Modernization as a social and institutional process

From sociological point of view modernization refers to the process of individualization, secularization and development of new structures of social institutions based on humanism and rationalization. It involves:

• Change over from holism to specialization and social differentiation.

• Ascription based mechanism of role allocation to achievement based mechanism.

• Replacement of old social institutions of caste and kinship by meritocracy, universalism, and egalitarianism.

• Increase in population concentration and growth of urbanization.

• Secularization.

A traditional society was built on the idea of sharing, cooperation, subsistence, integration and a general acceptance of the normative system. In India this also meant the rigidity of the caste system. Modernization was supposed to replace caste system of allocating roles by a system based on individual merit which was to be acquired from a long process of education. Education would be available to all and a modern society is to be developed with the cooperation of all. The implicit belief in this is that the gains of modernization will be shared by all sections and sub-sections of society.