This document discusses the concept of modernity that emerged in Europe during the 18th century Enlightenment. Key aspects of modernity include industrialization, capitalism, urbanization, and a shift from tradition and religion to rationality and science. The document outlines thinkers and events that influenced modernity like Kant, the American and French Revolutions, and the Industrial Revolution. It also discusses perspectives on modernity like second modernity, postmodernity, and antimodernity. Finally, it examines uncertainties around established social, economic, and political certainties in different societies today.

1. The Politics of Uncertainty

2. The concept of modernity &
modernization
A specifically European concept and
project.
• Catalyst > Enlightenment (18th century)
Replaced:
nature/tradition/religion
with
culture/rationality/science

3. Philisophically:
Immanuel Kant
“Enlightenment is man's emergence from his
self-imposed immaturity. Immaturity is the
inability to use one's own understanding
without the guidance of another. One is
responsible for this immaturity and
dependence, if its cause is not a lack of
intelligence, but a lack of determination and
courage to think without the direction of
another. The motto of enlightenment is
therefore: Dare to know! Have courage to use
your own understanding!”

4. Politically:
American Revolution 1776
-”Life, Liberty and the
pursuit of Happiness”
French Revolution 1789
-“Liberté, égalité, fraternité”

5. Scientifically:
Breakthroughs in natural science
Issac Newton
“Initiator of scientific and industrial revolutions”

6. Economically:
Industrial Revolution
Capitalist market economy

7. KEY FEATURES of MODERNITY
• Economic Production - industrial and capitalist
society, with social class as the main form of social
division...
• Urbanization - the growth of cities...
• A Bureaucratic State - with a powerful central
government and administration...
• Knowledge - is derived from scientific and rational
thinking - NOT religious faith or superstition...
• A Belief in PROGRESS - based on science and
technology....

8. Positive Negative
Universal Values Colonization
Rationalisation Regulation/Bureaucratization
De-traditionalization Disorientation
De-naturalization Ambiguity/Relativism
Individualization Isolation/meaninglessness
Differentiation Overcomplexity
Monetarizaton Permeates everything/
Alienation

9. The arrival of a radically new era?
Empirical Indicators:
Demographic shifts:
Aging of population, decreasing birth rates,
population increase in developing countries
Economic shifts:
Increase of wealth, redistribution of wealth,
full—part-time employment
Political shifts:
Decline of nation state, institutions, and
political parties

10. Ecological shifts:
Finite resources, global warming
Technological shifts:
Transport revolution: goods, people, capital,
and information
Military shifts:
Functions being redefined
Cultural shifts:
Consumerism, ego-culture
Temporal shifts:
Changed relationship of time

11. Three Perspectives:
Second Modernity (reflexive)
-Anthony Giddens
-belief in ongoing value of modernity
-reflect on previous traditions and rationalize their
existence (ex. natural labor…)
-continuation and radicalization of modernity

12. Postmodernity
- One single rationality cannot exist
- End of grand narratives
- Plurality of rationalities and reasons
- Individual as the highest value—
self-realization/self-determination

13. Pre-modernity/anti-modernity
- Limit or restrict modernization process
- Fundamentalism- religious/political
Ex: Radical Islamists & Ecologists
Anti modern thinking makes nature responsible
rather than society.
Ex: Criminality & Homosexuality

14. The Dissolution of Established
Certainties
United States of America:
-ideological differences can be defined by
left and right wing
-economic growth brings employment
-no clear distinction between public and
private
-deregulation and privatization are
necessary and positive

15. Spain:
-Ethnicity, Language, and Culture provide
the basis for social consensus
-Nation state is a natural and appropriate
form of social/political organization
-Jobs are stable/permanent throughout
working life

16. Endisms
The End of…..
Tradition
Family
Full employment
Ideology
Nature
Nation State
History

17. Sociological Labels
Post-industrial
Consumer society
Information society
Leisure society
Risk society