Modernity

ModernityRefers to the changes in society in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

"Twin Revolutions"Democratic - modernity would lead to reason over tradition. Government would become democratic. Reason and science would become key in society.Industrial - economic and social changes i.e. urbanisation, mass machine based production. New division of labour - Capitalist and worker.

Changes from pre-modern to ModernEconomy - From Feudal system divided by land and ownership to Capitalist, with a class based stratification system and machine based production process.Belief - Myth and magic to reason and science, to objectively understand the laws of society. Society became increasingly secularised and rationalised.Family - extended family having economic and educative functions-Nuclear family has lost its economic and educative functions to other institutions by a process of structural differentiationSocial structure - simple in pre-modern, becoming extremely complex in modern.Identity - ascribed position, to achieved position in modern society.

DurkheimDURKHEIM - THE SUMMechanical solidarity (society has a common set of beliefs) + Anomie & Egoism (increasing complexity in the division of labour leads to moral confusion)+ Occupational and economic ties = Organic solidarity (occupation and economic ties leads to moral constraint to egoism and anomie)

Weber - "Iron cage of rationality"Modern society has emphasis on rational goal-oriented action. People calculate the likely results of behaviour in relation to goal.I.e. a salesperson giving a wealthy client more attention because they will earn them more commission. Weber argued that process of rationalisation penetrated all areas of modern society and resulted in 'iron cage of rationality'.

Marx Capitalist society, divided between Bourgeoisie and Proleteriat, with its exploitative and alienating production processes, would inevitably lead to revolution. 

AnalysisBeck and Lau (2005) - by the 1960's the process of modernisation resulted in society entering a stage of high modernity. Period is characterised by a strong belief in science and a nation state of institutions which mutually support one another, such as the Nuclear Family.

What Next?Theorists have used the term 'postmodernity' to stress a fundamental break with modernity.

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