Sociological Views of Social Change

2007 Alan S. Berger

Processes of Social Change

Lenskis description of social evolution is one theory Note that this is a social version of Darwins theory of evolution sometimes called social Darwinism One cause of social evolutions is the introduction of new technologies. Examples: Early Agriculture Predicting river floods Hoes The plow Transportation Canals Food preservation Canning food in 1810 The Role of Napoleon in developing these technologies to improve war. Canning was important because there was no other alternative to storing food on ice.
2007 Alan S. Berger 2

Examples of Technology

Mason Jars Refrigerators Frozen foods Automobiles and other forms of Transportation Sailing ships Steam powered ships Iron clad ships Penicillin and other drugs Process continuing to this day Extends to stem cell and genetic research Communication Telegraph Telephone. Cell phone Contemporary: personal computers, Internet
2007 Alan S. Berger 3

Consequences of the Industrial Revolution

Modern technology and the Need for Skilled Workers Craftsmen and apprentices Unions Machines and Unemployment More or fewer skilled workers needed? Unemployment or change in careers Railroads changing from coal to diesel Buggy whips to Automobiles Luddites

Marx Saw this as leading to conflict and

Alienation Ultimately to revolution
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 Durkheim saw this as leading to Anomie

And he commented upon the change from an organic form of social solidarity to a mechanical form Also called a shift from communal to associational relationships A functionalist analysis focuses on the ways that society achieves and remains in balance in equilibrium
Assumes that societies evolve from simpler to more complex Current views are that different societies may evolve along different paths. Also that evolution is not always progress and industrialized societies are not always better than traditional societies

2007 Alan S. Berger

 Modernization Theory
Assumes that development into societies like the United States , with similar attitudes and values That industrialization is good

Conflict Theory
Assumes that Power is an essential element of all social relations Competition for Power between conflicting groups leads to conflict and revolution

2007 Alan S. Berger

Bringing About Change

Individuals Gandhi Martin Luther King Revolution and War Population Pressures Cultural Processes Innovation/discovery Diffusion Globalization

2007 Alan S. Berger