NAME: AFAQ AHAMD

FATHER NAME: SHAH ALAM KHAN

ROLL# BY547896

REG# 19nkk01270@aiou.edu.pk

COURSE CODE: 541

COURSE NAME: Social Change

LEVEL: POST GRADUATE PROGRAMME

SEMESTER: AUTUMN 2020

Question No. 1: Discuss and evaluate classical theory and modern theories of the social
scientists and highlight the processes, source, and pattern of social change in Pakistan?

Answer:

Classical Social Theory: Classic Social Theory refers to the work of a variety of theorists who
crafted pivotal theories in sociology that went on to…
a) Form important frameworks that sociologists today still use to understand the world.
b) Inspire and develop important subfields in contemporary sociology.
The major question for social thinker were • How societies actually operates? • What holds
society together? • How and why do societies change? • How societies can be improved?.
Area of concern for classical sociological theorists
• The nature of capitalism
• The basis of social solidarity
• The role of authority in social life
• The benefits and dangers posed by modern bureaucracy
• The issue of gender
Classical Sociological Theorists
August Comte B) Emile Durkheim C) Herbert Spenser D) Max Weber E) Karl Marx F) George
Simmel
August Comte (1798 – 1857): Major Works 1- Social Physics/ sociology 2- Law of Three
Stages 3- Types of Science 4- Hierarchy of Sciences 4- Theory of Social Static and Social
Dynamics 5- Positive Philosophy 6- Positive Polity
1- Social Physics/ Sociology • He first named the new science “social physics.” He later
changed this to “sociology (1839).” The word comes from the Greek “socius” which means
“companion” and the Latin “logos” which means “knowledge.”
2- Law of Three Stages Theological / Fictitious Stage Meta- physical: abstract Positivistic: ex:
apple fall Fetishism Ex: rocks, trees Polytheism Monotheism.
3- TYPES OF SCIENCE 1-Theoretical: Principles, hypothesis, concepts 2- Applied: Practical
Shape
 Emile Durkhiem:
Major Works • Social Facts • The Division of Labor in Society • Suicide • the elementary form
of religious life
Social Facts: • Force external and coercive to individual. • Provides social structure, norms,
values and rules. • Classified into material and non-material social facts. • Material: Things
directly observable. • Non-material: ex. Norms and values. • Types of non-material social facts:
i) Morality ii) Collective Conscience iii) Collective Representations iv) Social Currents
The Division of Labor in Society
. • Durkheim counters with new form of morality
. – Mechanical and Organic Solidarity
– Dynamic Density
– Repressive and Recitative Law
– Normal and Pathological societies
– Justice
Modern Sociological Theory: It gives a lucid overview of: the core concepts that sociological
theory must address and attempt to reconcile - agency, rationality, structure and system; and
the main phenomena that sociological theory sets to explain - culture, power, gender,
differentiation and stratification.

It explains the major contributions to the analysis of each concept by classical and
contemporary theorists, and links these ideas to current sociological issues such as change and
globalization, feminism and sociological theory and the return to cultural analysis.

Modern Sociological Theory offers a different and illuminating framework for the study of social
theory. Malcolm Waters provide readers with a lucid overview of the core concepts that
sociological theory must address and attempt to reconcile--agency, rationality, structure, and
system. Moreover, he examines the main phenomena that sociological theory seeks to explain-
-culture, power, gender, differentiation, and stratification. Unique in his approach, he not only
explains the major contribution to the analysis of each concept or phenomenon by both
classical and contemporary theorists, but also links these ideas to current sociological issues,
such as change and globalization, feminism and social theory, and the return to cultural
analysis. And, by focusing on the core concepts and issues--rather than on schools of thought
or individual theorists--he clearly relates past and present theory to the key concerns of
sociology today. Covering a wide range of material in an accessible way, Modern Sociological
Theory serves as an invaluable resource for all students of sociology and social theory. It will
also be of great interest to scholars and students in cultural studies, women's studies,
organization studies, and urban studies. "The publication of Modern Sociological Theory marks
a new stage in the teaching of contemporary social theory.
Processes, source, and pattern of social change: Social change is the transformation of
culture and social institutions over time.
• Social change refers to an alteration in the social order of a society (J.J. Macionis)
• Examples: the industrial revolution, the abolition of slavery, and the feminist movement.
Sources of Change
• Technology- Changes in culture can change technology; changes in technology can transform
culture; and changes in both can alter other aspects of society.
• It is a culture that decides the purpose to which a technical invention must be put. The
factories can produce the weapons or necessities of life.
• Steel and iron can be used for building warships or tractors
• In Pakistan, with the emergence of satellite television a demand for media professionals and
performers has been created in the last decade. Discussion and debate on issues which could
not be debated earlier has become possible.

Question#02: Differentiate between social planning & social policy. Also define
influencing factors of social change and highlight its relationship with the social
transformation in Pakistan.

Answer:

Social Planning: Social planning involves community and government groups and
organizations working together in collaboration to address critical social issues facing a
community. Social planning has also been referred to as community development or
community social planning. New sustainability efforts taking place in BC communities also
involves social planning. Communities that effectively undertake these processes help to build
healthier communities.
Michael Clague defined social planning as, “a local, democratic system for setting priorities,
arriving at equitable compromises and taking action. It supports community needs and interests
in social, cultural, economic, and environmental affairs.
What activities make up social planning?

An organization or group of people engaged in social planning may perform activities such as
providing support, research, and information to a wide range of community organizations. A
social planning body can provide leadership and facilitation in bringing together key people
around a specific problem or issue. Social planning activities can also include providing advice
or making recommendations to civic bodies regarding public policy as it relates to specific social
issues.

Goals of Social Planning: Ultimately social planners aim to create healthier communities.
Goals often relate to improving environments and communities for populations such as children
and youth, seniors, or immigrants, or address challenges such as housing, transportation
or gambling and addiction. Regardless of the challenge a communities faces, a important goal
common to social planning is attention to the process a community undergoes to solve its
challenges. Although all communities face difficulties, social planning sees collaboration as not
only effective but necessary. When communities have a wide range of partnerships to address
challenges, greater community knowledge and understanding is gained, strong relationships are
formed and solutions can be realized.

Social policy: Social policy primarily refers to guidelines, principles, legislation and activities
that affect the living conditions conducive to human welfare. The Department of Social Policy at
the London School of Economics, defines social policy as "an interdisciplinary and applied
subject concerned with the analysis of societies' responses to social need. It seeks to foster in
its students a capacity to understand theory and evidence drawn from a wide range of social
science disciplines, including economics, sociology, psychology, geography, history, law,
philosophy and political science. Social Policy is focused on those aspects of the economy,
society and policy that are necessary to human existence and the means by which they can be
provided. These basic human needs include: food and shelter, a sustainable and safe
environment, the promotion of health and treatment of the sick, the care and support of those
unable to live a fully independent life; and the education and training of individuals to a level that
enables them fully to participate in their society". The Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy
at Harvard University describes it as "public policy and practice in the areas of health care,
human services, criminal justice, inequality, education, and labor."

Important factors of social change are as under:

1. Physical Environment: Certain geographic changes sometimes produce great social
change. Climate, storms, social erosion, earthquakes, floods, droughts etc., definitely affect
social life and induce social change. Human life is closely bound up with the geographical
conditions of the earth.
2. Biological Factor: Broadly speaking, demography is concerned with the size and structure of
human population. The social structure of a society is closely related with the changes in the
size, composition and distribution of population. The size of the population is based mainly upon
three factors—birth rate, death rate and migration (immigration and emigration).
3. Cultural Factor: It is an established fact that there is an intimate connection between our
beliefs and social institutions, our values and social relationships. Values, beliefs, ideas,
institutions are the basic elements of a culture. Certainly, all cultural changes involve social
change.
4. Economic Factor: Of economic influences, the most far-reaching is the impact of
industrialization. It has revolutionized the whole way of life, institutions, organizations and
community life. In traditional production systems, levels of production were fairly static since
they were geared to habitual, customary needs. Modern industrial capitalism promotes the
constant revision of the technology of production, a process into which science is increasingly
drawn.

Question#03: How do you see the contemporary media and modern technology are the
prompting factors and speeding up social change in our society? Explain this with the
help of charts, Plans, Graphs, Labels, Maps, Picture and Images.

Answer:

Technology: Although everybody knows what technology is, defining such a broad term isn't
something everyone can do off the top of their heads. At its core, technology is the use of
scientific knowledge to make tools that solve specific problems. Technological advancements
have resulted in significant changes around the world, from the creation of TV, radio, and
computers to steam engines, automobiles, and airplanes. Using these examples, scientific
knowledge was applied to create tools that helped solve transportation and communication
challenges.

Social Change: Social change is the change that occurs in human interactions and
relationships which change cultural and social institutions. Some of the most well known social
changes that have occurred in recent memory include civil rights, women's rights, and LGBTQ
rights.
Impact of Technology on Social Change

The following are just a few examples of how technology has impacted social change:
 Improve education - Access to information allows people to self-educate. People can inform
themselves about subjects that they may not have been familiar with using the Internet. For
example, many people have become more environmentally conscious over the past few
decades as a result of the wealth of information available on climate change. People who may
not have been able to attend university can even take online courses to obtain an education.

 Addressing humanitarian needs: Fundraising campaigns on the Internet are commonly held
to help address humanitarian needs, such as providing aid to underdeveloped countries or
areas devastated by natural disasters.

 Prevent corruption: Technologies supporting data aggregation and analysis can collect
evidence of election fraud or data concerning the abuse of power to better inform citizens.

Media and social change: Media has the potential to lead to great, actionable changes by
reporting stories that create dialogue and encourage positive engagement. Taking cognizance
of the role media plays in informing, educating, and shaping as well as entertaining society, to
what degree do consumers influence the structuring of media content? How is the evolving
intersection of old and new media transforming how we process information and turn it into
action? How are socially relevant issues represented through popular culture? How might the
media be used as a powerful tool to inspire social transformation?

Mass Media and Social Change Introduction: The term „Social Change‟ is used to indicate the
changes that take place in human interactions and interrelations. Any change that alters
basically the established form of social relationships, thus transforming in some measure, the
social structure, is social change. It includes alterations in the structure and functions of the
society.

Mass media is a term used for dissemination of information, ideas and entertainment by uses of
technological media such as radio and television, cinema, press and advertising. They continue
to coexist with important traditional media such as folk song and dance, drama, puppetry, etc.
These all are referred to as mass media, because it communicates to a mass audience
comprised of very large numbers of people. Mass media has bring a process of digital
revolution, in which a society prior to its traditional form of communication mode, changes
rapidly in various forms and modes like socio-cultural, psychological, economic, political, etc.

Functions of Media:

a) Information: The media provides us with a continuous flow of information about our society
and the world, from webcams and radio reports alerting us to traffic jams, to rolling weather
reports, the stock market and new stories about issues that might affect us personally.
 b) Correlation: The media explains and helps us to understand the meaning of the information
it gives us. In this way the media provides support for established social norms and has an
important role in the socialization of children, providing a shared framework for the interpretation
of events.

c) Continuity: The media has a certain function in expressing the dominant culture,
recognizing new social developments and forging common values. It acts as the mirror and
watchdog of society.

d) Entertainment: The media provides amusement, a diversion from the rigors of work and
acts to reduce social tensions. This is essentially the function of a release valve for society,
allowing people to set aside their problems and conflicts, at least temporarily.

e) Mobilization: The media can be used to encourage people to contribute to economic

development, to support and uphold moral rules and to mobilize the population in times of war.
This can be through very direct public campaigns, but also in much more subtle ways, such as
the moral tales within soap operas or movies.

Graphical and chart representation of Media and Technology effect on social change