MODULE 3

UNIT – 3 – PART 1
UNIT - 3 – PART 1
• Process of Social Change, Characteristic features of Industrialization,
Modernization, Globalization and Secularization.
 SOCIAL CHANGE

 The term ‘social change’ refers to any alteration in the social structure; or it may mean a
change of the structure itself. It may mean change in the process in terms of place, time or
context.

 The synonymous words for the term “change” in sociology are ‘development’, ‘evolution’,
‘Progress’ etc. Each of these terms has a specific meaning in sociology in terms of context
under which these terms are used. However, all these terms have common meaning which
relate to the notion of change.
 The term ‘Evolution’ implies a more intrinsic change not only in size but also in structure. It is a
process of growth, increasing complexity and differentiation of a structure and functions of
society. It is an expression of continuity indicating a certain direction of change. It is unilinear in
direction, i.e., from simple to complex structure and from small to large whereas change may
have many directions.

 Herbert Spencer developed all embracing concept of evolution as the progressive development
of physical world, biological organisms, the human mind, human culture and societies
(functionalism).

 Social Darwinism - Herbert Spencer (Principles of Evolution).

 Development refers to a strategy of planned social change in a direction that is considered
desirable by the members of a society. It is contextual and relative in nature.

 Progress refers not so much into social change as to the direction which human beings
deliberately give to that change. In other words, it is a change in certain direction, always
towards some desired goal.
 Revolution is a form of sudden and abrupt overthrow of the existing social order and
system. It basically aims at liberating people from an oppressive system. It removes the
prime cause of discontentment and thus puts an end to their social, cultural, political, and
economic suffering.

 ‘Sociology of Revolution’ book by Russian American Sociologist Pitirim Sorokin in

1925.

 Sociology of revolution is a branch of sociology developed by Thomas Hobbes.

 The theory of revolution developed in Marxism too.

 Definitions of Social Change

According to: MacIver and Page, “social change is the change in society”. Since society as we
know is a network of relationships, social change, therefore can be defined as change in social
relations, which include social process, social patterns and social interactions.

According to Kingsley Davis by social change is meant only such alterations as occur in social
organizations, that is, in the structure and functions of the society.
Gillin and Gillin define social changes as variations from accepted modes of life, whether due
to alteration in geographic conditions, the cultural equipment, composition of populations or
ideologies and changes brought about by diffusions or inventions within the group.

Merrill and Eldredge: Social change means that a large number of persons are engaged in
activities that differ from those which they or their immediate forefathers were engaged in
sometime before. When behavior is in the process of modification, that is only another way of
indicating that the social change is occurring.
 STRUCTURAL AND CULTURAL PROCESSES

Sociologists in India have analyzed the social change under two broad categories – Structural and
Cultural Processes.

“Structural Process of social change is due to a transformation in the network of social

relationships. Caste, kinship, and occupational groups constitute some of the structural
realities. Change in these relationships is a structural change”.
“Cultural process of change primarily refers to the change in the dominant values, ideas,
and belief system of a given system of a given society. Sociologists in India have studied
cultural change with the help of various concepts like Sanskritization, Westernization, and
Securlaziation, etc.
Some scholars depict the process of social change in the following manner:

 Change in the experience of individuals

 Change in the attitude of individuals

 Change in the social interactions

 Change in social relations

 Change in social structure

 Social change
 Characteristics of Social Change
 Social Change is Universal.

 Social Change is not Uniform.

 Social Change is deliberate.

 The rate and duration of Social Change varies from society to society.

 Social Change is Value neutral.

 FACTORS AFFECTING SOCIAL CHANGE

1. Geographic Factors

Geographic factors comprise all the inorganic (non-living) phenomena which exert an influence on human
life.

Theoretically, it will include even the physical state of other planets in our solar system, because the world
in which we live is linked with other worlds in a system of cosmic equilibrium.

Practically, however the geographic factors may be limited to the climate of the earth and those factors in
the outer crust of the earth’s surface which condition man’s living on earth. The climatic influences include
temperature (daily and seasonal range and variation), sunshine, rainfall, relative humidity, prevailing winds
and possibilities.
Every man lives in particular geographic condition which does affect the social life. For example, the social
life of man living in the plains is different from that of men living in hilly areas. The inhabitants of West
Bengal and other regions near the sea depend more on fish for their food. Change in geographical
environment has a great effect on human society.

Climate is one of the most potent reason for rise and fall of civilizations and cultures. When natural
calamities such as flood, drought, famine etc. uproot innumerable families, the individuals involved form
new social relations which as a result bring about social change. Such natural calamities encourage
geographic mobility and people moving to different places and culture adopt themselves to it. The result is
social change.
 2. Psychological Factors
The psychology of human being may itself become the cause for social change. Man by nature loves
change, desires to invent new things in every sphere and it always anxious for novel experiences. As a
consequence of this, attitudinal change and rituals, customs, traditions etc. also go on changing in the
society in a continuous manner. This does not imply that whatever is new is considered superior to the
old.

On one hand man wants to preserve the good elements of what is old, but on the other hand s/he
simultaneously attends to what is new. In this process of interaction between the two tendencies,
change in social relationships takes place which leads to social change
 3. Biological Factors

The most important biological factors affecting social change are:

1) The plants and animals in the area,

2) Human beings themselves.

Man uses the available plants and animals according to his culture and traditions. He destroys the
enemies like insects, poisonous plants, bacterial, and dangerous animals with the best available
means. The biological environment is dynamic and we find changes in the climate, change in soil
composition, drying up of lakes or streams etc., which spell the doom of some organism and
encourage new opportunities for others. These changes affect the status of man and alter the nature
of his struggle for existence.
 4. Technological Factors

Change in society are also brought under the influence of technological changes.

According to W.F Ogburn - “technology changes society by changing environments, which we, in
turn, adopt. This change is usually in the material environment and the adjustments we make to the
changes in material environment and social institutions”.

Social change is brought about mainly by following technological factors: 1) Development of new
methods and process of agriculture 2) Use of machines in industries and at home 3) Development of
means of transport 4) Development of means of communication. Technology is nothing but applied
science, which helps is bringing about social change with the changing needs of the society.
The development of technology has led to the establishment of factories, urbanization and
industrialization. Therefore, new classes emerged. People of different region started migrating
to industrial areas for want of work and stayed there which led to the mixing of different
cultures. The increase in the number of educational institutions, facilities of bank and business
centers are also its products. As a result of industrialization the joint family system has also
been replaced by the nuclear family system.

Further, technological development has resulted into many material and non-material changes
in our society such as: The manner of preparing our food, standard of living, decrease in the
death rate, development of scientific attitude, and emergence of new values such as equality,
liberty, justice, secularism etc.
 5. Cultural Factors

Culture encompasses values, styles, ideals, beliefs, traditions, emotional attachment etc. These affect
the society to a great extent and in a significant manner. According to Max Weber, social change take
place along with the cultural changes. In reality, it cannot be denied that the social relations are
necessarily influenced by changes in material and non-material culture. Material culture alters our
habits while non-material culture alters our behaviors. Both habits and behavior are capable of
bringing about social changes. The influence of cultural factors is well evident in our society. The
change in status of women to enjoy the same rights as men in the field of education, politics, social
and religious life is due to change in ideas only. The changes in the field of fashion, recreation etc.
can also be clearly seen. There is a great change in the value system. Parents in the older time
enjoyed greater respect than today. The gap in the value of two generations has resulted into
disintegration of families and a nuclear family system has come up. In literature the change in style
can be easily felt. Changes in thoughts and culture have also resulted in many changes in the
institutions of family and marriage.
 INSTITUTIONS CONTRIBUTING TO SOCIAL CHANGE

Change in society is brought about by many institutions. All institutions tend to support the existing social
order. No institution itself can work for the change in social order as its weakens the institution itself.

1. Educational Institutions

Education aims at transmitting knowledge and skills, values and norms and other cultural elements from
one generation to another. However, it also tends to develop a creative mind, questioning attitude and
scientific temper. This also leads to the validity of the existing patterns. Education opens gates to new
knowledge, technology and ideas from various societies. It, thus, gives opportunities to learners to choose
what they think as the right ones. It provides an opportunity to learners to understand the way societies
have evolved and that old patterns have been replaced by the new ones. Thus, the institution of school
works in static as well as the dynamic model. It tries to retain the traditions in the society along with
affecting change in the established patterns by inducing new ideas.
 2. Political Institutions

The new ideas and the development in science and technology have given rise to new political
institutions. At one time ruler’s decisions were the law of the land. Then the rulers started being guided
by the traditions but had powers to over rule. When the democracies were established the people got the
right to elect the ruling class, thus bringing qualitative changes in the rulers and the ruled. The rulers in
the present day democracies have to work within a given framework known as Constitution. Their
actions are critically reviewed by the other political parties, mass media and the people at large.
 3. Economical Institution

The economic institutions also get influenced because of political leadership, the global trends, and
new technologies. Indian economy is still largely an agricultural economy. During the fifties and early
sixties, the country faced severe food storage. Food grains had to be imported from other countries.
Then the use of new technologies in irrigation and the fertilizers brought bumper crops. This brought
change in the social life of the people in the country. Improved economic conditions, education to the
increasing number of people, better health and medical facilities increased the life expectancy. The
average family size has gone down but the chances of survival of the child have increased. Smaller
family norms have changed the kinship relations. This, in turn, has influenced the other institutions.
For example desire for small family has resulted in a big industry of contraceptives and researches in
the area.
 INDUSTRIALIZATION

Industrialization refer to a process of change in the technology used to produce goods and services.
This basic economic process has also become the prime mover for cataclysmic changes in polity and
society. This social and economic change is closely intertwined with technological innovation,
particularly the development of large-scale energy production and metallurgy.
 INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
The Industrial Revolution (1760) may be defined as the application of power-driven machinery
to manufacturing. It had its beginning in remote times, and is still continuing in some places. In
the eighteenth century all of western Europe began to industrialize rapidly, but in England the
process was most highly accelerated. England’s head start may be attributed to the emergence
of a number of simultaneous factors.

England had large supply of fuel and raw material that it would get from its colonies abroad.
There were abundant labor supply to mine coal and iron. The merchants of tea and tobacco had
money to invest in technical and scientific innovation, to add on to scientific revolutions that
were already taking place.
Gemeinschaft and Gesselschaft

Ferdinand Tonnies suggested two types of societies, namely:

Gemeinschaft (community or communal society/ Traditional) – It is a social system in which most
relationships are personal or traditional and often both.
Gesellschaft (associational society/ modern) – The society of contract. In this society neither
personal attachment and traditional rights and duties are important.

These were based on the level of closeness between members of the society.

He proposed two types of societies in his book Community and Society, 1887.
 Industrialization has radically changed the social structures and production processes

 The receptiveness, division of labor, fragmentation of tasks characterizes industrial

employment. Karl Marx coined the term ‘Alienation’ after the industrialization.

 Alienation is the term used to describe the separation of people from a particular community or
people.

 Karl Marx defined, “alienation as a phenomenon related to the structure of societies where
the producer is separated from the means of production.”
 Max Weber introduced the terms “Iron Cage” and “disenchantment of the world” as a result of
bureaucratization and technological advancement.

 Iron Cage means the increased rationalization inherent in social life, particularly in Western
Capitalist Societies.

 Rationalization means replacing traditions and values, as concepts of behavior with rationality
and reasons.