 Dear students, in this module, we are going to talk about the theories of global stratification and one of the important theories of global stratification is modernization theory. In our previous modules, we discussed the stratifications or the processes of stratification within a society. In these modules, we are going to discuss the global aspect of stratification. This system of stratification is not limited to a society or a society or a group or a community. In fact, if we think about it, in today's globalized world, countries or different societies have a system of stratification. In that, we see how modernization theory treats and interprets the system of stratification. Modernization theory is a perspective that explains global stratification as a result of technological and cultural differences between the societies. Modernization theory, which looks at different subjects from a specific point of view, observes them, and then judges them. The proponents of modernization theory, in their opinion, the subjects are in different stages of development. And the subjects that are in development are at a higher stage, and they develop as compared to those societies which are on the lower phase or lower stage of development. According to modernization theory, more developed societies are able to modernize and progress because of their advanced technology, education, and values. So, any new society becomes new only when it has advanced technology, higher education facilities, people are more educated, and it also has a modern attitude, or a modern value. In order to inculcate it, there is an environment to absorb it in that society. So, this theory suggests that less developed countries can improve their position in the global hierarchy by modernizing their economic and social systems, adopting Western values, and relying on foreign aid and investment. Modernization, which provides a complete life ideology, according to the values of the world, its infrastructure, its technology, if you absorb and inculcate it in your environment, then you will be able to develop, then you will be able to compete with modernized words. And for this, you should imitate and copy Western words. The phases and stages in which developed countries, from the process, should follow the same pattern of other countries. In this, it is important that modernization is not just modernized infrastructure or material change. In fact, non-material change is also required. Modernization theorists say that not only you have infrastructure and technological advancement, there is a big change in it. In fact, along with this, your ideas, imaginations, and your life ideology should also have a change in it. And your life ideology should be in accordance with Western values. So, in Pakistan, for example, modernization theory has been used to justify foreign investment and modernization projects such as infrastructure development and educational initiatives. So, in Pakistan, we also see that the same modernization process has been followed. Since Pakistan has been built, since then, we have influenced foreign aid, foreign investment, modern infrastructure, modern institutionalization process. And our effort is to make new technological advancements in the new world and not only technological advancements but also the changes in ideas that we can absorb in some way in the Pakistani society. Yes, this is another debate about whether the technological advancements or the ideological changes are our life ideology whose derivative source is our religion. Is it compatible with that or not? So, it's a food for thought for you as well that you need to see that throughout the history of Pakistan how the ideology of modernization of Pakistan has taken such changes in Pakistan, how the material changes have been made, how the non-material changes have been made. In other words, what changes do you observe in our physical infrastructure and how our mental processes, our ideologies, our belief systems, our opinions have taken such changes.