The process of adapting to modern needs, methods, or styles; updating systems, practices, or infrastructure to current standards. Often involves technological advancement and social change.
From French moderniser, derived from moderne (modern) plus -isation suffix. The concept gained prominence during the Industrial Revolution when rapid technological change required conscious efforts to update traditional systems and practices.
Modernisation creates a fascinating paradox - societies often must abandon traditional practices that sustained them for centuries to survive in the contemporary world. Japan's Meiji Restoration exemplifies this perfectly: they deliberately dismantled feudalism and embraced Western technology within decades, transforming from an isolated archipelago to a global power while maintaining cultural identity.
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