Module 10: Objectives

OBJECTIVES

   At the end of the module, the learner can:

 recognize the common concerns of intersections of anthropology, sociology, and political science in relation to change,
 analyze social, political and cultural change,
 examine human responses to emerging challenges in contemporary societies, and;
 describe how human societies adapt to new challenges in the physical, social, and cultural and political environment.

Module 10: Introduction

What comes to your mind when you hear the word change? Change is a state of becoming different from the status quo.
Just like humans that experience biological changes through time, societies are subject to change through the instigation of
various factors such as the environment technology. Social change is a concept used to portray any changes in human social
systems (Stets and Burke, 2003). Social change may happen in any social relationships, social structures, organizations, and
institutions. In general, all changes that take place in human society that has a domino effect to all social systems are considered
a form of social change.
 
This module discusses some common challenges we are experiencing, and the basic responses we are doing.

 The first part provides the meaning of cultural, social and political change.
 The second part discusses the sources of cultural, social and political change.
 The third part now focuses on the new challenges to human adaptation and social change.
 Lastly, the fourth part provides responses in addressing social, political, and cultural change. An activity (Culminating
Performance Task) will follow afterwards.

 
Note: Please read and understand the entire module first before answering the Culminating Performance Task.

Module 10.1: Defining Cultural, Social and

Political Change
DEFINING CULTURAL, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL CHANGE
           All
the changes that happen in human society are deeply rooted on these three aspects: cultural, social and political. These
three (3) are not mutually exclusive as they are interrelated structures and processes.
 

Social change - it is the transformation of social institutions over time

Cultural change - it is the transformation of culture or the way people live.

 

Political change - happens when the rulers of a country lose power or when the type of governance in the country
changes. Governance is the kind of system or ideology used to express authority in a country. It may be a democracy,
monarchy, oligarchy, and others.
 

Social Change According to Different Proponents:

Comte, Durkheim, and Spencer –
 argue that social change constantly happens in an identical way
 this denotes that all societies undergo specific processes and stages before reaching the complete level of evolution or
change as guided by Charles Darwin’s concept of evolution

Talcott Parsons
 believes that social change is associated with homeostasis or the state of balance (equilibrium)
 this theory supposes that any change in a specific social aspect necessitates adjustment in other aspects to avoid imbalance
and maintain social order
 Karl Marx
 argues that social change is a proactive state where in people will only attain social change or development when freedom
and equality is already attained

Tim Dyson
 argue that social change is interrelated with the concept of demographic transition, where in the changes in the composition
of the population results in changes in social structures

Module 10.2: Sources of Cultural, Social and

Political Change
SOURCES OF CULTURAL, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL CHANGE
 

Innovation – may be in the form of new scientific knowledge, new beliefs, and additional inventions.
 

Diffusion - the process of transferring cultural traits and concepts, see discussions on Cultural Lag and Cultural Diffusion,
Module 3
 
 Acculturation and Assimilation
 Acculturation is the process of learning a culture other than one’s own
 Assimilation is a gradual process of culture change that allows for the indistinguishable cultural similarities between two
different cultures.

Social Contradictions and Tensions

 Inter-ethnic Conflicts
 Class Struggle
 Armed Conflict and Terrorism
 Gender Issues

Module 10.3: Challenges to Human Adaptation

and Social Change
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKDAn0scxiA
 Climate change
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNrGLjfGzgM
Transnational migration and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhDHGgo4yZg

 CoVID-19 Pandemic

Module 10.4: Responding to Social, Political and

Cultural Change
          Every
societal change entail certain reactions, responses, and adaptations. Individuals have several kinds (positive and
negative) to these growing numbers of societal changes, causing them to establish social movements to defeat or transform
what has been already changed.
 

INCLUSIVE CITIZENSHIP AND PARTICIPATORY GOVERNANCE

 Inclusive Citizenship

 Citizen – refers to the members of a political community that have submitted themselves to the government, for the
promotion of common good and protection of rights.
 If citizens demand to be kept by the State, the citizens likewise have their obligations to the State, as follows (De Leon,
2011, 214-221):

1. To be loyal to the republic

2. To cooperate with duly-constituted authorities
3. To contribute to the development and welfare of the state
4. To engage in gainful work
5. To defend the state
6. To uphold the Constitution and obey the laws
7. To exercise rights responsibly and with due regard for the rights of others
8. To register and vote

 Filipino citizens owe allegiance to the Philippines. Thus, citizens, together with the government, are bound to face state
challenges together. Challenges encourage active State-Citizen active State-Citizen Partnership.
 The Philippine constitution denotes that “the prime duty of the government is to serve and protect the people. The
government may call upon the people to defend the State and, in fulfillment thereof, all citizens provided by law, to
render personal military or civil service” (Section 4, Article II).

 
Participatory Governance
          The opportunity to take part in the political system is such a fundamental tenet of the democratic system of government
that it very existence is rarely is rarely questioned. People must be able to have their say – to vote, to engage in political debate
and let those in power know their views on issues which concern them. This is what democracy is about. (Richardson 1983:1 in
Aulich, 2009)

 Participatory governance is important in social dynamics, because it enables the government to implement relevant policies.
 In a democratic society, citizen participation in politics is encouraged.

 
3 CATEGORIES OF PUBLIC GOVERNANCE:
Civic and Political Governance – deals with issues that are related to human rights.
 
Development Governance - mainly pertains to planning, budgeting, monitoring and accountability of socio-economic
development policies and programs.
 
Participatory governance

 Citizen engagement is the desired outcome or logical end of participatory governance.

 Participation is a fundamental goal and object of value in and of itself.

REMEMBER: the right to participate in a society’s decision-making processes is a fundamental human right.

 Participation can help deepen democracy, strengthen social capital, facilitate efficiency and sustained growth, and promote
pro-poor initiatives, equity and social justice
 

Preconditions of Participatory Governance

 Political Efficacy Political efficacy is the “feeling that political and social change is possible and that the individual
citizen can play a part in bringing about this change”

 High levels of efficacy among citizens are usually viewed as desirable for the stability of democracy, because in the
modern democratic society, citizens should feel that they have some power to influence the actions of their government
(Schulz, 2005)

 Political will refers to the extent of committed support among key decision makers for a particular policy solution to a
particular problem.

 Political will exists when 1) a sufficient set of decision- makers 2) with a common understanding of a particular problem
on the formal agenda 3) is committed to supporting 4) a commonly perceived, potentially effective solution.

SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
Social movements consist of large numbers of people, who, through deliberate and sustained efforts, organize to promote or
resist social change. At the heart of social movements lie grievances and dissatisfactions.
Proactive social movements promote social change because a current condition of society is intolerable. In contrast, reactive
social movements resist changes in society that they perceive as threatening.

Classifications of Social Movements

David Aberle classified social movements into four broad categories according to the type and amount of social change they
seek.
Two types seek to change people but differ in terms of the amount of change desired:

 Alterative social movements seek to alter only particular aspects of people (e.g., the Women’s Christian Temperance
Union);
 Redemptive social movements seek to change people totally (e.g., a religious social movement such as fundamental
Christianity that stresses conversion).

 
Two types seek to change society but also differ in terms of the amount of change desired:

 Reformative social movements seek to reform only one part of society (e.g., animal rights or the environment);
 Transformative social movements seek to change the social order itself and to replace it with their own version of the
ideal society (e.g., revolutions in the American colonies, France, Russia, and Cuba).

Five Stages of Social Movement

MAIN IDEA: they go through five stages as they grow and mature.

 Unrest and agitation grow because people are upset about some social condition; at this stage, leaders emerge who
verbalize people’s feeling.
 Leaders mobilize a relatively large number of people who demand that something be done about the problem; charismatic
leaders emerge during this state.
 An organization emerges with a division of labor with leadership that makes policy decisions and a rank and file that
actively supports the movement.
 Institutionalization occurs as the movement becomes bureaucratized and leadership passes to career officials who may
care more about their position in the organization than about the movement itself.
The organization declines, but there may be a possibility of resurgence. Some movements cease to exist; others become
reinvigorated with new leadership from within or from coming into conflict with other social movements fighting for the
opposite side of the issue, (e.g., social movements relating to abortion).