The purpose of this study is to use the classic approach of
sociology (especially the methods promoted by Max Weber) to bring
forward the cognitive potential of sociological interpretations
based on implicit or explicit acceptance of the idea of
universalism, i.e. that the developed countries showed the way for
the progress of less developed countries or that all societies are
repeating the universal patterns of development only with a time
lag. This takes account of interpretation like the "evolutionary
universals" of T. Parsons and the so-called "catch-up
modernization". In line with that the analysis emanating from this
understanding aimed at the various aspects of social change -
economic, political, socio-cultural, etc. are oriented towards
adopting the model of industrialization in Western Europe and
normative political model of the United States. The acceptance of
the idea of universalism conceals the specifics of the social
fabric of societies located outside the western modernization core.
Using M. Weber approach the study outlines the role of path
dependency for the understanding of the way the peripheral
societies are integrating themselves into the global
system.