Human society is constantly changing. It was not the same in the society that was at the beginning. Today’s fulfillment is achieved through many changes. All societies are less or more variable. The pace of change in some societies is very fast and the pace of change in other societies is slow. In sociology, stability is a relative matter; On the other hand, change is a very final issue. Some sociologists have considered the concept of social change is from some sociological cultural point of view, some from the historical point of view, some from the political side and others consider it from the social fabric.
According to sociologists, evolution, progress, development, and change are four closely related words. Evolution, which comes from the Latin word “evolvere”, that means “revelation” or “evolution”. There is an intimate relationship between two terms with the term development are “growth of knowledge” and “efficiency enhancement” of human beings in controlling the natural environment. On the other hand, a single criterion is not sufficient to determine social progress. Because society is a complex entity, composed of several important elements.
Basic Concepts:
Variability is the main religion of human society. Social change is simply a means of achieving a changing form of society through changes in social customs, customs, values, cultures and social structures. That is, the transition from one form of society to another is called social change. This transformation of the social structure is not always permanent or temporary. Social change refers to the change in the basic structure of society as well as the change in the superficial structure of society.
The change in the way of life, behavior of people, which can be noticed at various stages of development of society, can be scientifically agreed with the concept of “change”. The pace of change in a society is very fast and the pace of society is slow. The stability of society is a relative matter; Change, on the other hand, is a very final issue.
Definition of Social Change:
Some sociologists have considered the concept of social change from the cultural point of view, some from the historical point of view, some from the political side and others from the social structure.
Ginsberg – Social change is a change in the social structure.
Kingsley Doris – “By social change is meant only such alternations as occur in the social organization i.e. the structure & functions of society”.
Merril & Elbridge – “Social change means, that large no. of persons are engaging in activities that differ from those which they or their immediate forefathers engaged in some time before.”
Sociologists Wilbert and Moore describe social change as a change in the social structure.
Socialist Ross called the social change a change in social organization.
According to Sociologist E.A. Ellwood, social change is unknowingly organized by humans at an early stage of society’s development, but in the later stages of social change, rational and objective planning exists.
Jones – Social change is a term used to describe variations in or modification of any aspect of social process, social patterns, social interaction or social organization”.
Rogers – “Social Change is the process by which alteration occurs in the structure and function of the social system”.
Gillin & Gillin -“Social changes are variations from the accepted mode of life, whether due to alteration in geographical condition, in cultural equipment, the composition of the population. Or ideologies & whether brought about by diffusion or inventions within the group.”
Anderson and Parker – “Social change involve alteration in the structure or functioning of social forms or processes themselves”.
Ginsberg – M. “By social change, I understand a change in social structure e.g., the size of a society, the composition or balance of its parts or the type of its organization”.
Through the above analysis, we can understand that social change is the change in the social structure. However, there is a change in the particular structure of the society, not only the overall change in the structure of the society but also called the change.
Characteristics of Social Change:
1) Social change is a universal phenomenon. All the societies of the world are less or more variable.
2) Social change is the overall change. Social change will not happen if one person changes. All society needs to change.
3) Social change is unequal speed. Not all societies change at the same pace. Something changes at a fast pace or somewhere at a slower pace.
4) The pace of social change is time-dependent.
5) Social change is central to the rules. Just as natural change adheres to rules, so does social change.
6) Social change cannot be predicted. It is not possible to predict in advance what the social key process will be.
7) Social action is the continuity of the reaction. Social change is the continuation of responses to different social actions.
8) Social change is the result of social interaction. Social change is the result of the interaction of various social factors.
9) Social change is replaceable. The social change replaces one rule with another.
Causes of social change
From the beginning of the primitive era to the present, human society has undergone many changes. Different social scientists have explained social change from different perspectives. For example, economists refer to economic factors, political scientists as political factors, and psychologists refer to psychological factors as the cause of social change. However, as social change is an overall change, so it is not advisable to explain social change as a result of a particular aspect of change. Because in the same society it is seen that at the same time, different elements are active behind the change. For example, Karl Marx considers economic factors and Max Weber considers cultural factors as the main cause of social change. The causes of social change are mainly natural and man-made changes and the main factors behind this change are population transfer, education, urbanization, industrialization, role of media, geographical and environmental factors.
1) Change of geographical situation: The geographical environment and geographical socioeconomic status of a region play an important role in social change. Social change becomes inevitable due to changing geographical location or favorable climate and climate change.
2) Protecting the balance of the environment: Changes in the geographical location affect the natural elements of the environment. In this case, social change occurs to adapt to the changing natural environment. For example, the rise of sea level hinders the production of agricultural products due to the intrusion of saline water into the coastal areas, As a result, the people of the coastal areas are transformed from agro-based societies to fisheries harvesting societies.
3) Social Movement: Social change is achieved through social movement or revolution. For example, through social movements, various forms of social change, including the abolition of Satidah customs in the Indian subcontinent, the minting of widow marriages, the promotion of women’s education have been attained.
4) Changes in the production system: Changes in the production system of society also change the internal affairs of the society. For example, the transformation of society from the mode of production system described by Carl Marx to the capitalist mode of production system has changed radically.
5) The outbreak of education: Due to various prejudices and bigotry, society has become aware of social change due to widespread education. Also, social change has accelerated as the expansion of education promotes women’s empowerment.
6) Change of political system: In a society, social change is caused by the change of political system. For example, after the fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan, there has been a radical change in society.
7) Promotion of religious values: The promotion and expansion of religious values are one of the regulators of social change. In a society when superstition, antisocial activity increases, the advent of different religious leaders and the promotion of religious values led to huge social change. For example, the spread of religious values and ideals of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Jesus Christ, Gautama Buddhists, brought about radical changes in society.
8) Development of Transportation and Communication Technology: Development of the transport system changes the socioeconomic status of the people, social mobility increases. On the other hand, the development of an information communication system, the spread of technology also led to the development of the social system and accelerated social change. For example, in the present era, social media like Facebook, email, and Twitter are playing a role in changing society.
9) Media and Sky Culture: Media is an important element of modern society. The media can play a role in newspapers, radio, and radio. The widespread circulation of sky culture has brought about a change in the present social life.
Summary:
Transformation or change in the social structure is called social change. Sometimes social change is also witnessed due to changes in social customs. However, a change which does not interrupt the particular action of the social system, it cannot be called a change. The main causes of social change are: geographical environment, spread of education, change of production system, biological, population, political and socio-economic, industrial and technology revolution, information technology and advanced communication system and the role of social reforms of great people.
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