Modernization as a normative concept

At the outset, it may be said that there has been a general concern for modernization in much of twentieth century writings in the developing countries. Thus it appears more to be a normative concept than a descriptive or analytical concept. Most writers, both from the West and from the native cultures, had a positive view of it. To be modern was considered to be advanced or with time. Those who would not be qualified to be called modern would be considered to be backward, pre-modern, unchanged or even uncivilized. Most theorists assumed that the world and all parts of the world are modernizing: modernizing is the destiny of all traditions and cultures. They also assumed that all societies are following the same pattern of change or modernization. Yet, those who defined, argued for, or looked for ways of modernization, used modernization both as a descriptive and a normative concept.