Social Change and Challenges in Developed and Developing Countries

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Social Revolutions

Societies sometimes change very gradually, and the basic structure of society stays the same:

• The Neolithic Revolution began about 10,000 years ago. Human societies first learned to practice agriculture and live together in settlements.
• The Industrial Revolution began in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It led to the growth of cities on a massive scale and the adoption of the new economic system of capitalism.
• The Liberal Revolutions of the same period were connected to these economic changes.
• Today, the Technological Revolution is causing changes in the way people work and interact with each other. The information society opens access to information and knowledge.

Social Change in Developed Countries

There have been many social changes in developed countries over recent decades:

• Gender: Women now study in universities and work in jobs that used to be for men. So there is much greater equality between the sexes than before.
• Family: The pattern of family life is also changing. The average age of marriage has risen and the average number of children per woman has fallen.
• Multiculturalism: Immigrants have arrived in developed countries from all over the world. They have become multicultural societies.

Social Problems in Developing Countries

There are many social problems in developing countries:

• Poverty: Many people do not have the economic resources to meet their basic needs: food, housing, and jobs.
• Women: Some countries have laws or policies that prevent women from studying or limit their basic human rights. These women cannot work in many jobs.
• Conflicts: In some regions, some people try to emigrate to escape from ethnic violence and political instability.

The Challenges of Global Society

• Culture: Western values have spread throughout the world, but often at the expense of local traditions and regional diversity.
• Discrimination: People from minority cultures often face social exclusion (racism).
• Economic Inequality: There are marked inequalities throughout the world.