From Modernization to Globalization Perspectives on Development and Social Change

Why are some countries poor? What can they do to turn their situations around? What happens to countries and individuals when they move towards being "modern"? What does it mean to "develop" and be "modern" anyway? What are the social effects of the processes of worldwide economic, cultural, and political integration called globalization? From Modernization to Globalization is a reference for scholars, students and development practitioners on the issues of processes of social change and development in the 'Third World'. It provides carefully excerpted samples from both classic and up-to-date writings in the development literature, as well as, a general introduction. Part One reviews formative ideas on the transition to modern society with brief readings from classical theorists. The second part addresses the modernizationists' discussion of how development changes people. The response from dependency and world-system theorists is reviewed in Part Three. The final section includes eight of the most influential writings on the social effects of globalization. Together, this represents an unprecedented compilation important of writings on international development.

J. Timmons Roberts is Associate Professor in Sociology and Latin American Studies at Tulane University. His research examines the social and environmental impacts of globalization. He has published articles and essays in The Geographical Review, World Development, Current Sociology, and the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Latin American and Caribbean Cultures.

Amy Hite is Visiting Instructor in the Center for Latin American Studies at Tulane University.