ABSTRACT
Nations have the alternative of pursuing modernization under an authoritarian or autocratic form of government, as did Russia and China, or of attempting, as India has, the much more difficult task of moving towards modernity under conditions of political democracy. Every country starts on the path of modernization from a different historical point and in a given physical, economic, and political condition. A reflection of the modern nation’s concern for knowledge and information is found in its strong emphasis on education. National effectiveness in providing for the health of the population can also be measured by the figures on life expectancy at birth. The mobile lifestyle in modern countries is also expressed in the extensive development of personal and public means of transportation. Leisure time activity, as an element in the lifestyle of citizens in the most modern countries, tends to be highly commercialized, with paid activity replacing spontaneous family or community based entertainment.
