What is Social Change?
Social change means a change in social structure, in the size of society, in the composition or balance of its parts or in the types of its organization (Ginsberg, 1958).Social change is an incontestable feature of cultural reality. It is another thing that its pace varies from age to age, culture to culture and from one area of culture to that of another. For a variety of reasons the pace of social change has been rather slow in earlier cultures, chief reasons being the hold of authoritarianism, religion, illiteracy etc. With the decline of authoritarianism and religion, with the rise of science, technology and industry, with the attendant fast means of communication and travel, the process of social change has been accelerated. It can be said that social mobility comes through education. Social change is influenced by so many factors such as historical, cultural, geographical, biological, demographical, political, economical and ideological factor. Education is also an important tool for social change.
Characteristics of Social Change:
(1) Social change is universal
It means that social change is not confined to a particular society or group. It occurs in every society, sociologically, speaking an unchangeable society is considered as a dead society. Thus, no society is free from the impact of social change.
(2) Speed of social change is related to time factor
The speed of social change is not uniform. It differs from period to period. In modern society the speed of social change is rapid or faster than traditional society.
(3) Speed of social change is unequal and comparative
We can argue that speed of social change is more or less similar in each society. It is slow in traditional society whereas it is rapid in modern society. In urban areas the speed of social change is faster than the rural areas.
(4) Social change is an essential law
Essential law means a law
References: Greene.MC Reflections on Post Modernism and education. Educational Policy http://www.sociology guidr.com / education / education and social change Ram Ahuja (2005). Society in India concepts, Theories and Recent Trends New Delhi: p.215 Ram Ahuja (2005). Social Problems in India New Delhi. p.1-26