|
It
is argued by some scholars that no century in recorded history has
experienced so many social alterations and such radical ones as
the twentieth century. In social scientific literature the term
social transformation is increasingly used to describe societal
changes and generally indicates a critical stance towards older
notions of the idea of development. The approach of social transformation
does not consider the western model as the one that should be imitated
by all other nations. Rather, it admits that current forces of change
are also creating a crisis for the old industrial nations. Some
scholars consider social transformation studies as a field of research
that can lead to positive steps for social and political action
to protect local and national communities against negative consequences
of global change.
In
general, the concept of societal transformation in the social sciences
refers to the change of society's systemic characteristics. This
incorporates the change of existing parameters of a societal system,
including technological, economic, political and cultural restructuring.
More specifically, this firstly influences productive infrastructure
which can bring about new technological changes and new patterns
of participation in the international division of labour. Historically,
this has meant an alteration of the requirements of global information
technologies. Secondly, new structures of economic organization
are developing. This may imply a change in ownership rights, as
well as in investments, production, distribution and supply. Thirdly,
the distribution and use of political power take qualitatively different
forms. This involves changes in the structure and performance of
state institutions and other bodies of decision-making and control.
Finally, a society's value-normative system can change, often in
a way that allows the emergence and stabilisation of pluralist institutions.*
In
social scientific research the use of social transformation
as an analytical framework is based on the following hypothesis:
1.
"Social transformation affects all types of society in both
developed and less-developed regions, in the context of globalisation
of economic and cultural relations, trends towards regionalisation,
and the emergence of various forms of global governance.
2.
Globalisation is leading to new forms of social differentiation
at the international and national levels. Polarisation between rich
and poor, and social exclusion are problems affecting most countries
as well as the relations between them.
3.
The issue can no longer be defined in terms of development, since
it is no longer possible to draw clear lines between developed and
underdeveloped areas, nor to put forward a universally-accepted
goal for processes of change.
4.
The study of social transformation refers to the different ways
in which globalising forces impact upon local communities and national
societies with highly diverse historical experiences, economic and
social patterns, political institutions and cultures.
5.
Any analysis of social transformation therefore requires analysis
both of macro-social forces and of local traditions, experiences
and identities.
6.
The response to social transformation may not entail adaptation
to globalisation but rather resistance. This may involve mobilisation
of traditional cultural and social resources, but can also take
new forms of 'globalisation from below' through trans-national civil
society organisations."**
* Genov,
N. 1999. Managing Transformations in Eastern Europe. UNESCO-MOST,
Paris.
**
From Castles, S. 2000. Development, social transformation and globalisation.
Given at a Centre for Asia
Pacific Social Transformation Studies workshop 23-25 June 1999.
|
