Sociology Write short notes.

This factor is of unique importance in social change. Stages of economic development in human history are not limited to economic transformation in society. They promote large scale political and social transformations. Economic development affects different institutions. The growth of large-scale industries led to employment opportunities, professionalism, exploitation, trade unionism and so forth. Economic competition has resulted in class-conflict increase in materialism in the society. The class divide continues to this day.

For example, peasant movement, women’s movements, labour movements, student movement, tribal movement etc. for conflict theorists – conflict is considered a basis for change in society. Globalization as a process continues to have a huge impact on Indian society. The LPG policy adopted by the government of India in 1991 has led to far reaching consequences on our political institutions, economy, family, education etc.

Education is a means to help develop ideas and skills, solve problems, transform people. People acquire knowledge, skills, develop, competencies and then use these to seek employment or self¬employment. The purpose of education, its content, its pedagogy is changing. Use of technology within education though e-learning, online education, smart boards, virtual classrooms, national digital library etc have brought about far reaching changes even within the field of education.
Many persons have opportunities to learn due to the efforts of the government. A special effort has been made by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to encourage education for trans¬gender persons. Educations can transform people lives.

One of the benchmarks of a so called civilized society is its extent of technological development. Technological development creates new conditions of life and new conditions for adaptation. Technological development continues to be an index of the overall progress of society. Technological changes have affected social, economic, religious, cultural and political life of human beings.

Opportunities for e-learning, e-library, e-commerce, e-ticketing, online marketing, online examination is possible today, due to technological innovations. We live in digitalized age. Digitalization has helped the government to identify many beneficiaries who can be provided aid.

Human culture is a process of change. A change in the cultural order is accompanied by a corresponding change in the whole social order. Cultural diffusion is a source of change. Culture includes our values, beliefs, ideas and ideologies, morals, customs and traditions. These are all subject to change and they in turn, cause changes. Ideas and cultural values play a crucial role in social change.

German sociologist, Max Weber gave importance to the cultural factor of social change. He showed an interrelation between the teachings of protestant religion and spread of capitalism in Europe, in his famous book “Protestant Ethic and the spirit of Capitalism”. Also, these are negative consequences of ideologies that promote religious fundamentalism, extremist thinking, superstitious beliefs and practices, mindless values; these leads to untold hardships and human miseries. They become stumbling blocks to change.

1. Universality : All human societies change. This could include changes in population, beliefs, tools, attire, customs, roles, music, art, architecture etc. Social change is universal as it takes place everywhere. This change is not uniform as it takes place at differing speeds.
2. Continuous speed : There is continuity of change in society. Right from the emergence of human society from the times of nomadic cave dwellers to the present, every aspect of human life and living has changed.
3. Temporal : Social change is temporal as it denotes a time sequence. Innovations of new things, modifications and renovation of the existing phenomena and the discarding of the old takes time.
4. Interactional chain reaction : The physical, biological, technological, cultural, social economic and other factors may together bring about social change. This is due to mutual interdependence of social phenomenon. Thus, for example, a huge increase in school fees will have an impact on student enrolment.
5. Neutrality : The term social change has no value judgment attached to it. As a phenomenon, it is neither moral nor immoral it is amoral. It is ethically neutral.
6. Short term and long-term change : Some social changes may bring about immediate results while some others may take years or decades to produce results. The purchase of new gadgets for the purpose of entertainment is faster if one has the purchasing capacity when compared to giving up social evils like dowry, early marriage or domestic violence.
7. Planned or unplanned changes : Unplanned changes happens suddenly and is not planned. For example, when a natural disaster takes place, there is a loss of human and animal lives as well as property. Rehabilitation programmes, some purposeful and planned changes promoted by the government are examples of planned change.