Why can the second phase of modernization produce discontent?

In the context of sociology, modernization is a continuous process that typically unfolds in two main phases. While the first phase is generally viewed as a progressive, upward movement, the second phase begins to generate discontent on an increasing scale for several key reasons.1

• Rising Expectations: The early successes and dynamism of modern society provoke escalating expectations among the population. As groups make increasingly high demands on the community, these expectations become difficult to satisfy, leading to widespread frustration.1
• New Social and Material Strains: Intensified modernization creates new problems—such as environmental destruction, social pathology, and the alienation of workers—that can threaten the very growth and expansion upon which modern society is founded.12
• Institutional Limitations: During this second phase, modern societies encounter complex challenges that often seem beyond the competence of the traditional nation-state to resolve.1

Ultimately, this phase is characterized by a disconnect between the competitive modern order, which stimulates infinite aspirations, and the unequal or insufficient means available for their realization, often resulting in social issues like anomie, crime, and mental disorder.2