Convergence or Divergence?: Comparing Recent Social Trends in Industrial Societies (Comparative Charting of Social Change) - Hardcover

Langlois, Simon; Caplow, Theodore

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0773512640 ISBN 13: 9780773512641

Verlag: MCGILL QUEENS UNIV PR, 1994

Inhaltsangabe

Book by Langlois Simon Caplow Theodore Mendras Henri

Über diesen Titel

Reseña del editor

Trends in fertility decline, intergenerational relations, religion and secularization, ecological movements, employment and labour-market changes, personal authority, and social conflict are examined. This analysis shows an unmistakable convergence of social trends except in the domain of religion. But when the interconnection of these trends within each national society is examined, unexpected divergences are revealed. There are parallel trends in demography, organization of production, national institutions, social practices, and life style, and divergent trends in social inequality, social movements, and local institutions. Barriers between social classes have eroded and something that might be called multidimensional stratification has emerged, the diminution of violence in social conflicts implies an increasing volume of negotiation, and all forms of personal authority have been weakened. The transformation of the family structure is no doubt one of the most important changes in western civilization. The cross-national analyses of recent social trends help us to assess both convergence and divergence and to identify emergent singularities. Does convergence of trends mean these societies face a common destiny? With respect to trends so strong that they act as exogenous variables, the answer is yes. However, with respect to the responses those trends elicit in the context of a particular society, the answer is no. Massive convergence of trends does not mean that societies face a uniform future.

Contraportada

The publication of this volume opens the second phase of an intellectual enterprise begun in May, 1987, when a dozen social scientists from France, the United States, West Germany, ad Quebec met in Paris to organize the International Research Group on the Comparative Charting of Social Change.

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: MCGILL QUEENS UNIV PR
• Erscheinungsdatum: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0773512640
• ISBN 13: 9780773512641
• Einband: Tapa dura
• Sprache: Englisch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 340