This research examines, with respect to Malaysia, the trends over time in recent political and economic development towards (1) an increasing role for nationalist loyalties and class ties, and (2) away from religious, communal, and regional loyalties. Contemporary political scientists tend to hold that some elements are common to all political development, regard less of the circumstances and time of development. In this context, Anthony Smith (1983, 1) stated that:
Three elements . . . stand out in recent history and form a common set of threads in an otherwise highly heterogeneous picture of contemporary social changes: the rise of the modern state, the emergence of national communities and of nationalist ideologies and sentiments, and the formation of new strata, not ably bureaucrats, bourgeoisies and intelligentsia. Together these common elements, though differing in their relative weight and significance, afford a basis for comparing societies and cultures with other wise quite distinctive patterns of thought and behav iour.
Smith (1983) went on to identify four components of con temporary social change as: (1) industrial technology; (2) eco nomic growth; (3) mass production; and (4) the capitalist mode of production. He was careful to note, however, that these four factors "cannot easily be disentangled from their 'west ern' conceptual and historical format and connotations," because these factors are more characteristic of the social and
economic development of western societies than they are of many others (Smith, 1983, 7).
Therefore, political development in different societies must be viewed within the context of their own circumstances and their own time in history. This approach is necessary, even though there are the common threads of political develop ment (the rise of the state, the emergence of nationalism, and the formation of new ...