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Particularism and the Modernization Process in Southern Italy

University of Pavia

The term `particularism' has a poor reputation in the classical theory of modernization. It refers to social closure as well as narrow and self-interested behaviour. Particularism is also associated with traditional societies and with pre-modern action. Its alter ego is `universalism', the quintessence of modernity. In this article it is claimed that a useful way of avoiding dichotomous thinking is to analyse the interactions between particularism and universalism during the modernization process. Only through this kind of analysis can we distinguish forms of particularism that contrast modernity and forms of particularism that either coexist with modernity or are able to provide a positive contribution to the modernization process. On this basis, the Italian `Southern Question' is analysed from a new perspective. This perspective aims at taking southern Italian political and cultural tradition seriously and looking at the possibilities of a transformation of such a tradition towards modernization. The problem can be defined as follows: how is it possible to extend social capital and to forge social trust in southern Italy starting from existing levels of sociocultural and political particularism?

Key Words: clientelism • familism • modernization • social capital • southern Italy

International Sociology, Vol. 15, No. 4, 579-590 (2000)
DOI: 10.1177/0268580900015004001


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