Page 289 - DSOC201_SOCIAL_STRUCTURE_AND_SOCIAL_CHANGE_ENGLISH

Social Structure and Social Change

Notes Technological Factors
Technology has been considered as one of the important factors of social change. This is quite true
particularly in the context of the contemporary World. This is for the fact that variation in technology
affects social organization and/or structure of a society in a significant way. However, the magnitude
and the rate of change could differ from one period and situation to another depending on the
availability and use of technology. For instance, change was very slow in the remote past (re-
historicage) when our forefathers used crude implements such as stone tools for their day-today
activities and survival. With the invention of modem technology, things have become very different
with both good and bad effects.
The introduction of machine technology after the inventions and discoveries of advanced and
sophisticated sources of energy and capabilities has brought about drastic changes. In other words,
modem technologies have resulted in revolutionary change, be it industrial revolution, green
revolution, technical revolution, and so on. All these revolutions have been largely responsible to the
change in the mode of production, relations of production, old forms of social organization and
structure, old ideologies, attitudes, beliefs, and traditions. This is so, because man adapts to the change
of material environment caused by technology. We have ample examples of such phenomena.
The invention of gun power, atom bomb, and nuclear weapons have changed the techniques of war.
The opening-up of transport networks due to modern technologies have enabled people to be more
mobile and accessible to other places which would otherwise be impossible in the distant past. The
invention of writing and other modem communication system, such as telephones, internet, etc.,
have made it much easier for people to communicate with each other even in distant places. Likewise,
new technologies in the area of modem medicines have also enormously improved the state of human
health system and its environment.
Industrial revolution has also brought about many changes in the society. The shift from agrarian to
industrial production or from feudalism to capitalism have effected social changes affecting family
relations, religion, and other institutions including the state. In almost the same way, green revolution
does bring about changes in the society.
While modem technology has been a great boon to man, there are also the other dark side of it. This
is mainly due to change of the old ways of life and systems, destructive nature of the technologies
being designed or misuse of technologies for destructive ends. For example, the perceived ill-effects
of technology on the society and its social institutions can be observed in many ways. One such
impact is the disintegration of community life and promotion of individualism. The abuse of modem
technologies to humanity has been quite alarming indeed. We can readily cite a few human-induced
disasters due to modem technologies that are very familiar to us.

The atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945 which killed and fatally
affected the 245,000 people was a clear example of the state action of destructive nature.
The Bhopal Gas Tragedy of December 3, 1984 due to pesticide leak of the Union Carbide’s
fertilizers plant killing thousands of people and killing many more due to chemical side-
sects was an example of ill political judgment and irresponsibility. The deadly attack on
the World Trade Center (WTC), New York, on September 11, 2001 killing thousands of
people is an example of the act of terrorism and anti-humanity. The displacement of
indigenous (Tribal) peoples in India due to construction of mega dams, such as Narmada
dam (in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat) Mapithel [Thoubal] and Tipaimukh
dams (in Manipur) are some of the few examples of the incidences of uprooting the lives
and deprivation of rights of the indigenous peoples for survival.

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