FACTORS OF SOCIAL CHANGE
The term social change is used to indicate the changes that take place in human interactions and interrelations. Society is a web of social relationships and hence social change means a change in the system of social relationships. These are understood in terms of social processes, social interactions and social organization. The meaning of the term “Social Change” can be better understood if we will discuss a few definitions formulated by eminent sociologists.
Social change occurs due to various factors. Some of these factors are:
Technological Factors:
The technological factor has an immense influence on social change. The incessant increase in new machines and methods due to new discoveries had a very great influence on social relationships. The form of society is changing as a result of the development and invention of electric, steam and petrol driven machines for production, the means of transport and communication and various mechanical appliances in everyday life. Even institutions like family and marriage have not remained immune to the effect of these developments. The explicit effects of technological advances are labour organization, division of labour, specialization, high speed of life, increase in production, etc. in the modern age technological factors are among the predominant causes of social change.
Urbanization Factors:
Urbanization has had important consequences for many aspects of social, political, and economic life. The earliest cities developed in ancient times after the rise of horticultural and pastoral societies made it possible for people to stay in one place instead of moving around to find food. Because ancient cities had no sanitation facilities, people typically left their garbage and human waste in the city streets or just outside the city wall (which most cities had for protection from possible enemies); this poor sanitation led to rampant disease and high death rates. Some cities eventually developed better sanitation procedures, including, in Rome, a sewer system.
If urbanization occurs too fast, infrastructure cannot support the population (transportation, public health issues, housing, schools, emergency services, jobs etc). This can result in poverty and class conflict. Class conflict and poverty may also result if large urban areas experience a loss of jobs.
Cultural Factors:
The main cause of social change is the cultural factor. Social changes accompany changes in the culture. Max Weber has proved this hypothesis by a comparative study of religious and economic institutions. Culture gives speed and direction to social change and determines the limits beyond which social changes cannot occur. This, however, does not warrant the conclusion that there is no distinction between social and cultural change.
Biological Factors:
Biological factors have some indirect influence on social change. Among the biological factors is the qualitative aspect of the population related to heredity. The qualitative aspect of the population is based upon powerful and great men and their birth is dependent to a large extent. In addition to this, the biological principles of natural selection and the struggle for survival are constantly producing alterations in society.
Population Factors:
Even changes in the quality and size of the population have an effect upon the social organization as well as customs and traditions, institutions, associations, etc. Increase and decrease in population, a change in the ratio of men and women, young and old, have an effect upon social relationships. Decrease or increase in the population has an immediate effect upon economic institutions and associations. The ratio of men to women in a society affects marriage, family, and women's condition in society. In the same way, the birth and death rates, etc., also influence social change.
Environment Factors:
The geographists have emphasized the impact of the geographical environment upon human society. Huntington has gone so far as to assert that an alteration in the climate is the sole cause of the evolution and devolution of civilizations and cultures. Even if these geographists' claims are discarded, it cannot be denied that such natural occurrences modify floods, earthquakes, excessive rain, and these.
Psychological Factors:
Most sociologists regard psychological factors as important elements in social change. The cause of social changes is the psychology of man himself. Man is, by nature, a lover of change. He is always trying to discover new things in every sphere of his life and is always anxious for novel experiences. As a result of this tendency, the mores, traditions, customs, etc., of every human society are perpetually changing. This does not mean that man always considers the new to be superior to the old. While he is always attending to what is new and unique he also wants to preserve what is old. The form of social relationships is constantly changing when an interaction between these two are being formed. Old traditions are respected but time demands change and adaptation to changing conditions. Change is the law of life. When changes do not occur at the appropriate time revolutions occur, wars are fought, epidemics spread and changes are violently introduced.
Political Factors:
Law act as an instrument of socio-economic and political change in society. It protects the interests of the weaker sections of society, particularly those belonging to the scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and other backward castes in India. Law also protects the interests of women, children and other disadvantaged sections of society. In 1829, a law was passed banning Sati. A century later, another law fixed the minimum age for marriage. Still, later, another law has banned the practice of giving and taking dowry. Article 17 of the Indian constitution has abolished untouchability. Thus, law's role as an instrument of social change finds full expression where the law comes in confrontation with social customs. The role of elections is also an important factor in social change. The right to vote stimulates interest in public affairs and is an important means of imparting education to masses. It teaches a sense of self-respect and responsibility among the citizens.
Economic Factors:
Economic factors influence the quality and direction of social change. We can explain by studying the following theoretical evidence:
Marxian View:
Karl Marx is the chief architect of the economic theory of social change. He believes that social change is the result of economic factors. The mode of production determines the social, cultural, religious and political aspects of society. Thus, he traced society's development from agricultural to feudalism to capitalism and finally, to socialism. A revolution carried out by the workers against the capitalist would end the ills of capitalism and lead to the establishment of a socialist society.
Industrial Revolution:
The Industrial Revolution which started in Europe in the late 17th century slowly found its way across the globe bringing about the following changes:
Production moved out of households to factories.
Capital acquired a greater role in the production process.
The occupational structure of the workforce changed from largely agrarian to an increasingly larger industrial workforce.
People from all strata of society took to industrial activity.
Women moved out of homes in large numbers and entered the workforce.
Barriers of religion, belief etc. crumbled as the demand for labour increased.
Urbanization took place at an accelerated pace.
It triggered changes in other spheres like mass transport and communication, thus radically altering the existing social structure.
Green Revolution:
As the population rise, consequently, the demand for food grew, the situation warranted a close look at increasing agricultural productivity and the answer that finally helped India to become self-sufficient in food has been termed the “Green Revolution” which is a name given to the dramatic changes brought about in the field of agriculture since the late 1960s.
Social change is a continuous and unending process in every society. All societies traditional and modern are constantly evolving. Social change is a process of alteration with no reference to the quality of change. And changes in society are related to changes in culture. Several factors trigger social change as for instance demographic, political, social, cultural, economic and educational factors. Changes are most often gradual and barely perceptible till we attempt an inter-temporal analysis. However, occasionally, there are events that bring about dramatic changes in society.
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