Participation and Democracy: Dynamics, Causes ... - Jacobs University

2. Theoretical Framework: What Explains Dynamics, Causes and
Consequences of Elite-Challenging Activities?
2.1 Modernization and Value Change
Mostly linked with processes of democratization as their general outcome, theories of
modernization also provide one of the predominant explanations for long-term
developments in political participation (Norris 2002: 19). The cultural variant of
modernization theory links socio-economic development to value change – in particular
change in authority relations – to an expansion of the participation repertoire, allowing
for propositions on all three dimensions of analysis: the dynamics, determinants and
consequences of elite-challenging activities.
Despite its broad variety of meanings (Schmidt 2001: 9961-9963), the term
“modernization” usually refers to a transformation process from a traditional, rural,
agrarian society to a secular, urban and industrial society (Inglehart 2001: 9965-9971).
This process is accompanied by profound economic, cultural and political changes that
result in a deep societal reorganization which, in turn, affects the conditions for mass
participation. Most importantly, modernization theory claims that the economic and
social circumstances leave an imprint on the people exposed to them, affecting people’s
opportunities, their resources and what people think about and want out of life.
“Socioeconomic development brings roughly predictable cultural changes” (Inglehart
and Welzel 2005: 15) because with changing external conditions, experiences and
opportunities, people’s values tend to change into a similar direction. Obviously,
adherents of this approach attribute a certain outcome to the modernization process –
although scholars have argued extensively about the deterministic or probabilistic
character of this relationship.
In general, modernization is considered to be “one of the two giant leaps forward that
have transformed the human condition” (Inglehart 2001: 9966). The agrarian revolution
that marked the transition from hunting and gathering societies to agrarian societies is
deemed as the first fundamental cut in societal development. One could debate which of
these two crucial developments has been more fundamental in its scope of changing
existing societies. Interestingly, they have been equally successful if one considers
15