Readings in Social Evolution and Development

Readings in Social Evolution and Development presents a collection of articles on a specialized aspect of sociology, or social psychology. The book starts by describing social change and development and the role of institutionalization, individual behavior, and role performance on such change and development. The text also discusses the basic problems of evolutionary perspective in sociology and studies of development and modernization. The theories of social change, the problem of evolution, and the major trends of change in the contemporary setting, such as changes in the industrial societies and alternative courses of political development in the new states are also encompassed. Sociologists and social psychologists and students taking sociology courses will find the book useful.

Contenu

Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Social Change and Development
Part I Theories of Social Change
Social Change
The Marxist Theory of Social Development
Some Considerations on the Theory of Social Change
A Reconsideration of Theories of Social Change
The Termination of Conflict
Part II Directionality of Change-The Problem of Evolution
Legal Evolution and Societal Complexity
The Study of Evolution
Evolution, Function, and Change
Religious Evolution
Part III The Major Trends of Change in Contemporary Setting
A. Changes in Industrial Societies
Democracy and Industrialization
The Socio-cultural Development up to the Present Time and Our Place in It
B. Social Change, Modernization, and Development
Political Development in the New States-Alternative Courses of Political Development
The Transition to a Mass Democracy in Argentina
Sociology of Development
Socio-cultural Unbalance and Modernization in the Underdeveloped Countries
Political Development in the New States-The Will to be Modern
Breakdowns of Modernization
Biographical Notes