1) The document discusses the theory of rationalization and how it relates to modernization and globalization. It argues that rationalization, which prioritizes individualism and freethinking, will continue to increase as modernization and globalization progress globally. 2) It examines the history of modernization in America and how the U.S. constructed its national identity based on European characteristics of modernity. It also discusses how modernization manifested differently in various nations and regions. 3) The paper predicts that rationalization will continue to spread worldwide as younger, more educated populations embrace values like human dignity and respect across borders through increased communication and education on a global scale.

1. UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX
Future of Modernization
Sociology 120 Week 8 Assignment
Professor Lee Daffin
Mechelle Davidson
1/5/2012

2. Future of Modernization
January 5, 2012
Modernizations Future
The future of modernization from whatever angle one might approach; through the
critical theory of development, it becomes clear that distribution of global wealth and power is
the futures central issue. Modernity is a crucial component to identity that nations write for
themselves, historically as with other areas in the world, United States construction of a
national self-conception put together with Eurocentric characteristics of modernity provide the
theory of rationalization. The rationalization theory that increases the individualism,
freethinking societies shall continue progression as and with modernization in globalization of
society just as in past periods. This theory produce within this paper shall prove true through
addressing the questions of its manifestation, continuation, globalization, and theorist’s
perceptions.
Past Modernization
Historically the start of America’s identity began as a dependent of a much older and
unreformed society. America a dependency of Great Britain, it only was becoming into
existence in the eighteenth century. The nationalist of politics and cultural elite, along with
postcolonial elites constructed an American identity that was both against and in imitation of
Europe’s (Ross, 2011). This America developed the first multiple modernity that exist today,
because this modernity indicate stages of national state formation, industrialization, and new
ideas toward, reason, human agency, and progress it is characterized with institutional and
cultural processes that they themselves produced and rationalize.
As past participants and observers look at these institutional and cultural processes
from different ideologies, than too there becomes alternative models of consequences and

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views for the progress of modernization within America for them. At one time, specifically after
the WWII, political and intellectual elites assumed United States had leadership over the West,
and therefore must take responsibility for its direction. With world power at the United States
horizon, there was a period of unprecedented prosperity, which also created deep anxieties
from the upheavals, and violence of a threatening cold war (Ross, 2011). These concerns of
Americans future, now among the world at large modernization, attention turned toward
modernity and that of theorists’ of rationalization.
Global Modernization
Given the nation-states rise and national economies development, one can come to
expect in modern periods. The required long, bloody struggles of pasts to merely gain limited
amounts of redistribution was achieved only by state regulation of economies, mass-
democratic politics, and on track social-welfare policies and programs. Society seems once
again at the pivotal point, beginning yet another struggle-hopefully one not as bloody or long to
achieve global rules of law, democratic forms of global governance and solidarity distribution
policies with restorative justice will occur (McCarthy, 2007).
Institutional imagination, experimentation, and proliferation is necessary to discover the
best forms of law, democracy, and policies that will best work for this second transnational
domesticated capitalist rational modernization for all persons alike. If incapable of avoiding
the continued “state of nature”, within international politics as complained about by Kant, than
possibly one of cultural-geographical constellations of wealth and power excluding Europe and
America can, allowing continued international power politics as dictated and altered through a
militarily, politically, and economically multi-power world.

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Historically macro-sociological theories of change has notoriously been weak, in
predicting futures, so one may only hope that neo-Kantian cosmopolitan’s scenario is as
possible to occur as the neo-Hobbesian scenario (McCarthy, 2007). However, as Durkheim
expresses that “individualism, freethinking did not appear in our days, or in 1789, or in the
reformation time, or with scholastics, or with the decline of Greek and Roman polytheism or of
oriental theocracies. This phenomenon begins nowhere, but develops continuously through the
course of history” and Boudon comprises that “In other words, men have had since ever a
sense of their dignity and vital interests and a critical sense making them able to judge whether
institutions serve them. Thanks to this rationalization, innovations were produced and selected
in the long run” (Boudon, 2011, pp. 22-3) this will undoubtedly continue to occur throughout
the world and its futures.
As modernization continues throughout globalization shall occur, as rationalization
becomes a worldwide trend throughout society. With future generations expressing a growing
trend toward more respect and dignity of human beings: this will be the dominate value of our
younger individuals but should not mean that behaviors of humans’ moral categories are good
or evil.
Rational Criteria
As rationalists, derive a three part criteria of conception of characterizing their rational
and reason systems model sets the groundwork of their mind set. These criteria start first with
the characteristic of the neighbor as positive or negative with respect to given values of self-
control. There by negating that Alcoholics be negative with this regard. The second criteria

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holds the characteristic defining the category of achieved or ascribed, where ascribed is a
stranger and where achieved is that of a criminal. The third criteria ask does a given character
of the imaginary neighbor generate a negative effect on the well-being of others externally
(Boudon, 2011, pp. 30-1).
This well articulated system of reason within societies younger more educated
individuals tend to show a more tolerant aspect, they do not, tolerate equally however or all
types of behaviors. Just as these three criteria’s appear in rationalization mindset, they are
hierarchically set in the systemof reasoning as well. Giving that the first criteria is more
important than the second, and the second criteria more important than the third. Following
this mind-set consequently, those given the least tolerance are those of drinkers, since their
behavior conflicts with the first criteria’s value of self-control and the third criteria’s value of
external effect generated. This by the conflicting behavior they are responsible for and the
negative external view it generates.
Interpretation
The World Values Survey provided statistical data comprising of over 400 questions, to
1000 sample respondents in each country totaling 43 nations over the course of three years
from 1990-1993 (Inglehart R., 1998). The survey providing categories of age and education that
Boubon’s interoperates that rationalization theory process is practical both in and outside of
western region countries, although these statistics are not as reliable in authoritarian
government regions. Boubon’s thesis on the Rationalization theory process uses Inglehart’s
1998 sourcebook of the World Values Survey to formulate his interpretation and present a
correlative view with the rationalization theory among those individuals younger and more

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educated (Boudon, 2011). His conclusions inexplicably show increased following of
rationalization amongst societies younger and educated persons. The statistical data analysis
also expresses globalization occurring, confirming the arrival of modernity.
Consequences
Consequences of future rationalization theory processes is evident, and found through
all human reason and value set categories of religion, politics, work, and morals. These notable
categories reveal a simplistic attitude that governs the individuals’ rationalization process
identified by Durkheim and Weber. Globally some area nations explained as having more
influent religious structures traditionally more than those of others have, but show an entirety
of decreasing among those educated and younger throughout the nations in general. As these
younger and more educated individuals given to an increased secularities view toward
traditional religious beliefs, they are most possibly showing a sociological truth in the trends of
modern religious beliefs, also the increased tolerance, and the increased concern for human
dignity and respect for those throughout the world. There are however, contingencies and/or
circumstances that could thwart rationalization theory process or facilitate it. Globalization
would help to facilitate while authoritative governments would thwart.
Given that rationalization theory’s conception derived through deep motivations in
human beings, the plausibility that these important characterized trends prevented forever,
affirms only plausible postponement. Evidence of this becomes more evident as Kantian
morality types expose weakening, as reason dissolves weakening tradition with the nation-state
social model (Boudon, 2011). Energy and progress in communication techniques are
enforcement for the globalization of all. These afore mentioned factors being the two major

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necessities that have the required effect of weakening the power of state and increasing the
power of transnational political, humanitarian, economic, and communication organizations,
will also stimulating the model of that within the state. These increasing techniques and
educational progression will undoubtedly define and characterize the sociological future for
generations abounded with those theories containing rationalization and the increased
awareness of humanities obligation and need for dignity and overall respect of everyone.
Nietzsche sums up rationalization with, “We cannot do without ideas, as we are now
often doing without God” (Carver, 2011, p. 107) this attests to future society’s continuation,
striving for, finding rationalization for all, which needs full understanding.

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References
Boudon, R. (2011). Modernization, Rationalization and Globalization. Modernization in
Times of Globalization II , 21-36.
Carver, T. (2011). The Discursive Politics of Modernization: Catchresis and
Materialization. Modernization in Time of Globalization II , 104-118.
Inglehart R., B. M. (1998). Human Values and Beliefs: A Cross-Cultural Sourcebook. Ann
Arbor: The U. of Michigan Press .
McCarthy, T. A. (2007). From Modernism to Messianism: Liberal Developmentalism and
American Exceptionalism. Constellations , 3-30.
Ross, D. (2011). American Modernities, Past and Present. American Historical Review
Roundtable , 702-714.