The Concept of Social Change (Routledge Revivals)
A Critique of the Functionalist Theory of Social Change
Published on 14. January 2010
212 pages
978-1-136-97108-2 (ISBN)
Description
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.
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.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
File size
1,73 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-136-97108-2 (9781136971082)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Anthony D. Smith
The Concept of Social Change (Routledge Revivals)
A Critique of the Functionalist Theory of Social Change
Book
10/2010
1st Edition
Routledge
€76.94
Shipment within 15-20 days
Anthony D. Smith
The Concept of Social Change (Routledge Revivals)
A Critique of the Functionalist Theory of Social Change
Book
02/2010
1st Edition
Routledge
€215.41
Shipment within 15-20 days
Content
1. Functionalism and Social Change 2. The 'neo-revolutionary' revival 3. The Stages of Evolution 4. Modernism and Modernisation 5. Revolution 6. Equilibrium and Social Change 7. Evolution and History
