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Modernisation and Westernisation

Westernisation is the adoption of western culture and society, and modernisation is the development of one's own culture and society.

Professor M.N. Srinivas introduced the term westernisation, and Daniel Lerner introduced the term modernisation.

Modernisation adopts the modern style and the change in ideas of thinking, way of living, etc. It also helps develop the society and country’s technology, infrastructure, and culture. Moreover, modernisation teaches the people of societies to grow without harming past cultures and ethics.

The Westernisation term refers to the change in the culture and practice of more western culture in the non-western countries.

One of the main differences between westernisation and modernisation is

Modernisation comes from knowledge, and westernisation is the adaptation of practices done in a society.

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Modernisation

Modernisation involves the replacement of sacred revelation(sacred reality) with the help of enlightenment in secular guidelines of human societies.

There are many divisions such as social, psychological state, culture, economy, etc. of modernisation.

At some points, modernisation is essentially based on the terms “a rationalist or positivist spirit”.

Modernisation is also known as the process of social change in a society under development compared to developed societies.

Modernisation is an idea in the circle of sociologies that alludes to the process in which society experiences industrialisation, urbanisation, and other social changes that change people’s lives.

Modernisation is a facet of culture change that refers to a model of an evolutionary transition from a ‘pre-modern’ or ‘traditional’ to a ‘modern’ society.

Modernisation aims at the political transformation of a social, economically developed society.

Modernisation includes secularisation, which refers to a society free from religious orthodoxy.

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Positive Effects of Modernisation

Modernisation help societies in the development procedure because

  •  It also includes the development of technology and infrastructure
  • It provides better living, better learning, and a better lifestyle to the people of the society

Modernisation provides a way of achieving the dream, and it helps people live in a society that is healthy, educated, free from social evils, etc.

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Westernisation

Westernisation is the imitation of western societies or countries by non-western societies and countries.

In other words, westernisation is known as a sub-process of modernisation.

Westernisation is the adoption or the acceptance of the practice of the culture of European countries or societies by countries and societies in other parts of the world.

Westernisation means the follow-up of everything in a systematic order, and everything should be planned, and there must be safety insurance from the side of authorities and the government.

Westernisation is a very secure way of living a life where everything is planned and systematically arranged from the beginning. It is a situation where cultural and social security activities are highly influenced by the Planed Structure framed by private and public policies in the country.

European people’s lives were considered superior to those of people living in other countries. Therefore, people adopted western culture to show themselves as superior to the past.

Westernisation, especially Americanisation, is the most secure way of living a life where there is no issue related to financial instability, political instability, social instability, and any difficulties that hamper the quality of life and living for the general public.

Nowadays, westernisation is growing its influence worldwide because of the presence of some thinkers who think westernisation and modernisation are equal terms.

Positive Effects of Westernisation

Westernisation helps in the globalisation of the economy and creates more effective ways to produce goods and services.

Westernisation helps modernise medical practices, which results in an extension of life expectancy.

Modernisation and Westernisation: Difference

ModernisationWesternisation
Modernisation means to free oneself from traditional norms and value systems that have become obstaclesWesternisation initiates the western cultures, norms and styles in non-western countries
Moulding oneself to become a better person with a broad mind, free-thinking, and innovative mindsetMoulding oneself into a westernised framework by not focusing on one’s inherited values
Adoption of modernisation helps in building a better society for livingIts adoption is equivalent to learning one’s foundation
Modernisation increases the use of science, it changes the thinking mode and causes a revolutionWesternisation is responsible for diminishing joint families, and marriage breaks
Modernisation involves changes not only at the institutional level but also on fundamental level changes in personal lifeWesternisation is a process of following instructional and fundamental changes of western countries by the other non-western countries
Modernisation means the development of any country through economic growth, technology development and infrastructure raiseWesternisation means adopting the technology and infrastructure of western countries

Conclusion

  • Modernisation is transforming traditional, rural society into a secular and urban society, which is developed
  • Modernisation requires westernisation in many aspects such as the medical field, technical field, and so on
  • Westernisation is needed for the development of a country in some aspects, such as the economy, trading of goods and services, and others
  • In modernisation, people adopt the traits, technology, and trends according to their ideas, but in westernisation, people adopt traits, trends and technology of western countries
  • Modernisation teaches us about heterogeneity
  • On the other hand, westernisation teaches us about homogeneity
  •  Westernisation doesn’t follow the idea of heredity, but modernisation follows the idea of development by preserving the past
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