| Summary, etc. |
Every element in man's culture is subject to change, but a textbook on social change must be limited in its scope and in the nature of its emphasis. Former works have differed in these respects, and there is no fixed pattern for the study of social change. Nevertheless, certain theoretical, descriptive, and evaluative aspects of courses in social change have become traditional. Such material has been accounted for in so far as it provides perspective and insight, and it has influenced the selection of readings which are a feature of this book.<br/><br/>The purpose of the text is not only to present in general basic sociological prin ciples of social change, but to examine several specific areas of change involving fundamental social institutions. Throughout the book, textual development and read ings have been integrated to maintain structural unity.<br/><br/>The study begins with a survey of concepts, theories, and social processes especially significant in social change. Attention is also given to the implications of societal self-direction and to the interrelatedness of personality, culture, and society as aspects of social change.<br/><br/>The effects of growth in population over the world have so many ramifications in social and cultural change that an understanding of population as a process is im portant enough to merit the consideration given it here. All forms of social change come within the province of culture, and a statement of the nature of culture, its structural features, and how culture changes, is generally I as essential. The concept of progress, emphasized in several previous texts. regarded as is explained here as a subjective evaluative aspect of social change. Ideas and ideologies need to be understood as powerful agents in social change, and concrete examples are given of contemporary ideologies and their influence in social reform movements. Thus a general foundation is laid for the consideration of change in several institutionalized areas of human behavior-the economic, political, religious, and legal. Everyone is affected by changes in attitudes and policies regarding war and by the constant jeopardy of militarism to our social institutions. On the other hand, any hopeful trends toward peaceful world organization should be credited as factors in social change.<br/><br/>In the present survey civilizations are shown not only to be changing, but to be constantly on trial; no doubt existing civilizations will, in time, be superseded by others. The perspective of change may be relatively narrow if confined to contem porary events; or it may be more broadly historical in terms of civilizations changing throughout the centuries.<br/><br/>This study of social change is meant to be objective, realistic, and practical; it is meant also to be both positive and constructive. Some readings have been drawn from classics which have meaning for present-day trends and events. Most readings, how ever, are from recent publications. With few exceptions the readings, whether from books or journals, have been reprinted as completely as space permits. The social elements in change have been stressed in preference to the material elements in culture, though the latter receive their due share of attention.<br/><br/>Acknowledgment is given to the authors and publishers as each selection appears, and for their splendid cooperation the present author is indeed grateful. Appreciation. is also due the staff of the Doheny Memorial Library, the Library of International Relations, and Mudd Memorial Library, all at the University of Southern California, for their generous assistance in facilitating research. |
