The Context of the Multiple Modernities Paradigm

Bibliographic Data

ID20081902
AuthorsShmuel N Eisenstadt, Jens Riedel (0000-0002-5273-6605), Dominic Sachsenmaier
Year2002
Pages1-23
Publication date2002-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeCHAPTER
VenueReflections on Multiple Modernities (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherBrill (PUBLISHER • NL)
DOI10.1163/9789047401735_004
OpenAlexW4385143244
ISBN9789047401735
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited4

In Winter 2000 Daedalus published an issue on Multiple Modernities, I which followed an issue on Early Modernities. 2 Since then, the term multiple modernities has spread rapidly in the social sciences. 3 Major research projects have been set up, and conference seminars and some books already use the term, which is becoming established as part of the social sciences' linguajranca. 4 Judging from its rapid acceptance, one can expect that the complex questions and problems implicit in the concept will be the object of major intellectual discussions. 5 The core of multiple modernities lies in assuming the existence of culturally specific forms of modernity shaped by distinct cultural heritages and sociopolitical conditions.These forms will continue to differ in their value systems, institutions, and other factors.For example, structural differentiation is a typical feature in the institutions of modern societies, ranging from family patterns to socioeconomic institutions and mass communication.Differentiated structures, modes of openness, and ways of questioning the basic premises vary gready, however, across cultures and historical periods.Unique forms of modernity are created by different activists and social movements that hold distinct views of what makes a society modern.In other words, even though distinctively modern structures, institutions, and

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