Chapter 22 Global Social Change

Chapter Outline The Nature of Social Change Two Forces of Social Change: War and Modernization Social Change in Everyday Life Models of Change

The Nature of Social Change Social change refers to variations over time: in the ecological ordering of populations and communities in patterns of roles and social interactions in the structure and functioning of institutions in the cultures of societies

Levels of Social Change Macro-level social change produces major social forces that shape change throughout a society. At the middle level, change is experienced in communities, economic organizations, and governing bodies. At the micro level of social life, social change is experienced through new patterns of interaction.

Examples of Effects of Social Change Macro- Level Change Population growth Tribal (Ebrié) Creates new markets for Ebrié real estate; adds newcomers to villages. Metropolitan (U.S.) Causes new conflicts and need for social control in increasingly congested regions.

Examples of Effects of Social Change Middle- Level Change Urbanization Tribal (Ebrié) Surrounds villages with new neighborhoods and nontribal strangers. Metropolitan (U.S.) Enmeshes most residents in metropolitan regions, where community boundaries are blurred and diversity becomes an issue.

Examples of Effects of Social Change Micro- Level Change Rising Material Expectations Tribal (Ebrié) Leads village women to rebel against polygyny. Metropolitan (U.S.) Pushes more women into the labor force, creating the need for child care.

Two Forces of Social Change War Modernization

War The greatest and the most violent force of social change. Major ecological effects of war are casualties and conquest. War changes a society’s culture: A culture that has been at war is often marked by shame and guilt. War increases contacts among different cultures.

War American Marines pulled down this statue of Saddam Hussein after the conquest of Baghdad. Fear of his henchmen remained high among Iraqis for many months as Hussein’s loyalists resorted to tactics of asymmetrical warfare.

The Marsh Arabs In one of the worst examples of the ecological effects of warfare against a civilian population, in the aftermath of the 1991 Iraq war, Saddam Hussein’s forces ordered the marshes drained in an effort to destroy the Marsh Arabs’ 5,000-year-old way of life.

The Marsh Arabs By the time of the 2003 war, an estimated 20,000 of the original 500,000 inhabitants of the marshes remained. The marshes are now being rebuilt with help from the United States and the United Nations.

Thinking Critically Where do you stand on the issue of how the United States spends its taxpayers’ funds? Do you believe there is a need for “fortress America,” no matter what the cost? Are you worried about the effects the “war on terror” is having on social institutions? If so, what changes are of particular concern to you?

Long-Term Budgetary Costs of the War in Iraq Total budgetary cost $1.3 trillion Interest payments on debt $386 billion Combat and support operations Future spending 271 billion Spent to date 251 billion

Long-Term Budgetary Costs of the War in Iraq Increased military spending higher pay, recruitment, research and development, and maintenance 139 billion Disability payments to veterans 122 billion Healthcare costs for veterans 92 billion Demobilization costs 8 billion

Modernization Associated with the following changes: From simple techniques toward the application of scientific knowledge. From subsistence farming toward the commercial production of agricultural goods. From the use of human and animal power toward the use of power-driven machines. From farms and villages toward urban concentrations.

Postmodernism According to postmodernist theories, styles of dress and grooming and preferences for particular lifestyles and tastes in music will become more diverse. At the same time, there will be less consensus on what the norms of society should be.

Social Change in Everyday Life Changing definition of women’s roles affects the ways families rear children and share household and occupational pursuits. Blacks and Hispanics are severely affected by the economic structure of society. Citizens of the U.S. and Canada will increasingly be faced with the need to end practices that contribute to pollution.

Worldwide Patterns of Environmental Stress

Evolutionary Models Of Change Description Unilinear Social change is natural, constant, and continuous. Change is necessary. Multilinear Large-scale change in a society does not represent progress. Each society must be studied separately to discover the evolutionary stages unique to it.

Cyclical Models Of Change Description Oswald Spengler Societies pass through stages like the life stages of humans and eventually decline. Arnold Toynbee Societies grow and decline as they respond to challenges posed by physical and social environments. Pitirim Sorokin Social change originates in a society’s culture, which alternates between “ideational” and “sensate.”

Conflict Models Of Change Description Karl Marx Social change results from conflict between social classes, which are defined by how people make their living or gain their wealth. Ralf Dahrendorf Social change results from conflicts among many different kinds of groups and in every social institution.

Quick Quiz

1. Which is true relative to social change? Social change always entails positive change. Social change and social improvement are synonymous. Social change is an ongoing process, occurring in all societies. Macro-level social changes are most always immediately apparent in everyday behavior, particularly in the ways people relate to each other.

Answer: c The following is true relative to social change: Social change is an ongoing process, occurring in all societies.

2. Which is false concerning the consequences of war? Modern war entails the loss of life among civilians, as well as the military. It can lead to many demographic changes in addition to increasing mortality rates. War was far deadlier when it was fought with lances, arrows, and battle axes, rather than with missiles and "smart bombs." War has changed women's lives dramatically as well, even though they have not traditionally participated as combatants.

Answer: c The following is false concerning the consequences of war: War was far deadlier when it was fought with lances, arrows, and battle axes, rather than with missiles and "smart bombs."

3. The ________ model of social change is least likely to assume that societies are well- integrated, smoothly operating collectivities. conflict cyclical evolutionary functionalist

Answer: a The conflict model of social change is least likely to assume that societies are well- integrated, smoothly operating collectivities.

4. Models reflecting the ________ perspective assume that social institutions within societies are highly interrelated, and that there is a tendency for societies to seek a type of steady-state or equilibrium. cyclical conflict evolutionary functionalist

Answer: d Models reflecting the functionalist perspective assume that social institutions within societies are highly interrelated, and that there is a tendency for societies to seek a type of steady-state or equilibrium.