Module:                                 SCP201 Social Change

Programme:                         BA in Political Science and Sociology

Credit Value:                        12

Module Tutor:                      

1. General Objective

The central goals for this module are to help students develop the sociological skill to analyze and understand social change, both in the short-term and the long-term. It is expected that students' current ideas about social change will transform over time, particularly  as  they  progress  through  college  and  as  they  continue  to  study sociology.  By learning to think about, analyze, and understand processes of social change students will be well prepared to adjust to changing social conditions and to contribute  meaningfully  to  public  deliberations on the  topic.   This  is  especially valuable and useful skill in that Bhutan is living an era of very rapid social change, which will probably continue throughout their lifetimes.

2. Learning Outcomes

On completion of the module, learners will be able to:

• Critically compare and contrast various grand visions of social and historical change

• Critically employ concepts such as social process, development, progress, social time, and globalization.

• Examine the role of individual agency, social structure, ideas and norms, social movements and revolutions in social change.

• Apply theories and concepts when analyzing crucial social changes and social transformations.

• Critically assess the relationship between the media and public opinion.

• Examine the issues related to social change.

• Gain a clear understanding of the three central theories of modernization, dependency and world-system theory.

• Determine the role of Social, human and economic Capital in Social Change.

3. Learning and teaching approach

4. Assessment Approach

A. Assignment: Portion of Final Marks: (20%)

There will be one assignment with the weightage of 20 percent (20X1=20%).

B. Mid-Semester Examination: Portion of Final Marks: (20%)

Mid-term exam will be conducted in the middle of the semester (after covering half of the syllabus). The questions will be cumulative coverage of the syllabus. The idea is to test the understanding of the subject.

C. Presentation: Portion of Final Marks: (20%)

Students have  to make one  presentation  based  on  the  topic  distributed  by  the module tutor with consultation with the students.

1. Introduction of topic / Development of topic: 10%

2. Ability to engage and involve audience: 2.5%

3. Use of visual aids: 2.5%

4. Answering questions appropriately from the audience: 2.5%
5. Conclusion of topic: 2.5% D: Semester-end Examination: Portion of Final Marks: (40%)

Semester end Examination for the duration of three hours.

Overview of the assessment approaches and weighting

5. Subject Matter

5.1.            UNIT I: Social Change: What is social change? Factors of social change;

5.1.1.       Approaches  to  study  social  changes  (evolutionary,  conflict, cultural Feminist and structural approaches);

5.1.2.       Causes  of  social  change:  culture  and  change;  conflict  and change;  ideas and change,  the natural environment and  change, demographic change;

5.1.3.       Components of social change (Population size, growth (birth, death and Migration)

5.2.            UNIT II: Theories of social change: Two dimensions of society (static and dynamic) and Classical   models of social change; Historical vs. evolutionary model;

5.2.1.       Marx: Conflict and revolution; class conflict; (haves or capitalist and have nots or bourgeoisies) in terms of allocation of resources.

5.2.2.       Durkheim: integration and differentiation;

5.2.3.       Weber: Rationalization and domination

5.3.           UNIT III: Collective Behavior and social change:

5.3.1.     Types  of  social  movement;  Characteristics  of  social movement;old and new social movement; reform movements;revolutionary movements; resistance movements; alternative movements;rebellion; movement as Engines of social change; stages of social movement; theories of social movement: deprivation theory – Karl Mark; structural-strain theory- Neil Smelser; mass-society theory- William Kornhauser.

5.3.2.       Origin   or   sources   of   social  movement;   Leadership   and ideology  of  movements;  theoretical  perspectives  on  social movement.

5.4.           UNIT IV: Modernity and social change:

5.4.1.       Modernity: key dimensions of modernization and theories of social change;

5.4.2.       Post  modernity,  globalization  as  a  social  change;  Role  of Media in social change

6. Reading List

6.1.           Essential Reading

Bezburuah, K.C. (2008). Applying the Congruence Model of Organizational Change in Explaining the Change in the Indian Economic Policies. . Journal of Organizational Transmission and Social Change, Vol. 5, No. 2

Chow,  E.N.  (2003).  Globalization  Matters:  Studying  Globalization  and  Social Change in the 21st Century. International Sociology, Vol. 18 (3)

Dasen, P.R. (2000). Rapid Social Change and the Turmoil of Adolescence: A Cross Cultural Perspective. International Journal of Group Tensions, Vol. 29.

Sen, A. (2013). Development as Freedom: Oxford University Press

Deshpande, S. (1997), 'From Development to Adjustment: Economic Ideologies The middle class and 50 years of independence'; in Review of Development and Change, 11(2):294-318.

Dube, S.C., (1973), Modernization and Social Change in India.

Gupta, D. (2000). Mistaken Modernity: India Between Worlds, Harper Collins Publishers.

Singh, Y. (1993). Social Change in India: Crisis and Resilience, HarAnand. Srinivas, M.N. (1956). 'A Note on Sanskritization and Westernization', The Far Eastern Quarterly, Vol. 15, No. 5, pp. 481-496.

6.2              Additional Reading

Cavanagh,   J.,   &   Mander,   J.   (eds.).    (2004).   Alternatives   to   Economic Globalization: A Better World is Possible. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.

Eldridge, John, (eds.). (1993). Getting the Message: News, Truth and Power. New York: Routledge.

Ritzer, G. (eds.). (2000). The Macdonalization of society, New century.  Pine

Forge Press: Thousand Oaks, California

Sztompka,  P.  (1994).  The  Sociology  of  Social  Change.  Cambridge,  MA: Blackwell.

Date: August 2015