Journal For Social change

INTRODUCTION

This paper work will try to talk about the concept of social change. For the matter of easing the understanding of the concept, this paper will cover the following key points:-

(i) The definition of the word or term “social change”
(ii) Literature review of social change
(iii) Characteristics of social change
(iv) Causes of social change
(v) Current theories of social change.
(vi) Approaches to social change.
(vii) Reasons for society transformation / change
(viii) Conclusion






















DEFINITION / MEANING OF THE ADJECTIVE “SOCIAL”:-
The term “Social” is used in many different senses, referring among other things to:-

☼ Altitudes, orientations or behaviors which take the interests, intentions or needs of other people into account (in contrast to anti-social behavior).
☼ Common characteristics of people or descriptions of collectivities (Social facts).
☼ Relations between people (social relations) generally, or particular associations among people (Social action) or belonging to a community of people.
☼ Co-operative characteristics between people.
☼ Relations of (Mutual) dependence.
☼ The public sector (Social sector) or the need for governance for the good of all, contrasted with the private sector.
☼ Relationships between the self and the other.
☼ Interactive systems in communities of animals or insect populations or any living organisms.
In one broad meaning “social” refers only to society as a “system of a common life”, but in another sense it contrasts specifically with “individual” and individualist theories of society. This is reflected for example in the different perspectives of liberalism on society and public affairs.
The adjective “Social” is also used often in political discourse although meaning in such a context depends heavily on who is using it.
The meaning of the term “Social” as put forward by the social theorist (Karl Marx), concluded that human being are intrinsically necessarily and by definition social beings, who beyond being “gregarious creatures” cannot survive and meet their needs other than through social-co-operation and association. There social characteristics are therefore to a large extent on objectively given fact, stamped on them from birth and affirmed by socialization process and according to Marx, in producing and reproducing their material life, people must necessarily enter into relations of production which are “independent of their will”`

DEFINITION OF THE CONCEPT – SOCIAL CHANGE:-
Clearly “Social change” can be described as a new outlook derived from purposeful actions of an individual as a single living being or a group of people who comes together and direct their resources towards achievement of new and better gains. The term is usually applied to changes that are: Beneficial to society, it may result in negative side-effects or consequences that under mines or eliminate existing ways of life that are considered positive.
Social change is a topic in sociology and social work, but also involves political science, economics, history, anthropology and many other social sciences. Among many forms of creating social change are theater for social change, direct action, protesting and advocacy, community organizing, community practice, revolution and political activism.
Social change is also a general term which refers to change in the nature, the social institutions the social behavior or the social relations of a society. In principle a huge variety of factors influence social change; for example technology being prominent among them, political ideologies culture and traditions are among factors which influence social change. For example communities or societies has experienced social changes in every stages of human development; i.e starting from primitive communalism to modern societies, with highly improved tools of production as well as part tens of consumptions. For this matter, social change include those changes which are taking places in human interactions and inter-relation for example, before colonialism we had a nuclear family, but now-days there is an industry family. Social change means, variation in social interaction, social processes and social organization.

LITRATURE REVIEW OF SOCIAL CHANGE:-
Soon after World war two (1945), there was economic depression. The Marshal plan was brought forward to recover the economy. This had been the most important plan to bring about social changes in the World. In Africa starting in the late fifteens (1950s) most of the Countries were struggling to adopt differing developmental policies for the sake of bringing positive social change to their respective citizens.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIAL CHANGE:-
☼ Change is a continuous process:- Societies are undergoing endless and complex changes, it changes day after day, these changes, can never be stopped for example globalization.
☼ Social change is temporal:- It is temporal in a sense that it donates time sequence; and these are subjected to change in attitudes, innovations of new things, Modifications, renovation of existing behavior and discarding of old behaviors.
☼ Social change in environment:- Takes place within geographical or physical areas i.e social change never take place in vacuum. It takes place in human beings and the changes has impact or effects in the society; changes also takes place in our mind.
☼ Social change in human change:- As people changes, their social perspective also changes. i.e people are the agent of changes. People affect changes, and the same people are the one who will feel the effects of change either positively or negatively.

CAUSES OF SOCIAL CHANGE:-
NB:- Social change is a very complex concept in which its causes and effects are not very clear; but the following can be sited as the leading causes of social change:-
☼ Strain and conflicts:- The conflict of interest is always present in all societies. No single society is free from conflict. But conflict is more pronounced in political fields. The rush for power raise conflicts. For example the just ended Kenyans election on 27th December, where PNU party candidate President Mwai Kibaki was announced the winner of the elections, against the ODM party candidate Mr. Raila Odinga, the looser party (ODM) denounced the elections, and call for national protest against the PNU government lead by President Mwai Kibaki this move has led to very negative social change in all the citizens of Kenya.
☼ Social problems:- The society has a number social problems, for example prostitutions, drugs addition, robbery, overpopulations in squatter urban areas, street beggars etc. any attempt to solve one of the above social problem, can lead to social change.
☼ Revolution and Upheavals: In the revolution process people are dyeing or killed – for example in Countries like Afganistan, Iraq, Sieralanka (Tamil Tigers) etc. Any attempt to tackle can leads to social change.
☼ Cultural change:- Cultural innovations can lead to social change for example the diffusion of culture from one society to another has got a very big effect of social change. One good example is viewing TV programs or Mass Media can lead to social change.
☼ The influence of social environment. Change of leadership or power can bring about remarkable social changes. For example dictators leaders, do not allow rule of law and democracy, in this case the citizens are subjected to an oppressive force, and hence negative social change.
☼ Military Invasions:- When the United states of America (USA), involved Iraq under the leadership of Saddam Hussein, the people of Iraq experience a remarkable and not conducive social change. The social structures has been ruined, resulting to endless bloodsheds out of the so called suicide bombers, and outright fighting’s and killings.

THEORIES OF SOCIAL CHANGE:-
A number of scholars has contributed on how to deal with social change:-
☼ According to Comte:- In order for a society to create harmony and peace we should maintained moral consensus.
☼ According to specer:- In order to maintain peace and harmony allow people to pursue their willingness,. to do what they wish, don’t interfere them.
☼ According to Tonnie:- In order to maintain order, peace and harmony, it is the state responsible to force people live in harmony and peace so there must be laws, regulations, and legislations. So there is a good number of theories, put forward by sociologist talking about social change.

APPROACHES TO SOCIAL CHANGE (DEVELOPMENT)
There are number of approaches as far as social change (development) is concern. In Tanzania, soon after Independence, the government formulated strategies or approaches to bring about rapid development growth, and improve the well-being of the majority of the marginalized poor in the Country. One among the most advocated approach was the policy of socialism and self-reliance (Ujamaa na kujitegemea). The main aim was to Mobilize the national resources, for the benefit of the majority of Tanzanian. When the approach was found to be not bringing significant changes in early 1980s, different approach was adopted i.e structural adjustment programmes; which marks the beginning of the free market economy. All these changes were aimed to promote economic growth and improve the welfare of the Tanzanian citizens.

REASONS FOR SOCIETY TRANSFORMATION
Durkheim is so much occupied of what is “Social change.” He asked himself, why the society is changing from simple to complex, from homogeneous to heterogeneous.
☼ To him the first major change is population; once population grows, people began engaging themselves in extracting raw materials and exploitation of raw materials.
☼ Growth of Interrelation:- People grows they creates interrelation, through these interrelation, people exchange ideas and knowledge.
☼ Division of Labor, brought about by interaction and interdependent, these processes lead to solidarity.
Hence Durkheim looks social change as a result of these factors.
Karl marx has got his own interpretation to social change, and is know as the “articulation of the modes of production (MOD) or contribution of different modes of production.”
Karl max point out that:-
☼ To every mode of production there is different change.
☼ The society has different levels, and are known as INSTANCES of the society. The three instances of society are:-
☼ Economic levels
☼ Political levels
☼ Ideological level

Economic level:- To Marx the economic level is based on raw material production (resources) especially land.
Political level:- Change will occur with accordance to who is in “power” at that particular period. For example, Tanzania experience big changes when the late president J.K. Nyerere step down from power. The Arusha declaration was abandoned, and the leadership code of ethics, in particular top government officials not to engage themselves owning and running businesses. The product of power is social change, can be common sense, people who are sensible enough may bring positive change in the society. People have ideas they can initiate change. Karl Marx sited three social tools which are most effective in bringing social change:-
Education
Religion
Mass media
☼ Education is ranked as the most effective tool in bringing social change. Educated people can easily adopt a new technology.
☼ Religion institutions are very powerful in bringing change in a society.
☼ Mass Media, news papers are very sensitive, and people can be driven to initiate changes through mass media or news or newspapers.
To Karl Marx change in any society is a result of conflicts. The “haves” and the “haves not.”




CONCLUSION

Social change is inevitable in all stages of social economic development. There should be means through which the government can guide the process of society progression or change. From the individual, groups, and national level., social change should end up in improving the economic well-being of a particular society. Misguided individuals or groups of people should not be allowed to promote bad ideologies which will lead the society to misery rather than prosperity. Many African nations has for decades been plunged to miserable poor living standards due to inappropriate economic development strategies, in terms of the economic well-being of the people.


REFERENCE:

Internet: http:www.fundforsouth.org/social-change.htm

Internet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/social

Robert Hoitbroner and Lester thnrow; Economic Explained, Touchstor Books 1998.

personal Theory of social change; Phil Gyford 1999-09-19