Resumen

MANSILLA, H.C.F. The Need for a Critical Modernization Theory in the Light of Realities of the Second Half of the 20th Century . Revista de Ciencias Sociales [online]. 2008, vol.14, n.1, pp.164-179. ISSN 1315-9518.

After permanent contact with successful western civilization, Third World countries devoted themselves to accelerated development in the second half of the 20th century, resulting in the greatest social change in their entire history. In general, the result was an imitative evolution, which was perceived, nevertheless, as something of its own and autonomous. A critical modernization theory is important for analyzing the positive and negative aspects of this evolution according to critically oriented common sense.

Palabras clave : Autonomy; development; common sense; fascination effect; imitation; modernization process.