Society never stood still. Therefore, sociologists of different eras and scientific schools tried in their own way to comprehend the laws by which it moves. This led to the formation of two polar points of view: on the revolutionary and evolutionary development of society.
Spencer Theory
The English sociologist and philosopher Herbert Spencer studied many aspects of society. In particular, it was he who described in detail those processes that affect the evolutionary development of society. His main book, The Fundamental Principles, was written in 1862. In it, Spencer combined such phenomena as the principle of state non-interference and evolutionism. Thanks to the author, his contemporaries learned a lot about the theory of progress.
Summarizing what Spencer wrote, we can say how the evolutionary and revolutionary development of society differ. First of all, the degree of state intervention in people's lives. If it is minimal, then a differentiation process arises. This is the collapse of one complex system into many small ones. New parts receive separate functions from their predecessors, which they can handle best. Thus, society gradually and peacefully evolves, using its own resources more and more efficiently.
Differentiation Features
The process of differentiation may result in an excessive accumulation of discrepancies between different parts of society. This can lead to system decay. Such a detrimental phenomenon is opposed by the integration that accompanies the development of society.
Interestingly, Spencer actually predicted Darwinian theory. It was formulated by an English scientist a few years after the publication of Basic Principles. Spencer, on the other hand, believed that social evolution is an integral part of universal universal evolution. He also described an important principle of the historical process, according to which different peoples with each generation moved to a new stage of progress, abandoning traditional remnants.
What is the difference between the evolutionary and revolutionary development of society? Whether it happens peacefully or by military means. This is a fundamental difference between these two ways. There are other important points. One of them was noted by the French scientist Emile Durkheim. This researcher, along with Karl Marx, Max Weber and Auguste Comte, is considered the godfather of modern sociological science.
Durkheim Theory
Durkheim believed that the evolutionary development of society, in contrast to the revolutionary, leads to a gradual natural division of labor. For example, capitalism was born in Western Europe. That is the difference between the evolutionary and revolutionary development of society.
According to Durheim, there are two types of social structure. Simple societies are divided into identical segments that are similar to each other. On the other hand, there are complex societies with a clear and multilateral system of their own structure. Moreover, each of them has its own small parts, which is the result of differentiation. The difference in structure is what distinguishes the evolutionary and revolutionary development of society. In the event of sudden changes, progress stops.
Emil Durkheim also identified several stages that accompany the complexity of society, if it goes along the evolutionary path of development. First, the size of the population increases. This leads to the fact that the quantity and quality of social relations is growing. Then begins the process of division of labor, which stabilizes the contradictions between different groups.
The German sociologist Ferdinand Tennis was the first scientist to study social progress on a historical example. In his book Community and Society, he showed Germany’s transition from a traditional to a modern relationship. Gradualism is what distinguishes the evolutionary and revolutionary development of society.
Marxism
In the XIX century, most sociologists adhered to Spencer's views. However, at the same time, the opposite point of view appeared. Its founders were Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. These two German scientists became supporters of the revolution as a solution to problems between different sections of the population under capitalism. Marx became the author of Capital. The fundamental work turned out to be a bible for various left-wing political movements over time.
Result of revolutions
The evolutionary and revolutionary development of society are opposite to each other because they imply different methods of progress. In the XIX and XX centuries there were several major armed uprisings, the purpose of which was the restructuring of society. Some of them were successful and led to the fall of the existing order.
Different ways of development of society (evolutionary and revolutionary) also differ in their consequences. Gradual progress also slowly solves the contradictions that arise between social classes. A revolution, however, leads to terror and an instant breakdown of established traditions. At first, such stories existed only on the pages of books, but the events after the First World War showed their real bloodthirstiness and ruthlessness.
Social growth stages
The modern concept of evolutionary and revolutionary development of society developed gradually. Each new generation of scientists brought something new to these theories. For example, in the 20th century, American Walt Whitman Rostow proposed the new term "growth stages." There were five in total. Each of them characterized a certain stage in the progress of society.
The first stage is a traditional society. It is based on agriculture. This is a very inert state that is difficult to change. From this stage begins the evolutionary and revolutionary development of society. The value of traditional society is great, because it is at this stage that all the customs of one or another people are born.
The second stage is characterized by a transition period. At this stage, society accumulates enough resources to begin its development. The amount of capital investment is growing. In addition, the state becomes centralized (feudalism is becoming a thing of the past).
At the third stage, the industrial revolution begins , which is characterized by the development of various types of industries. Production methods are changing, which increases its efficiency.
Industrial society
At the fourth stage, prerequisites arise for the emergence of an industrial society, which is finally formed at the last stage of evolutionary development. It is characterized by a developed and complex system of division of labor, in which everyone is engaged in his own business according to education and skills.
Increased production allows you to supply a large number of various products to the market. It improves the quality of life of people. Production is being modernized through automation and mechanization. A similar process ends with a scientific and technological revolution. Modern developed communication systems (vehicles, etc.) appear. People become more mobile, and cities go through the stage of urbanization, when the latest infrastructure for a comfortable and convenient life appears.
Post-industrial society
The idea of an industrial society that arose as a result of the evolutionary development of society was very popular in the 20th century. But she did not become final. Some sociologists (Zbigniew Brzezinski, Alvin Toffler) have proposed the concept of post-industrial society, which corresponds to the modern world economy.