Western dominance and the global construction of modernity

Modernity as a Global Process

"the West and the Rest: Discourse and Power

The work above demonstrates an attempt to create a better understanding of the development of modernity, with regard to understanding what is and what is not considered a viable concept of progress. The author(s) claim that the development o modern ideals are often associated with a dichotomous view of the world, that which is western and that which is not. From this world view the author(s) contend that the world has developed only in theory and that in reality this classification is simply a nominal tool to divide and potentially take responsibility for all that is good, while glossing over all that is not as good regarding "progress." In a sense the work is a summation of the concept of post-colonial argument, where it is pointed out that many people argue that the societies and cultures which were overrun by colonial "progress" were not influential in the development of that progress. The work attempts to establish a core principle that puts the idea of the "west" into perspective as a chosen world concept of separatism and claims that instead we should all have a "global" view of the development of modernity. What the athor means by "global" is an assertion that all the cultures that hjve come into contact with one another and all the resources that have been contributed to the big pot that is know as progress or modern have collectively worked toward an end, which is thought of as modern. The emphasis of the work is to give credit, where credit is due as well as make certain that people see that this separation of "west" and "other" needs to be abandoned.

1. What is meant by globalization?

The Article above clearly stresses that globalization is an essential interaction between all nations and cultures to develop the "modern" world, in all its good and bad form and that separation of the "east" and "west" or really the "west" and the "other" is artificial and antiquated.

2. What is meant by the term "eurocentrism" and does it apply to classical social theory? Can there be a non- Eurocentric theory of modernity?

In the West and the Rest Eurocentrism is the term used to describe the idea that the "west" is the pinnacle of social and material progress, and that this progress is centered in Europe. According tot the author most people who define themselves as westerners see things from a European perspective rather than a global perspective. According to this work it would seem unlikely that there would ever be a definition of modernity that was not Eurocentric, as the idea of progress is cemented in ideals of "western" progress and classical theory.

2. "A Global Society"

The work a Global Society? outlines the progress of the concept of globalization, as a defined social and poltical situation of one society with more commonalities than differences, interconnected by politics, humanity and most importantly economics. The work describes how this conception of globalization came to the forefront of the idea of human conciseness an that it is a collective of the idea that the world is transforming in such a way that it can no longer afford to look toward difference, and especially nationalism as the dominant force. The work also stresses that this world view is dominated by the idea that the "virtues" of one form of political thought, i.e. democracy will overrule those of all others. That democracy is the overarching solution to the development of a "global human society."

1.What is meant by globalization?

This work defines globalization as a farce, yet a pervasive one that will lead to an ideal that however unattainable demonstrates the thoughts of the future of progress and modernity.

2. What is meant by the term "eurocentrism" and does it apply to classical social theory? Can there be a non- Eurocentric theory of modernity?

Eurocentric classical social theory, according to the author is the defining character of globalization as the world view of those who dominate classical social theory is of the European of western tradition, which negates any other form of progress and modernization, than economic and secular as without value.