THE CONCEPT OF SOCIAL CHANGE : A Critique of the Functionalist Theory of Social Change (Monographs in Social Theory)

Smith, Anthony D.; (Arthur Brittan, Editor)

ISBN 10: 0710076975 / ISBN 13: 9780710076977

Edité par Routledge & Kegan Paul, Boston, MA, 1973

A propos de cet article

BRAND NEW COPY w/trace wear to softcover. Monograph. An evaluation of theories of social change. In particular, a look at the long dominant functionalist perspective (functionalism) --- a conceptual approach with origins in the works of Emile Durkheim (1858 - 1917), which viewed each part of society as being mutually interdependent, and contributes to the stability of society as a whole. 7 chapters: 1, Functionalism & Social Change; 2, The 'Neo-Revolutionary' Revival; 3, The Stages of Evolution; 4, Modernism & Moderisation; 5, Revolution; 6, Equilibrium & Change; and 7, Evolution & History. N° de réf. du vendeur 015376

Détails bibliographiques

Titre : THE CONCEPT OF SOCIAL CHANGE : A Critique of...

Éditeur : Routledge & Kegan Paul, Boston, MA

Date d'édition : 1973

Reliure : Soft cover

Etat : New

Etat de la jaquette : None as Issued

Edition : First Edition, First Thus

A propos de ce titre

Synopsis :

Book by Smith Anthony D

Présentation de l'éditeur:

Anthony Smith's important work on the concept of social change, first published in 1973, puts forward the paradigm of historical change as an alternative to the functionalist theory of evolutionary change. He shows that, in attempting to provide a theory of social change, functionalism reveals itself as a species of 'frozen' evolutionism.

Functionalism, he argues, is unable to cope with the mechanisms of historical transitions or account for novelty and emergence; it confuses classification of variations with explanation of processes; and its endogenous view of change prevents it from coming to grips with the real events and transformations of the historical record. In his assessment of functionalism, Dr Smith traces its explanatory failures in its accounts of the developments of civilisation, modernisation and revolution. He concludes that the study of 'evolution' is largely irrelevant to the investigation of social change. He proposes instead an exogenous paradigm of social change, which places the study of contingent historical events at its centre.