1.Evolutionary Theory:
Evolutionary
theories are based on the assumption that societies gradually change from
simple beginnings into even more complex forms. Early sociologists beginning
with Auguste Comte believed that
human societies evolve in a unilinear way. According to them social change
meant progress toward something better. They saw change as positive and
beneficial. To them the evolutionary process implied that societies would
necessarily reach new and higher levels of civilization. L.H Morgan believed that there were three basic stages in the
process: savagery, barbarism and civilization. This evolutionary view of social
change was highly influenced by Charles Darwin's theory of Organic Evolution.
They said that societies must have evolved from the simple and primitive to
that of too complex and advanced such as the western society. Herbert Spencer even applied Darwin's
principle of the survival of the fittest to human societies. He said that
society has been gradually progressing towards a better state. He argued that
it has evolved from military society to the industrial society.
2.Cyclical Theory: Cyclical
theories of social change focus on the rise and fall of civilizations. Spengler
and Toynbee
are the main advocates of this theory.
Spengler pointed out that the fate of
civilizations was a matter of destiny. Each civilization is like a biological
organism and has a similar life-cycle, birth, maturity, old-age and death.
After making a study of eight major civilizations including the west he said
that the modern western society is in the last stage i.e. old age.
Toynbee said that every society faces
challenges at first, challenges posed by the environment and later challenges
from internal and external enemies. The achievements of a civilization consist
of its successful responses to the challenges; if cannot mount an effective
response it dies. He does not believe that all civilizations will inevitably
decay. He believed that it will go new
cycle through learning from mistake for achievement.
3.Functionalist or Dynamic Theory:
In the middle decades of the 20th century a number of American sociologists
shifted their attention from social dynamics to social static or from social
change to social stability. According to Talcott
Parsons changes may arise from two sources. They may come from outside the
society through contact with other societies. In simple societies institutions
are undifferentiated that is a single institution serves many functions. The
family performs reproductive, educational, socializing, economic, recreational
and other functions. Different institutions such as school, factory may take
over some of the functions of a family. The new institutions must be linked
together in a proper way by the process of integration.
4.Conflict Theory: Conflict
theory states only about instability, struggle, social disorganization.
According to Ralf Dahrendorf the conflict theories assume that - every
society is subjected at every moment to change, hence social change is
ubiquitous. Every society experiences at every moment social conflict, so
social conflict is everywhere. The most famous and influential of the conflict
theories is the one put forward by Karl
Marx who along with Engel. Since
the two major social classes the rich and poor or capitalists and the
proletariat have mutually hostile interests they are at conflict. This conflict
repeats itself off and on until capitalism is overthrown by the workers and a
socialist state is created. Like Karl Marx George
Simmel states that conflict is a permanent feature of society and not just
a temporary event. It is a process that binds people together in interaction.
