On Individual Modernization

Individual Modernization is proposed by American scholar Professor Alex Inkeles, which aims to solve the problems of modern human development in developing countries. After a series of changes, this theory has been combined with the Marxist theory by Chinese scholars to form the Individual Modernization theory with Chinese characteristics. But the study of Chinese scholars still exist problems like ill-defined connotation, different metrics, research perspective much and disorderly. Therefore, this paper unifies definition of Individual Modernization connotation, while analyzes the two major challenges of Individual Modernization in contemporary China, based on Marxist human studies, literature research, comparative analysis, contradictory analysis as such methods. This paper argues that Individual Modernization refers to the process of human’s comprehensive and harmonious development in our country’s modernization construction. Individual Modernization faces with the dual challenges of the market economy and modern technology, on the one hand, in modern market economy Individual Modernization facing the shackles of feudal ideology; on the other hand, Individual Modernization facing the alienation of man in technological society. For the former challenge, it can be effectively solved the problem of materialization only by establishing the real corresponding ideology, behavior and social relations with the socialist market economy. For the latter challenge, it can be solved the problem of the alienation of modern man only by establishing a "high technology high emotion" society which integrates technology and humanity.This paper consists of an introduction, body and conclusion. Introduction presents the research background, purpose, significance, contents and methods, domestic and overseas research status, and innovation and deficiencies of this paper. Body is the main part of this paper, based on the results of previous studies, presenting reader the basic meaning and basic content of Individual Modernization, re-interpreting the ideological trajectory of Individual Modernization, and discussing problems Individual Modernization faced in the current China’s modernization process. Conclusion is the last parts, summarizing the main point of this paper.