Topic > Analysis of the factors responsible for more rapid social change than in previous centuries

A good starting point in exploring the concept of social change is the fact that no human society has ever been or can be static. It is also true that social change is difficult to predict. This is mainly due to the fact that the factors that cause it are not constant. Examining the various aspects of this phenomenon reveals various factors that make it now faster than in previous centuries. Society needs changes over time for its prosperity and development. Change, however, means adapting and accepting new ideas that lead to evolution. This article discusses some of the factors responsible for more rapid social change than in previous centuries. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Demographic factors are in many ways responsible for accelerating social change. These factors are different today from those of previous centuries. Population size, for example, is a demographic aspect that has a direct impact on society. Other factors known to be integral in inducing social change include migration, mortality, fertility, birth rates, age structure, marriage patterns, life expectancy, sex ratio, morbidity , among others. These factors make social adjustments necessary; for example the establishment of health programs and economic support initiatives. For example, as Murat and Tulga (2017) inform, the population growth rate has increased dramatically in recent generations, influencing the trends and speed of social transformations; since with a high population comes the need for adjustments in social structure and organization. Examples of these adjustments include measures taken to control population growth, such as birth control methods. Furthermore, improvements in medicine have led to longevity of life, in other words, a greater life expectancy than in previous centuries, “in the early centuries, unsanitary living conditions and little access to effective medical care meant that life expectancy of life was probably limited to around 35 years." years". The result of increased longevity of life has been that there are more elderly people in today's society than in previous centuries, "today most industrialized countries boast a life expectancy of over 75 years." This aspect makes it necessary to develop programs to care for the elderly in society. Economic factors are also responsible for faster social change than in previous centuries. These can be conceptualized and understood through the presentation of some of the most influential theorists, Karl Marx and Mark Weber. These theorists explore the historical development of capitalism and according to Max change occurs through capitalism and class conflict. For his part, Weber links change to the presence of value-based ideational factors that function in combination with material factors. For Weber, religion plays a role in capitalism (wealth accumulation). In simpler terms, Marx emphasizes the role of material factors and class conflicts while Weber focuses on the ideas and values ​​that guide society. These are likely to change from time to time and, certainly, are likely to have far-reaching social implications. In relation to technological factors, many technological advances witnessed these days explain many changes in society. In previous centuries this technology was absent or too simple. Technology, however, plays a roleimportant in education thanks to new teaching-learning processes and resources that did not exist in previous centuries; today, many more people are highly educated, and the literacy levels of the world's population have increased dramatically over the past two years. of centuries, as shown in Appendix B, “while in 1820 only 12% of the world's people could read and write, today the percentage has reversed: only 17% of the world's population remains illiterate.” leading to social development and therefore change. Technology has changed the way information is processed, shared and used. People stay updated on what is happening in different parts of the world, and this information can sometimes inspire social change. For example, the Arab Spring a few years ago was motivated by events that began in Tunisia, and through technology, people in other Arab countries were able to follow the events, eventually starting revolutions in their own countries. Protesters in the affected countries followed the unfolding events through social media and shared them with the world through the same platform. Overall, technology has facilitated the flow and sharing of information, creating an unstoppable wave that has led to regime change in many Arab and North African countries. The Arab Spring is a good example that shows the power of information shared through technology. Furthermore, as the population increases and the need to produce more, industries are created to meet the needs of the population. In this regard, industrial production depends on technology, which helps to increase the volume of production. It should also not be forgotten that technological progress also accelerates human interaction which has an impact on culture, especially considering that cultural norms and values ​​are shared between populations at a faster pace, thus changing people's ways and habits of life. people. Cultural factors also play a role in bringing about accelerated social change. These include religion as well as the norms and values ​​that guide society. These may change over time, especially in the face of globalization. Some cultures are being eroded and this definitely has an impact on social life. Social change can also occur when people convert to other religions and take on new beliefs. Cultural values ​​can often change, perhaps through cultural contact with another society (whose culture is different). Currently, technology has also made it easier for people to move from one point to another, and the concept of globalization implies that societies interact with others whose cultural orientation is different. This contact is direct, through migration and trade, or indirect through technological devices. In this context, social change occurs through diffusion, a concept that is nowadays accelerated through mass media which allows for faster transmission of information to a larger audience. Social change is therefore faster than in previous centuries due to these technological factors working hand in hand with cultural factors. Last but importantly, the acceleration of social change is also caused by political factors. To consider Marx's explanation, society is generally divided into two categories: capitalists and workers. The capitalists or bourgeois are those who own property and therefore the means of production and the workers, those who do not have property, are exploited and must work for the owners to survive. Based on the difference between these two categories, Marx saw a dramatic growth of.