Modernization, Cultural Change, and Democracy: The Human Development Sequence This book presents a revised version of modernization theory, showing that people's values and beliefs are changing, influencing their political, sexual, economic, and religious behavior. These changes are predictable and can be explained by the revised modernization theory. Drawing on evidence from 85% of the world's population, the authors argue that modernization is a process of human development, where economic development leads to cultural changes that promote individual autonomy, gender equality, and democracy. The authors present a model of social change that predicts how value systems will evolve in the coming decades. They show that mass values play a crucial role in the emergence and development of democratic institutions. Ronald Inglehart is a professor of political science and program director at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. He helped found the Eurobarometer surveys and is the president of the World Values Survey Association. His recent books include Modernization and Postmodernization: Cultural, Economic and Political Change in 43 Societies (1997), Rising Tide: Gender Equality in Global Perspective (with Pippa Norris, Cambridge University Press, 2003), and Sacred and Secular: Religion and Politics Worldwide (with Pippa Norris, Cambridge University Press, 2004). He has published over 200 works and has been a visiting professor or scholar in many countries. Christian Welzel is an associate professor of political science and program coordinator at International University Bremen and a member of the Executive Committee of the World Values Survey Association. He was a senior research fellow at the Social Science Research Center Berlin and a visiting professor at the University of Potsdam. He has received grants from the Institute for Social Research and has published numerous articles in various academic journals. He has also published extensively in German. The book presents a revised modernization theory, showing that changes in values are influenced by socioeconomic development and cultural traditions. It argues that socioeconomic development, rising liberty aspirations, and the quest for democratic institutions all reflect the common underlying process of human development. The authors integrate a vast amount of empirical evidence into a coherent theoretical framework, enriching our understanding of how democracy emerges and survives. The findings have major substantive importance, as they show that socioeconomic development and the rise of the knowledge society have roughly predictable consequences. The authors develop a model that enables them to make explicit predictions about what will be observed in the future in the realm of cultural change and democratization. The book is a landmark in the study of political culture and democratization, and it will polarize opinion, provoking both strong acclaim and fierce critique.Modernization, Cultural Change, and Democracy: The Human Development Sequence This book presents a revised version of modernization theory, showing that people's values and beliefs are changing, influencing their political, sexual, economic, and religious behavior. These changes are predictable and can be explained by the revised modernization theory. Drawing on evidence from 85% of the world's population, the authors argue that modernization is a process of human development, where economic development leads to cultural changes that promote individual autonomy, gender equality, and democracy. The authors present a model of social change that predicts how value systems will evolve in the coming decades. They show that mass values play a crucial role in the emergence and development of democratic institutions. Ronald Inglehart is a professor of political science and program director at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. He helped found the Eurobarometer surveys and is the president of the World Values Survey Association. His recent books include Modernization and Postmodernization: Cultural, Economic and Political Change in 43 Societies (1997), Rising Tide: Gender Equality in Global Perspective (with Pippa Norris, Cambridge University Press, 2003), and Sacred and Secular: Religion and Politics Worldwide (with Pippa Norris, Cambridge University Press, 2004). He has published over 200 works and has been a visiting professor or scholar in many countries. Christian Welzel is an associate professor of political science and program coordinator at International University Bremen and a member of the Executive Committee of the World Values Survey Association. He was a senior research fellow at the Social Science Research Center Berlin and a visiting professor at the University of Potsdam. He has received grants from the Institute for Social Research and has published numerous articles in various academic journals. He has also published extensively in German. The book presents a revised modernization theory, showing that changes in values are influenced by socioeconomic development and cultural traditions. It argues that socioeconomic development, rising liberty aspirations, and the quest for democratic institutions all reflect the common underlying process of human development. The authors integrate a vast amount of empirical evidence into a coherent theoretical framework, enriching our understanding of how democracy emerges and survives. The findings have major substantive importance, as they show that socioeconomic development and the rise of the knowledge society have roughly predictable consequences. The authors develop a model that enables them to make explicit predictions about what will be observed in the future in the realm of cultural change and democratization. The book is a landmark in the study of political culture and democratization, and it will polarize opinion, provoking both strong acclaim and fierce critique.