Parsonian modernization theory treats the United States as the teleological end-state of all societies

Evidence

Finally, the theory of modernization in the functionalist and evolutionist form which Parsons gave it, is implicitly teleological, treating the most ‘developed’ existing society, the United States, as the goal towards which, not simply its counterparts elsewhere in the Western bloc, but also the ‘less developed’ societies of the Third World will increasingly tend. — Alex Callinicos, Against Postmodernism, 158

Categorization

• XREF: The Eurocentrism-as-necessary-effect argument quoted from Taylor connects to Said’s Orientalism critique and postcolonial theory. — connects to: Parsonian modernization theory stripped modernity of its European historical specificity — Alex Callinicos, Against Postmodernism: A Marxist…, 155; Western modernity is a hegemonic particularism disguised as universalism — Stuart Hall, Essential Essays, Volume 2: Identity…, 153; European universalism presumed all societies share Europe’s underlying structure — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 518 (+2 more)
• SEED: Angle: how modernization theory’s teleology persists in contemporary development economics and ‘late development’ discourse.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Alex Callinicos, Against Postmodernism: A Marxist…, 158

Broader Connections

• Parsonian modernization theory stripped modernity of its European historical specificity #expands (0.90) — Alex Callinicos, Against Postmodernism, 155
• Western modernity is a hegemonic particularism disguised as universalism #expands (0.82) — Stuart Hall, Essential Essays, Volume 2, 153
• European universalism presumed all societies share Europe’s underlying structure #expands (0.80) — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 518
• Several non-Western societies modernized without adopting Western culture #complicates (0.80)