Arjun Patel
Harry Truman’s Point Four Speech:
An In-Depth Analysis of the Modernization Theory
With the conclusion of World War II, the globe was left in a frazzled state of destruction from the aftermath of many vicious battles. Harry Truman was then elected President of the United States of America in 1948 and needed to address the issue of how to help the world rebuild after such a devastating war (Smith). Subsequent his election, his inaugural address proposed four points. Of the four, his speech became well known for “Point Four” as it set the foundations for “the improvement and growth of underdeveloped areas,” (Truman 44). The theory of development that Truman bases point four off of is the modernization theory of development. The modernization …show more content…
The first step begins with the “Traditional Society” where the economy is agriculture based with little trade and bad technology (Jacobs). You then transition into the “Preconditions to Take-Off” where the traditional society begins to develop manufacturing with a national and international focus rather than a local one (Jacobs). Birth rates begin to fall and there is a shift in power as a governing body begins to emerge as well (Fuentes). The shift in power and new governing body help assist the matriculation into industrialization. “Take-Off” is the short period of intensive growth where industrialization begins to occur (Jacobs). Once begun, a long period occurs the national economy is boosted by increases in technology. This raises the standard of living during the “Drive to Maturity” (Rostow). Finally, we reach the “Age of High Mass Consumption” where the country flourishes in a capitalist system with mass consumerism and production, just like the United States during the time of Truman’s Inaugural address (Rostow). These stages of development can be catalyized by significant support from the First world in terms of technological advancements as well as the introduction of capitalistic markets and democratic systems (Fuentes). In doing so, countries gain support and guidance by the people they …show more content…
Under the correct conditions, a capitalist market and industrialized country will flourish. We can clearly see this through the example of Singapore. Singapore easily follows Rostow’s theory of development since Singapore started out as a poor country in 1965 just after gaining its independence (Jacobs). Singapore industrialized early which developed into profitable manufacturing and high tech industries (Jacobs). Now highly urbanized, Singapore trades extensively in the international market thanks to its fantastic location for ocean ports (Jacobs). While Singapore luckily had the perfect conditions for modernization, many countries don’t, which emphasize the weaknesses of the modernization theory. To begin with, modern expertise may not always be applicable in the Global South (Fuentes). For instance, while India has a constitutional democracy, it has become less democratic throughout modernization (Dunn). Thus, its policies have become less liberal and less tolerant in contrast to the modernity of the United States. Similarly, there are varying paths to development, not just a single model (Fuentes). This can be shown through the example of China where they developed their own modernity approach to development because times were changing and existing theories are unable to rationalize these changes, especially for non-democratic countries (Rahman). Lastly, Excessive
Harry Truman’s Point Four Speech:
An In-Depth Analysis of the Modernization Theory
With the conclusion of World War II, the globe was left in a frazzled state of destruction from the aftermath of many vicious battles. Harry Truman was then elected President of the United States of America in 1948 and needed to address the issue of how to help the world rebuild after such a devastating war (Smith). Subsequent his election, his inaugural address proposed four points. Of the four, his speech became well known for “Point Four” as it set the foundations for “the improvement and growth of underdeveloped areas,” (Truman 44). The theory of development that Truman bases point four off of is the modernization theory of development. The modernization …show more content…
The first step begins with the “Traditional Society” where the economy is agriculture based with little trade and bad technology (Jacobs). You then transition into the “Preconditions to Take-Off” where the traditional society begins to develop manufacturing with a national and international focus rather than a local one (Jacobs). Birth rates begin to fall and there is a shift in power as a governing body begins to emerge as well (Fuentes). The shift in power and new governing body help assist the matriculation into industrialization. “Take-Off” is the short period of intensive growth where industrialization begins to occur (Jacobs). Once begun, a long period occurs the national economy is boosted by increases in technology. This raises the standard of living during the “Drive to Maturity” (Rostow). Finally, we reach the “Age of High Mass Consumption” where the country flourishes in a capitalist system with mass consumerism and production, just like the United States during the time of Truman’s Inaugural address (Rostow). These stages of development can be catalyized by significant support from the First world in terms of technological advancements as well as the introduction of capitalistic markets and democratic systems (Fuentes). In doing so, countries gain support and guidance by the people they …show more content…
Under the correct conditions, a capitalist market and industrialized country will flourish. We can clearly see this through the example of Singapore. Singapore easily follows Rostow’s theory of development since Singapore started out as a poor country in 1965 just after gaining its independence (Jacobs). Singapore industrialized early which developed into profitable manufacturing and high tech industries (Jacobs). Now highly urbanized, Singapore trades extensively in the international market thanks to its fantastic location for ocean ports (Jacobs). While Singapore luckily had the perfect conditions for modernization, many countries don’t, which emphasize the weaknesses of the modernization theory. To begin with, modern expertise may not always be applicable in the Global South (Fuentes). For instance, while India has a constitutional democracy, it has become less democratic throughout modernization (Dunn). Thus, its policies have become less liberal and less tolerant in contrast to the modernity of the United States. Similarly, there are varying paths to development, not just a single model (Fuentes). This can be shown through the example of China where they developed their own modernity approach to development because times were changing and existing theories are unable to rationalize these changes, especially for non-democratic countries (Rahman). Lastly, Excessive