the social differentiation model by smelser (1959)

The Social Differentiation Model

by Smelser

(1959)

The model consists of The model consists of four processes that four processes that explain the change explain the change from traditional to from traditional to modern society.modern society.

1.There is a move from simple to complex technology modernization of technology.

Eg. Use of typewriter to computer

2.There is a change 2.There is a change from subsistence from subsistence farming to cash crop farming to cash crop farming farming commercialization of commercialization of agriculture. Eg. Use of agriculture. Eg. Use of HYV of paddy for 2- HYV of paddy for 2- cropping replacing the cropping replacing the 1-cropping1-cropping

3.There is a 3.There is a transformation from transformation from the use of human and the use of human and animal power to animal power to machine power machine power industrialization. Eg. industrialization. Eg. Use of machines in Use of machines in textile and food textile and food industriesindustries

4.There is a change 4.There is a change from the rural from the rural settlements to urban settlements to urban settlements. There settlements. There should be should be accompanied by accompanied by public amenities such public amenities such as schools and banksas schools and banks

The processes may The processes may occur simultaneously occur simultaneously or at different time or or at different time or rates.rates.

Modernization leads to Modernization leads to social and structural social and structural differentiation.differentiation.

Eg. a developed economy Eg. a developed economy and society is highly and society is highly differentiated culture. differentiated culture. Commercialization of Commercialization of agriculture leads to agriculture leads to differentiation of differentiation of production, marketing and production, marketing and consumption.consumption.

The change from The change from traditional to modern traditional to modern society affects social society affects social structure in 3 ways:structure in 3 ways:

1. Structural differentiation is 1. Structural differentiation is defined as a process whereby defined as a process whereby one social role or organization one social role or organization differentiates into two or more differentiates into two or more roles or structure to function roles or structure to function more effectively. The new more effectively. The new social units are structurally social units are structurally distinct from each other.distinct from each other.

2. Integration – small 2. Integration – small differentiated units differentiated units merge into larger units merge into larger units which are assumed to which are assumed to be stronger and more be stronger and more efficient.efficient.

3. Differentiation may 3. Differentiation may lead to uneven lead to uneven processes of change – processes of change – conflicts, conflicts, disturbances, disparity disturbances, disparity in values and in values and acceptance. acceptance.

Eg. one reaction to Eg. one reaction to modernization has modernization has been the emergence of been the emergence of social groups that social groups that reject modern values. reject modern values.

Another theory of development by Dudley Seers (1969) says that development should occur when 3 major social problems i.e. inequality, poverty and unemployment among the population are reduced.

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