Political science · An Introduction To Political Theory 9th Edition O. P. Gauba
Chapter 24 : Process of Social Change
Table of contents20 sections
- 1.Process of Social Change
- 2.Nature of Social Change
- 3.Conventional Theories of Modernization
- 4.Key Terms
- 5.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 6.Marxist Theory of Revolutionary Change
- 7.Necessity and Freedom
- 8.Dialectical Materialism
- 9.Historical Materialism
- 10.Theory of Revolution
- 11.Key Terms
- 12.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 13.Liberal Theory of Incremental Change
- 14.Rejection of Historicism
- 15.Focus on Methodological Individualism
- 16.Concept of Incremental Change
- 17.A Critical Appraisal
- 18.Key Terms
- 19.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 20.Quick-Recall Box
Chapter preview
Process of Social Change
Nature of Social Change
Change is a constant and inevitable feature of society. The study of social change involves questioning whether change follows a fixed pattern, whether it can be manipulated by human effort, and whether it has a preconceived goal.
Key Observations on Change:
- Benjamin Disraeli (1867): "Change is inevitable in a progressive country. Change is constant."
- Edward Gibbon: "All that is human must retrograde if it does not advance."
- Lord Alfred Tennyson (1809-92): "Old order changeth yielding place to new."
Conventional Theories of Modernization
Several classical thinkers advanced theories projecting a pattern of social change from traditional to modern societies. These are compendiously described as conventional theories of modernization.
| Exponent | Nationality | Pattern of Change: From (Traditional) | Pattern of Change: To (Modern) | Key Characteristics / Mechanisms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auguste Comte (1798-1857) | French | Military Society | Industrial Society | Military society is characterized by regimentation of thought/action; industrial society paves the way for freedom of thought (driven by advancement of science). |
| Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) | English | Military Society | Industrial Society | Military society represents integration (relationships governed by tradition); industrial society is characterized by differentiation (voluntary relationships). |
| Sir Henry Sumner Maine (1822-88) | English | Status | Contract | Status denotes a fixed position within the social setup; contract indicates freedom to enter new relations at free will. (Closely corresponds to Spencer's distinction). |
| Ferdinand Tönnies (1855-1936) | German | Gemeinschaft (Community) | Gesellschaft (Association) | Community is based on 'natural will', cultural homogeneity, and enduring relationships. Association is based on 'rational will', cultural heterogeneity, and calculative/contractual relationships. Loss of community causes modern social problems. |
| Émile Durkheim (1858-1917) | French | Mechanical Solidarity | Organic Solidarity | Mechanical solidarity is based on similarity between individuals (less advanced societies); organic solidarity is based on complementarities necessitating division of labour (modern advanced societies). |
| Max Weber (1864-1920) | German | Traditional Authority | Legal-Rational Authority | Traditional authority is based on long-established custom; legal-rational authority rests on rules framed on a rational basis. |
(Note: The source table lists Durkheim's dates as 1858-1971, while the prose lists 1858-1917. Both are preserved exactly as they appear in their respective source locations).
Key Terms
📌 Exam Tidbits
- Auguste Comte & Herbert Spencer both theorised the…
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