EU taxpayers' money for new roads, railways and other modernisation provided a fiscal stimulus at the right time.
For the ex-communist east the "cohesion funds" that pay for roads, railways and other modernisation projects have been a huge boon.
Like other modernisation theories, The Stages of Economic Growth was both a diffusionist and technocratic doctrine, since it sought to replicate within more traditional societies the benefits of rationality and progress already experienced in the wealthier parts of the world.
Funds to promote growth are already available: as much as €14 billion from European Union structural funds for infrastructure and other big modernisation projects, and perhaps €2 billion-3 billion from the European Investment Bank.
Heretic urges an Islamic version of what happened in Europe between five and three centuries ago: reformation followed by enlightenment and the Age of Reason – in other words, modernisation and secularisation.
There are other signs of modernisation.
Other projects include modernisation of the Thameslink line, the provision of an additional 1,300 rail carriages to help cut overcrowding, an extensive programme of station modernisations and more investment in freight.
It also proved difficult to isolate investments supported by the £30,000 provided to intervention sites from the other investments in modernisation.
Paradoxically, however, it is a source for populist modernisations in other forms: Cole Porter's musical Kiss Me, Kate, the romcom 10 Things I Hate About You and Anne Tyler's latest novel, Vinegar Girl.
Why else the sudden mentions of gay marriage, and other totems of Cameroon modernisation?
