Sociology of Economic Development - Trends and Insights
Economic development is essential for social progress, and this report delves into the concepts, aspects, and major trends in the sociology of economic development, addressing questions on growth, infrastructure, and social consequences.
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Sociology of Economic Development Sociology of Economic Development A Trend Report A Trend Report By : SC By : SC Dube Dube Presented By : Prof. Alok Kumar Head Department of Sociology Chaudhary Charan Singh University
1. Introduction An English economist Wicksteed once said that a man can neither be a saint nor a poet nor a lover unless he has something to eat. Of nations also, it might be said that political development, cultural achievement and transformation, and social progress is possible only by the attainment of minimum standards of living Or, we may say, social progress is contingent upon economic development.
2. Concept of Economic Development In the broadest sense, economic development might be viewed as any growth in real income per capita from whatever source . In a narrower sense, it may be said that economic development refers to the extensive application of inanimate power and other technologies to the production and distribution of economic goods . Thus, economic development, simply can be described in words of Jaffe and Stewart as the rationalization of economic production i.e effective utilization of labor, resource, etc.
3. Aspects in Sociology of Economic Development Aspects of Sociology of Economic Development deals with following questions : How does economic growth begin? What are the social and cultural infrastructures of economic development? Can we postulate any social preconditions for economic changes? How can these preconditions be induced? To promote economic development what else must be changed? What are the social consequences of economic development? To what extent can cushioning be provided to limit the possible social injuries resulting from it? Can prime movers of economic development be identified? How well do they go with the range of traditional social structures? Are there any ways to overcome the social and cultural barriers and to accelerate economic development? Attempts to answer these questions will form the content of the sociology of economic development
4. Major Trends in Sociology of Economic Development SC Dube identifies the major trends in the development of this specialty under four heads : Micro-Level Analysis Single-factor analysis and middle-range explanations Macro-Analysis Debate on Modernisation
Micro Micro- -Level Analysis Level Analysis Few of such studies are:- SC Dube (1958) has provided a case study of two western UP villages under a Community Development Project with emphasis on the incompatibilities of the bureaucratic structure on communication and the role of cultural factors. H W Beers (1962) has analyzed the relationships among workers in community development blocks and brought out some of the functional and dysfunctional aspects of the administrative structure and its somewhat confusing role relationships. D C Dubey, W A Sutton, and G Gallup (1962) offered profiles of village-level workers and discussed the problems of their status/role both within and outside the administrative setup. This refers to those studies that have a bearing on economic development but have a narrow focus(in most cases by design) and confine themselves to its problems and processes in a particular village.
Single Single- -factor analysis and middle factor analysis and middle- - range explanations range explanations (I) Role of tradition in economic development M Singer (1956) examined the role of cultural values on India s economic development. W K Kapp (1963) discussed Hinduism as a religion and also as a social system to determine the extent to which it serves or contradicts the social purpose of India s development effort In his view certain aspects of Hindu culture the doctrine of karma, emphasis on renunciation austerity and sacrifice, cyclical time, and cosmic causation desireless action, social segmentation based on caste joint family and so forth retard economic growth in India. The more rewarding studies in the general area of the sociology of economic development are those which isolate single factors and discuss their role in the process of development such as religion, caste etc.
Single Single- -factor analysis and middle factor analysis and middle- - range explanations range explanations (II) Role of social structure in economic development F G Bailey (1967) maintains that the Joint family cannot survive divergent interests and disparate income among its members. MSA Rao (1968) examines these contentions in the light of his data on Ahirs in Jadavpur and concludes that joint household organization is not incompatible with cash incomes and diverse occupations. Contrary to the above two, T N Madan (1968) discussed the relationship between the Hindu family and economic development. For him, Urbanization and industrialization do not necessarily lead to the disintegration of the joint family. Citing the example of mining and factory workers, he shows them to have larger households.
Single Single- -factor analysis and middle factor analysis and middle- - range explanations range explanations (III) Role of religion on economic development Vikas Mishra (1962) has found that certain aspects of Hinduism such as the objective of release from re-birth, law of karma, asceticism, and caste system as obstacles to western-style industrialization. Although in early times they helped economic growth. AK Saran(1962), on Max Weber's request to enquire about the non- development of capitalism along rational lines in India, showed that Hinduism does not permit it. SK Singh(1968) examined in the Weberian framework, the possibilities and problems of economic growth in Hindu Society. KN Sahay(1967) has shown how Christianity led to economic development in a tribal group of Bihar
Single Single- -factor analysis and middle factor analysis and middle- - range explanations range explanations (IV) Role of Elites in economic development YogeshAtal(1968) has persuasively argued discussion of role elites in economic development by distinguishing between several types of elites. PC Joshi (1968) described the role of elite especially the political elite in the process of development. S Navalakha (1969) has pointed towards the widening gap between the elite and the masses and brought out some contradictions within the ranks of the elite.
Single Single- -factor analysis and middle factor analysis and middle- - range explanations range explanations (V) Impact of Administrative Pattern on economic development S C Dube (1964) has discussed the nation-building roles of bureaucracy in transitional societies. A more pointed analysis of the roles, problems, and dysfunctions of the bureaucracy is found in a subsequent paper by him. RP Taub s book Bureaucrats Under Stress (1969), based on interviews with administrators and with those among whom they work, examines the attitudes that men bring to their jobs, to one another, and their tasks.
Single Single- -factor analysis and middle factor analysis and middle- - range explanations range explanations (VI) Role of education and communication SC Dube (1967) has suggested the possible contribution that education can make to modernization In a working paper, S Shukla(1968)discussed the role of education in social change and economic development. He also relates formal education to the elite formation SC Dube (1967) presented a summary of several communication studies and critically examined the nature reach and effects of developmental communication in India Y V L Rao (1966) discussed the role of communication in two south Indian villages
Single Single- -factor analysis and middle factor analysis and middle- - range explanations range explanations (VII) Impact of Labour on economic Development K N Sharma (1969) made an effort to locate the sources from which indigenous entrepreneurs have been drawn. VR Gaikwad and RN Tripathi (1970) based on their study of ten entrepreneurs in Andhra Pradesh have highlighted various factors that have contributed and inhibited the growth of entrepreneurship in India. A K Das and H N Banerjee (1964) have shown the impact of the tea industry on the tribals of West Bengal.
Macro Macro- -Analysis Analysis Studies based on Macro-Analysis are as below :- In G Myrdal s massive Asian Drama (1968), (three volumes) seven parts thirty-three chapters nine appendices and 591 sections are devoted to an inquiry into the poverty of the countries of South Asia. Making an institutional approach to the problems of economic development. This work is more appropriately called The Drama of India s development because it devotes a disproportionately large portion of space and analyses to this one country. Kusum Nair in her book Blossoms in the Dust shows the low level of aspiration among India s peasants who didn t share the concept of an ever-rising standard of living. She also noted the structural inflexibility of Village India. These according to her account for the slow progress of this country. John P Lewis(1962) also discussed the problems that confronted the country in the early sixties in outlining the strategy for development.
Debate on Debate on Modernisation Modernisation Studies on modernization are as below : SC Dubey(1967) has examined the adaptive demands that modernization makes on Indian society. Lloyd and Susanne Rudolph(1967) in their book The Modernity of Tradition have argued based on Indian data, that traditional structures and norms can be adapted or transformed to serve the needs of a modernizing society M N Srinivas (1970) argues that the concept of modernization is not value-free, notions of desirability and inevitability are implicit in it. Yogendra Singh (1970) discusses the political aspects of modernization.
5. Conclusion and Needed Research Sociology of economic development is comparatively a recent specialization that has emerged in the wake of the country s effort for planned development. As far as the trend of studies is considered, the most rewarding studies are single-factor analysis which gives middle range generalization. As far as needed research is concerned, SC Dubey points three things: A need to develop a sociological model of economic development which is not merely a copy of western sociological theories. Secondly, an investigation which takes account of both structural and value explanation must be done. Thirdly, there is a need for policy-oriented research.
6. Reference Reference Dube, SC 1974: Sociology of Economic Development-A Trend Report , A survey of research in sociology and social Anthropology Vol-2, Popular Prakashan, Bombay, pp : 1-29
