Future Modernization

* * * * * * * * * * * * Future of Modernization Paper * * Gaylene Rincon * * December 9, 2012 * * SOC/120 * * Chris Jones * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Future of Modernization Paper

* * As I analyzed the different modern theorists from Chapter 16, Social Change: Modern and Postmodern Societies, (Macionis. 2011) which are, “Ferdinand Tönnies: The Loss of Community, Emile Durkheim: The Division of Labor, Max Weber: Rationalization, and Karl Marx: Capitalism,” and based upon the supplied information, I think the United States has manifested modernization in society through the theory described by “Emile Durkeim: The Division of Labor.” She was a French sociologist that developed an interest in the theory of the German sociologist Ferdinand Tőnnies’s who developed his modernization theory from “Gemeinschaft,” which meant that people are basically combined no matter the dividing factors that might be present. * According to Chapter 16, (Macionis. 2011), it stated, “Durkheim explained that preindustrial societies are held together by “mechanical solidarity,” or “shared moral sentiments,” which means participants of such a society belief, everyone fundamentally are alike, performing the similar work and going along together in a harmonious manner. Durkheim explains that, “Modernization was marked by an increasing division of labor, or specialized economic activity.” To put it into more simple terms he believed, “Modern societies are held together not by likeness but by differences. All of us must depend on others to meet most of our needs.” Although, Tőnnies and Durkheim theories were parallel in thinking they slightly examined modernity differently. Tőnnies’s understanding of modernization was Gesellschaft, lost “social solidarity,” because when people loss bonds through the “natural” evolution in growth from a small town tight knit community into a big city it becomes, “artificial” and “mechanical,” which to him is a “natural” process, because people naturally loose ties from their small town community, when the growth of big city emerges. * However, Durkheim argued Tőnnies view of “natural,” isn’t something to consider normal, because in his viewpoint there is nothing normal or “natural” about his theory. Therefore, Durkheim labeled modern society as “organic” and he said, “it is no less natural than any other.” Durkheim didn’t believe that the natural process of modernization was as he labeled “traditional societies” as “mechanical,” because he believed they were regulated and disciplined. * Durkheim didn’t view modernization as a loss of community; but it was based more upon an economic division through labor choices, and the intrinsic change was due to the process of transformed interests. Durkheim views were more complex, but had a more positive view about the modernity. He thought societies division was mostly based upon economically mutually dependent elements. * According to our text (Macionis. 2011), it describes mass societies have social diversity and are rapidly changing, could Durkheim understand this as the process he described as “organic” a process that change produces economically dependent elements, become transformed interests and demands? Therefore since people are faced with life decisions daily, especially those with greater capital, it can produce an array of various choices. These choices produce different paths, lifestyles, relationships and even religious contingency in search of a “true self.” Is searching for the “true self” considered “organic” or as Tőnnies called it “natural?” * According to a dissertation called, “Building a Harmonious Socialist Society under the Vision of Modernization Author: Zhang, Juxiang; Guo, Huaru Publication info: Asian Social Science,” it introduces, “Socialist modernization is a mode innovation under the particular historical condition that capitalism modernization has been formed, harmony is the essential feature of socialist modernization.” * According to Durkheim he believed in “social solidarity,” which produces a mutual agreement and support to become harmonious. Since China went through a long period of turmoil, it lacked “social solidarity” the particular feature essential for “socialist modernization.” During the second half of the Twentieth Century, modernization has ever since been the great wave of global transformation. Society is ever changing from “traditional” to “contemporary,” which means that the world is either a “modern society” or is converting into a “modernized society.” * After 1840, China’s traditions were challenged and what followed were violence, social instability and great turmoil. The Chinese government had no other choice but to comply with the world and transform their interest and demands. “China’s Modernization” had undergone a new global “specialized economic activity” or “an increasing division of labor.” Together China acquired independence, freedom, democracy and unification and transformed into a “shared moral sentiment” and held together by “mechanical solidarity.” Virtually the concept used by Durkheim’s, is that China pronounced modernization so they could engage in development of mutual dependency and they were “held together not by likeness but by difference.” * The next article I would like to discuss is called, “An Imperative for Change: The Case for Logistics Modernization Author: Neal, Richard I; Knutson, Bruce B, Jr; Ayres, Raymond P, Jr; Mckissock, Gary S Publication info: Marine Corps Gazette.” It discusses what is logistic modernization? It implements symbolic logic, on two driving factors for unresolved logistic challenges of the past and the plan to operate “organically” in the future. It produced and introduced the concept that Durkheim stated, “this change means less mechanical solidarity, but more of another kind of tie.” Some of the logistic operations that lacked mechanical solidarity were the Marine Corps information technology; it lacked visibility for critical reserves on the battlefield, inadequate “line haul,” unsuccessful procedures for delivery ability, and the continuing requirement for” Iron Mountains.” The Marine Corp is strategizing ways to implement future operation systems for the future. It will consist of a process that cuts the bonds to what is considered a “rural village,” which means the reengineering * Producing logistics modernization means it would need to lie out for the future and create a more specialized logistic organized function, by having what Durkheim describes, “having people perform highly specific jobs.” I think that the Marine Corp would benefit from Emile Durkheim’s theory; “The Division of Labor.” The third article is called, “Financial modernization: Vastly different or fundamentally the same? Author: Boehne, Edward G Publication info: Business Review - Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia,” it discusses the “Financial Modernization Act,” it argues that the financial service industries will be changed in relations to its organization and delivery methods. This act separates commercial banking and investment banking, which according to Durkheim it is an “Industrial Revolution” and it is an increased “division of labor,” which the act sets up a two-tier system for expanding activities. This constitutes another description of Emile Durkheim’s theory; on his “Industrial Revolution” it discerns the “specialized economic activity” theory. In my opinion, the “Financial Modernization Act” is just another example of how the United States is set up for the future modern life with technology capabilities increasing, I believe our country will continue to use the Emile Durkheim’s theory: “The Division of Labor” will prevail.

References: 1. Chapter 16, Social Change: Modern and Postmodern Societies, Society: The Basics, Eleventh Edition, by John J. Macionis. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. 2. Building a Harmonious Socialist Society under the Vision of Modernization Author: Zhang, Juxiang; Guo, Huaru Publication info: Asian Social Science 7. 6 (Jun 2011): 120-124. ProQuest document link 3. An Imperative for Change: The Case for Logistics Modernization Author: Neal, Richard I; Knutson, Bruce B, Jr; Ayres, Raymond P, Jr; Mckissock, Gary S Publication info: Marine Corps Gazette 88. 8 (Aug 2004): 21-24. ProQuest document link 4. Financial modernization: Vastly different or fundamentally the same? Author: Boehne, Edward G Publication info: Business Review - Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia (Jul/Aug 2000): 3-14. ProQuest document link

References: 1. Chapter 16, Social Change: Modern and Postmodern Societies, Society: The Basics, Eleventh Edition, by John J. Macionis. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. 2. Building a Harmonious Socialist Society under the Vision of Modernization Author: Zhang, Juxiang; Guo, Huaru Publication info: Asian Social Science 7. 6 (Jun 2011): 120-124. ProQuest document link 3. An Imperative for Change: The Case for Logistics Modernization Author: Neal, Richard I; Knutson, Bruce B, Jr; Ayres, Raymond P, Jr; Mckissock, Gary S Publication info: Marine Corps Gazette 88. 8 (Aug 2004): 21-24. ProQuest document link 4. Financial modernization: Vastly different or fundamentally the same? Author: Boehne, Edward G Publication info: Business Review - Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia (Jul/Aug 2000): 3-14. ProQuest document link