Characteristics of Industrial Societies

Characteristics of Industrial Societies

• Most of the employed population work in factories, offices, or shops, rather than in agriculture.
• Social life in cities becomes more impersonal and anonymous.
• Large-scale organizations, like business corporations or government agencies, influence daily life.

Nation-States

• Industrial societies were the first nation-states to exist.
• Nation-states are political communities divided by clear borders.
• National governments have extensive powers over citizens' lives, framing laws that apply to all citizens.

Modern World: Industrialized Societies

• Industrialization led to advanced military organization and changed ways of conducting war.
• Globalization has been characterized by violence and conquest.
• Virtually all societies in the world today are nation-states.

Global Development

• Western countries established colonies in traditional societies, using military strength when necessary.
• Colonialism shaped the social map of the globe.
• Industrialized societies are referred to as developed societies.

Political Systems

• Political leaders and government officials constantly affect the lives of the mass population.
• Governments stimulate and direct social change, influencing economic growth and production.
• Military power and war have been important in shaping global events.

Globalization

• Globalization refers to the increasing interdependence of individuals, groups, and nations.
• The process of globalization is often portrayed as an economic phenomenon.

Factors Influencing Social Change

• The natural environment is a physical constraint on social change.
• Political organization strongly influences social change.
• Military power has played a fundamental part in the establishment of traditional states.

Change in the Modern Period

• The modern period has seen a huge acceleration of social change towards globalization.
• The development of science and secularization of thought have contributed to the critical and innovative character of the modern outlook.

Cultural Influences

• Ideals of freedom, equality, and democratic participation are creations of the past two or three centuries.
• Modern ways of life require a 'rational' basis, rather than relying on traditional authority.