Understanding Societal Structures and Development
Types of Societies
- Rural Society: The economy relies on agriculture, stockbreeding, minerals, and energy. There are only a few traditional industries, and many people work in the service sector, usually in small businesses. Most people live in villages. These societies are still prevalent in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
- Industrial Society: More than a third of the labor force works in industry. Production of iron, textiles, and chemicals represents the traditional sectors. There is little farming but a strong service sector in transport, communications, and trade. Most people have migrated from rural areas to towns. These societies are found in Eastern and Central Europe and Latin America.
- Post-Industrial Society: More than 60% of the population works in high-level services, such as financial and corporate services and information technology. Less than 30% work in industry, and less than 10% work in agriculture. These are found in developed countries like the United States, Canada, and Japan.
The Formation of Societies
Humans have always formed groups to cooperate, protect themselves, and improve their quality of life. The first groups were clans and tribes, which later evolved into larger entities such as villages, cities, states, and empires. Societies are characterized by:
- An economic system
- A political system
- Established laws
- Shared language and customs
The Structure of Societies
Every society has social classes organized into a hierarchy, though the structure varies by location:
- Middle Ages: Societies were organized into estates consisting of nobles, clergy, and peasants.
- Capitalist Society: Spread widely in the 19th and 20th centuries, where people are classified according to their wealth.
Social Mobility
There are two kinds of social mobility:
- Static Societies: People are born into a class and stay there.
- Dynamic Societies: It is easier to change class due to wealth and education.
Our capitalist society is based on equality and the value of personal merit. Furthermore, family plays an important part in our education and wealth.