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.

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