of Modern Ghana Session 1 The Concept of Social Change Lecturers: - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

College of Education School of Continuing and Distance Education

2016/2017

SOCI 224: Social Structure

• f Modern Ghana

Session 1 – The Concept of Social Change

Lecturers: Dr. Fidelia Ohemeng & Mark K. M. Obeng, University of Ghana Contact Information: fohemeng@ug.edu.gh

Session Overview

Societies are not static, but dynamic. Some changes are gradual, while others are swift. This session introduces the concepts of social structure and social change to students. We will start by explaining the concept of social change, the causes of social change globally, and the sources of change in Ghana.

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Session Outline

The key topics to be covered in the session are as follows:

• What is social change?
• The factors of social change
• Social change in Ghana-the impact of colonialism
• From traditionality to modernism Topic One

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Reading List

• Assimeng, M. (1999). Social Structure of Ghana: A Study in

Persistence and Change. Accra: Ghana Publishing Corporation. Pages 236-240.

• Abotchie, C. (2016) Social Change in Ghana. Accra: Hans
• Publications. Pages 4-11.
• Nukunya, G.K. (2014). Tradition and Change in Ghana: An

Introduction to Sociology. Pages 128-136.

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WHAT IS SOCIAL CHANGE?

Topic One

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What is social change?

• According to Robert

Moore (1967) “any significant alteration in the social structure, which may originate endogenously or exogenously in any institutional area, bringing about changes in

• ther institutional areas,

which in turn make for further adaptations in the initial sphere of change”.

Sample Question

• Use the smart phone as a source of

change to illustrate the concept of Social Change as given by Moore (1968).

Slide 7

SOURCES OF SOCIAL CHANGE

Topic Two

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Sources of Social Change

• Industrialization
• Innovation/technology
• Education
• Social movements (such as the civil rights movements in

the USA)

• Wars/civil wars/political instability
• Colonialism
• Urbanisation/modernisation

SOCIAL CHANGE IN GHANA: THE IMPACT OF COLONIALISM

Topic Three

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Social Change in Ghana: the Impact of Colonialism

• Colonialism is the major source of change in the Ghanaian
• society. It was introduced from outside the Ghanaian

society.

• The change which started in the political institution brought

gradual changes into the other institutions till all the other institutions were affected.

• Apart from colonialism, other sources of change in the

Ghanaian society are the attainment of independence on March 6, 1957 and the Military Coup d’tat led by the PNDC in December 31, 1981.

Slide 11

FROM TRADITIONALITY TO MODERNISM

Topic Four

Slide 12

Features of traditional society

• Nukunya (2014) uses 1900

as the base year to determine the transition from traditionality to modernity.

• The features of a traditional

society are:

– Traditional societies are characterised by a belief in the legitimacy of authority that has always existed. – People obey their commands because it is always in accordance with custom. – Those exercising power do so by virtue of their inherited status. – Traditional societies are non- literate ones. – History based

• n
• ral

traditions. – Economy is mainly agricultural – Traditional societies are characterised by hereditary succession, age as basis for status and roles and rigid adherence to customs.