Culture and Development

Abstract

PrevioUs studies had compared development
with economic growth (parsons, 1960) but
neglected cultural variables. Many countries
might have shown economic growth as
measured by GNP or GDP 8t!hough the
majority of their peoples might have been
suffering from poverty and misery.
Economic-development theory advocated a
model of modernization, a psychic change,
that is, doing aWay with traditional culture and
replacing it with urbanization, literacy, ~
media exposure and political participation
(Lerner, 1963). Discarding tJaditieoal- cultureswas, therefore, the aim and stnitegy of
modernization.