modernization, called nine-grade management for short. They are empirical management, efficiency management, cost management, quality management, flexible management, knowledge management, innovation management, cultural management, and strategic management.

5.1.6 Individual Modernization

Individuals are the smallest structural units which are different in different fields.

Individual modernization is modernization at individual level; it is the change of individuals in behavior, qualities, ability, and ideas, as well as a composite process of alternate innovation, choice, diffusion, and recession of individual modern elements. It includes the modernization of global, national, and regional individuals as well as of single individuals, as well as the modernization of individual behavior, structure, system, and ideas. It is a manifestation and analysis level of modernization phenomena. Individual modernization in different fields has different features, showing great diversity. Individual modernization overlaps with human modernization, institutional modernization, cultural modernization, etc.

Further Reading

• Buzan B, Little R (2000) International system in world history—remaking the study of international relations. Oxford University Press, London (Trans: Liu D et al. (2004). Higher Education, Beijing)

• He C (2000) K management: modernization of business management. Economic Science, Beijing

• Kennedy P (1987) The rise and fall of the great powers: economic change and military conflict from 1500 to 2000. Vintage Books, New York (Trans: Chen J et al. (2006). China International Culture Press Limited, Beijing)

• Landes DS (1998) Wealth and poverty of nations: why some are rich and some so poor. W.W. Norton, New York (Trans: Men H et al. (2001). Xinhua Publishing House, Beijing)

• Palmer RR, Colton J, Kramer L (2002) A history of the modern world, 9th edn. McGraw-Hill, New York

• Smith A (1977) [1776] In: Cannan E (ed) Inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations. University of Chicago Press, Chicago (Trans: Guo D et al. (1997) The Commercial Press, Beijing)

• RGCMS (Research Group for China Modernization Strategies et al) (2004) China Modernization Report 2004: regional modernization research. Peking University Press, Beijing

• RGCMS (Research Group for China Modernization Strategies et al) (2008) China Modernization Report 2008: international modernization research. Peking University Press, Beijing

• RGCMS (Research Group for China Modernization Strategies et al) (2010) China Modernization Report 2010: world modernization research. Peking University Press, Beijing

• Inglehart R, Welzel C (2005) Modernization, cultural change, and democracy: the human development sequence. Cambridge University Press, New York

• Martinelli A (2005) Global modernization: rethinking the project of modernity. Sage, London