Daniel lerner and the origins of development communication

Abstract

Daniel Lerner’s 1958 book Passing of Traditional Society was a foundational text for mass media and modernization theory. The theory, in turn, was the basis for early approaches to development communication. Lerner’s ideas were embraced by some and challenged by others. Eventually, Lerner himself engaged in a series of revisions to his theory, leaving a distillation of ideas emphasizing (a) the universality of modernization and (b) faith in technology to solve social problems. These ideas continue, in important ways, to influence the field of development communication.