Topic 6: Social change Flashcards
Social change
changes in how people live and interact in society
Factors that impact social change
law
new technologies
new values
new forms of work
political + economic factors
education
mass media
Relationship between law & social change
law is both an independent and dependent variable of social change
Jeremy Betham
law as a mechanism for social change
Fredrich Karl von Savigny
law is not an efficient tool to facilitate social change
superficial, insufficient to change underlying structures
Law as the dependent variable
as rate of social change increases, law becomes faster + more likely to respond
Law as the independent variable
law as a tool to induce social change
Law as the dependent variable: factors that impact law
social conditions, societal values, technological changes
Role of law in social change
direct + indirect effects of law
Types of changes through law: Planning
address issues, implement change, achieve desired outcomes
Types of changes through law: Disruption
interruption of existing structures
Law as an instrument for social change: Institutionalization
norms are established in society
Law as an instrument for social change: Internalization
society internalizes norms
Evans: societal conditions shaping law’s efficacy for social change
requirements for law to be internalized
authoritative source
supported by existing social values
reference successful laws
changes made fast
committed law enforcement
positive + negative sanctions
reasonable enforcement
explicit clear rules + transparent information
Advantages of law for social change: Intention
deliberate + focused
