Social Change in Rural and Urban Society

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary entity allowed to use legitimate violence according to the provided content?

The state through its authorized functionaries (correct)

Individuals in self-defense

Non-government organizations

The general public in emergencies

Which form of agriculture is linked to the development of social differences and wealth accumulation?

Settled agriculture (correct)

Hunting and gathering

Transitional agriculture

Nomadic agriculture

What does violence in society typically indicate?

The absence of legal systems

A stable social order

Social tensions and serious problems (correct)

Complete acceptance of government authority

How does settled agriculture differ from nomadic ways of life?

It allows investment in land and technology Signup and view all the answers

What is marked by the failure of the regime of legitimation and consent?

The outbreak of conflicts and violence Signup and view all the answers

Which factor contributed to the transformation from nomadic to settled societies?

Technological innovations in agriculture Signup and view all the answers

What societal change accompanied the increased division of labor in settled societies?

Emergence of occupational specialization Signup and view all the answers

What aspect defines violence as illegal according to the information presented?

Any act that violates social norms and laws Signup and view all the answers

What is one major difficulty faced by people in rural areas regarding dissent?

Identification by dominant sections Signup and view all the answers

What was the immediate effect of the first phase of land reforms in India after independence?

Transfer of rights from absentee landlords to actual cultivators Signup and view all the answers

Which groups primarily benefited from the land reforms in rural India as mentioned?

Intermediate castes managing the land Signup and view all the answers

What term did M.N. Srinivas use to describe the groups that gained power and status through land reforms?

Dominant castes Signup and view all the answers

How do dominant sections in rural areas typically control power?

By controlling alternative sources of income Signup and view all the answers

What challenge does the small population in rural areas present when attempting to organize for change?

Inability to conceal efforts from powerful groups Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of a strong power structure in rural society regarding social change?

Slow arrival of change Signup and view all the answers

Why do groups that manage land often increase their political power?

Their votes are crucial for election outcomes Signup and view all the answers

What contributes to social order in modern societies?

A combination of shared values and power Signup and view all the answers

What does power refer to in the context of social order?

The ability to enforce compliance regardless of personal desire Signup and view all the answers

How does spontaneous consent to social order emerge?

From shared values that are internalized Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean if an entity is described as dominant?

It is routinely in a position of power Signup and view all the answers

What role does socialization play in the maintenance of social order?

It helps in internalizing values and norms Signup and view all the answers

What generally favors stability in societies?

The wealth and power held by a few individuals Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a method through which social order is sustained?

Active resistance against norms Signup and view all the answers

What can individuals experience regarding their beliefs over time?

A return to previously abandoned beliefs Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes social change according to the provided content?

Significant changes that alter the underlying structure of society Signup and view all the answers

How does the 'bigness' of change get measured according to the discussion?

By the intensity and extent of the change Signup and view all the answers

What does gentrification primarily refer to?

The conversion of low class neighborhoods into middle or upper class neighborhoods. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term 'ghettoisation' associated with?

The concentration of a specific identity within a neighborhood. Signup and view all the answers

Which term is associated with rapid and significant social change in a political context?

Revolutionary change Signup and view all the answers

What does social Darwinism emphasize in terms of societal development?

The importance of adaptive change in social evolution Signup and view all the answers

How is 'legitimation' defined in the context provided?

The grounds on which something is considered just or proper. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'mass transit'?

Modes of fast city transport for a large number of people. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of revolutionary change?

It is often initiated by a small group Signup and view all the answers

What was a major financial change linked to the emergence of paper money?

The transformation of financial markets and transactions Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes social change from other kinds of change?

Social change involves alterations in the structure of society. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'structural change' imply?

Changes in the fundamental social organization. Signup and view all the answers

What is defined as change that occurs comparatively quickly?

Revolutionary change Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is NOT typically associated with rural social order?

High levels of economic diversity. Signup and view all the answers

How are previous forms of currency typically characterized before the shift to paper money?

Directly linked to valuable metals like gold and silver Signup and view all the answers

What challenge is commonly faced by urban areas in maintaining social order?

High levels of crime and social disorganization. Signup and view all the answers

How did some Christian Protestant sects influence the capitalist social system?

Through their religious beliefs Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant outcome of women's economic roles in society?

Increased sensitivity of advertisers to women's views Signup and view all the answers

What change was marked by the position of women in consumer advertising?

Women were portrayed as decision-makers Signup and view all the answers

What context influenced the struggle for women's equality during the war?

Economic growth due to increased labor opportunities Signup and view all the answers

How did the West Indies cricket team's dominance reflect societal changes?

It was a sign of racial pride for colonized people Signup and view all the answers

Which social change process is indicated by the growing economic role of women?

Shift in household purchasing power dynamics Signup and view all the answers

What effect did the war have on women’s societal roles?

It rapidly advanced their claims to equality Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the relationship between religion and social change?

Religion's effects are contextual and vary in significance Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Change is a constant, defining feature of modern society
Human beings have existed for approximately 500,000 years but civilization is only about 6,000 years old
Constant and rapid social change has only been evident for the last 400 years
Pace of change has accelerated in the last 100 years, with the last fifty years being faster than the preceding fifty
The 20th century, may have seen more change than the first thirty in human history

The Clock of Human History

Human existence: approximately half a million years
Agriculture: twelve thousand years old
Civilizations: six thousand years or so
Modern societies: emerged in the last 30 seconds of a metaphorical human day

"Social change" is a general term for significant changes that alter the underlying structure of an object or situation over time
Changes must be both intensive (big impact) and extensive (wide-spread) to qualify as social change
Social change can be classified by source or cause (internal/external), nature (evolutionary/revolutionary), or pace (slow/rapid)
Evolution is a kind of change that happens slowly over a long period of time
Charles Darwin proposed a theory of evolution emphasizing the "survival of the fittest"
Social Darwinism is an adaptation of Darwin's theory to the social realm
Revolutionary change is sudden and swift changes in the power structure of society through the overthrow of existing groups
Examples: French Revolution (1789-1793), Soviet Revolution (1917)
"Social change" also encompasses changes in values, beliefs, and institutions, as well as significant transformations

Activity 1

List things that didn't exist in parents' or grandparents' time and in their time but not yours
Discuss the existence of things in the past and their absence in the present

Activity 2

Discuss major changes that occurred during the French Revolution and Industrial Revolution
Determine if the changes qualify as social change and revolution

Activity 3

Identify other social changes with significant consequences in your life
List other examples of technological changes and their social impact

Activity 4

Understand social change as a reciprocal process with social order (the tendency within established systems to resist and regulate change)
Explore reasons why societies resist change to maintain stability
Explain the importance of similar actions producing similar results and predictable behavior for social order

Activity 5

Research the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
Discuss its aims, importance, challenges, and potential consequences

Activity 6

Research 'gated communities' in your city or a city
Investigate reasons for their existence and effects on urban society

Environment

Nature, ecology, and the physical environment have historically had a significant influence on society's structure and shape.
Advances in technology have reduced society's reliance on the environment
The environmental factors affect societies differently across different regions
Environmental changes like natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, etc.) can have disruptive effects on societies

Politics

Political forces have been significant causes of social change, particularly warfare.
Conquest and rule changes societal structures with immediate consequences
Power relations shift, and social change occurs due to political dominance
Legitimacy is crucial; dominant groups in society use power and coercion to enforce social order.
Social change occurs due to political actions, and political change impacts everyday societies.

Culture

Culture encompasses beliefs, values, and ideas that shape a society
Changes in culture influence social life
Religious beliefs are influential in shaping social order and change.
The history of interactions between religions shows cultural transformation
Cultural change affects economic and social dimensions of a society

Technology and Economy

Technological and economic changes have vastly altered societies in the modern era
Technological innovations like steam power, railways, and steamships drastically changed societies
Technological changes affect social, cultural, and demographic aspects of society
Technological transformations often create social changes that are not obvious at the time of the invention
The speed and effects of technological change can be significantly influenced by economic conditions and social structures

Social order involves the tendency within established societies to resist and regulate change
It is related to social change, but not the same
Stability, predictable behavior, consistent rules, and reproduction of social norms are important aspects of social order
Change has its place to keep a society vibrant and functioning. Any resistance to change will limit the evolution processes of cultures
Societies use power and authority, which can be legitimate (justified) or illegitimate (unjustified), to maintain order/resist change, while enforcing social norms (often codified as laws).
Socialisation plays a large role in determining individuals' conformity to social norms and behaviors. This leads to the internalization of shared values and norms, creating a sense of social order

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Description

This quiz explores the dynamics of social change and social order within both rural and urban societies. It delves into the historical context of human existence and the accelerated pace of societal transformations in recent centuries. You'll gain insights into the factors that contribute to significant social alterations over time.