Chapter 16 Social Change

What is Social Change? Social change is the transformation of culture and social institutions over time Social change is not all for the better Today’s sociologists point to both good and bad aspects of postmodernity The rate of change has never been faster that it is now

Characteristics of Social Change 1.Social change is inevitable, only the rate of change varies 2.Social change is sometimes intentional, but often is unplanned 3.Social change is controversial 4.Some social change matters more than others

Why Cultural Change Takes Place Culture and change Invention Production of new objects, ideas, and social patterns Discovery Taking note of existing elements of a culture Diffusion The spread of products, people and information from one culture to another

Types of Social Movements Social Movements: An organized activity that encourages or discourages social change Alternative Least threatening, limited change for a limited number of members; Example: Planned Parenthood Redemptive Selective focus, radical change; Example: Some religious organizations Reformative Limited social change that targets all members of society; Example: Equal Rights Amendment movement Revolutionary The most severe, striving for basic transformation of society; Example: Like overthrowing a government

Theories of Social Movements Deprivation Theory Social movements arise among people who feel deprived as a result of experiencing relative deprivation A perceived disadvantage arising from some specific comparison Critical evaluation Why do social movements arise among some groups and not others Theory suffers from circular reasoning Focuses exclusively on the cause telling us little about movements themselves

Theories of Social Movements William Kornhauser’s Mass-Society Theory Social movements attract socially isolated people who feel personally insignificant Movements are personal as ell as political, giving people with week social ties a sense of purpose and belonging Critical evaluation Gives no clear standard fro measuring the extent to which we live in a mass society Belittles the social justice issue suggesting it is flawed people not flawed society that are responsible Research is mixed on support of theory

Theories of Social Movements Neil Smelser’s Structural-Strain Theory Factors encouraging social movement 1.Structural conduciveness: Arise out of perceptions of problems 2.Structural strain: Experiencing relative deprivation 3.Growth and spread of an explanation: Making clear reasons and solutions for suffering 4.Precipitating factors: Specific events give rise to collection action 5.Mobilization for action: Action stage; Protest and rallies 6.Lack of social control: Quick, harsh response, or giving the “green light” for change? Critical evaluation Same circular arguments as Kornhauser’s theory Overlooks important role of resources, mass media and international alliances

Theories of Social Movements Resource-Mobilization Theory No social movement is likely to succeed or even get off the ground without substantial resources Money Human labor Offices and communication facilities Access to mass media Critical evaluation Powerless can promote change if they are organized an have committed members Overstates the extent to which powerful people are willing to challenge the status quo

Theories of Social Movements Cultural Theory The people in any particular situation are likely to mobilize to form a social movement only to the extent that they develop shared understandings of the world that legitimate and motivate collective action Critical evaluation Does not address how and when powerful cultural symbols turn people from supporting the system toward protest

Theories of Social Movements New Social Movements Theory Emphasizes the distinctive futures of recent social movements in postindustrial societies Most of today’s movements are international Tend to focus on cultural change and improving social and physical surroundings Draws support from middle and upper classes Critical Evaluation Tends to exaggerate differences between past and present social movements

Stages of Social Movements Stage One: Emergence Perception that something is wrong Stage Two: Coalescence Defining itself and “going public” Stage Three: Bureaucratization Organizing rationally to get job done Stage Four: Decline Is the movement in need of regrouping or is it simply time for its demise? Reasons: Signals success has been reached Signals organizational problems (leadership, etc.) Leadership sells out to other interests Demise may result from state-sponsored repression

Modernity A central concept in the study of social change is modernity Modernity is social patterns resulting from industrialization Modernization is the process of social change begun by industrialization

Characteristics of Modernity Decline of small, traditional towns High-tech communications puts small towns in touch with the world Expansion of personal choice An unending series of options referred to as individualization” Increasing diversity in beliefs Modernization promotes a more rational, scientific world-view Future orientation and growing awareness of time People living in industrialized nations tend to focus more on the future than on the past

Ferdinand Tönnies: Loss of Community With modernization comes the loss of Gemeinschaft, or human community Loss of community caring and the beginning of individualization and a business-like emphasis Modernity brings about a condition referred to as Gesellschaft, or impersonal relationships People live among strangers and ignore most they pass on streets Critical evaluation Gemeinschaft exists in modern society Didn’t distinguish between cause & effect Romanticized traditional societies

Emile Durkheim: Division of Labor Modernization is marked by increases in a complex division of labor People performing highly distinctive roles rather than everyone performing the same daily routines Society transformed from mechanical to organic solidarity Mechanical solidarity refers to a time when society was held together by social bonds anchored in common moral sentiments Organic solidarity refers to modernity during which time social bonding is accomplished by way of mutual dependence Critical evaluation Societies’ norms and values strong enough to avoid anomie: normlessness People value the personal freedom of modern society despite the risks

Max Weber: Rational Society Modernization means replacing a traditional worldview is nothing more than a rational way of thinking Modern people value efficiency, have little reverence for the past and adopt whatever social patterns allow them to achieve their goals Critical evaluation The alienation he attributes to bureaucracy actually stems from social inequality

Karl Marx: Capitalism Industrial revolution was a capitalist revolution Social conflict in capitalism sows seeds of egalitarian socialist revolution Critical evaluation Complex theory underestimates dominance of bureaucracy Stifling socialist bureaucracies as bad or worse than dehumanizing capitalism

David Riesman: Modernity and the Individual Personal identity can be a problem since society changes so rapidly; Inherent instability Social character refers to personality patterns common to members of a particular society Tradition-directedness refers to rigid conformity to time-honored ways of living Other-directedness refers to a receptiveness to the latest trends and fashions, often expressed in the practice of imitating others

Theoretical Analysis of Modernity: Functionalism This depicts modernization as the emergence of mass society. A mass society is one in which prosperity and bureaucracy have eroded traditional social ties. A mass society is highly productive. At the same time, it is marked by weak kinship ties and impersonal neighborhoods. Draws upon the ideas of Tönnies, Durkheim and Weber Critical analysis: Mass society ignores social inequality, romanticizes the past

Theoretical Analysis of Modernity: Conflict Theory Modernity takes the form of a class society. A class society is a capitalist society with pronounced social stratification. This approach views the heart of modernization as an expanding capitalist economy, rife with inequality. Draws upon works of Marx Critical analysis: Class society overlooks the way equality in modern society has increased

Postmodernity Social patterns characteristic of postindustrial societies In some ways, modernity has failed Much poverty and stress The bright light of progress is fading Less confidence about future Science no longer holds the answers Science has created its share of problems Cultural debates are intensifying The promises of social movements have not been fulfilled Social institutions are changing All institutions are going through change, including the most basic, the family

Looking Ahead: Modernization and Our Global Future The tragic plight of the world’s poor shows that some desperately needed change has not yet occurred Global modernization may be difficult The world’s rich societies need to help poor countries grow economically Even where modernization has occurred, it entails a tradeoff