What is modernization? The term comes from the French word moderne, meaning "modern," "newest." Modernization refers to the process of updating in accordance with new modern requirements. Synonyms are improvement, updating, upgrade.
This concept is used in relation to socio-political processes developing in the world, changes in the world economy and lifestyle of the peoples of different countries, as well as to indicate technological progress and improve production processes.
Modernization of production is the improvement of technological processes, the development and implementation of new equipment, materials, methods and methods of production, the optimization of all production processes in accordance with modern needs.
As is known from the course of history, industrial modernization is inextricably linked with the processes of reorganization and renewal in society. With the accumulation of qualitative changes in production processes, the inevitable modernization of the economy takes place, and it entails a gradual irreversible change in the way of life and social mentality.
The concept of modernization came into use in the middle of the last century, when social scientists analyzed the stages of the development of society from the traditional patriarchal system that reigned in the 18th century, with its agrarian system and socio-political system, to modern forms of post-industrial society with all its variety of social relations and cultural traditions. In the 1950s, the theory of modernization was created, which answered the question of what modernization is applied to in relation to the processes taking place in world society.
According to this theory, modernization is an update of social relations, expressed in the transition from the feudal way of life to the modern industrial type. Its characteristic features:
- the growth of differentiation and specialization of labor;
- increased bureaucratization of production;
- the emergence of socio-political institutions of the modern type;
- increase mobility and individualism in the minds of people;
- change in the system of cultural and moral values (institution of the family, attitude to religion, etc.).
There are three stages of development of modernization (from the end of the XVIII to the beginning of the XX century, the first half of the XX century and from the 70s of the twentieth century to the beginning of our century). There are two main models. This is the so-called. Westernization and catching up model.
What is westernization (or westernization)? This term is understood as the introduction of the Western way of life, culture, technology in the social order of developing countries (mostly through colonization). The catching-up model relies on industrialization, with the help of which it assumes "pulling up" the level of economically backward countries to developed ones.
The theory of modernization is often criticized. The essence of the accusations basically boils down to the following - opponents of this concept argue that modernization is capable of destroying traditionally established relations without building new ones in return, that is, the so-called post-industrial society will not have clear mental orientations. But it should be understood that modernization does not imply unconditional denial and elimination of traditional values. On the contrary, in most cultures old and new traditions coexist perfectly, which stimulates society to further development.
What is the modernization of Russian society, what is the meaning of this term in relation to our country? This issue is widely discussed not only here, but also in the world, the discussion was initiated by the well-known article "Russia, forward!" D.A. Medvedev. The main areas of necessary changes in Russia are unconditionally recognized:
- the need for technical re-equipment of production, the introduction of new computer technologies, the improvement of working and living conditions of Russians;
- change in the social model of society - educational reform, development and growth of private business, reduction of the state role in the economic sphere;
- fight against corruption and building a legal society;
- reform of the social sphere, aimed at improving the standard of living of citizens.