Social Changes and Development

Course Družbene spremembe in razvoj is introduced through a problematisation of everyday notions regarding historical development of human society, such as linear advancenent, teleologically directed course etc. After that, research models of evolution of complex systems are presented and different aspects of the problematic are considered (development, evolution, reproduction etc.). Historical conditions of emergence of the ideals of social development in the Age of Enlightenment and in the XIX century are exposed (Comte, Marx, Spencer). Historical-materialist concepts of social development together with concepts of social formation, mode of production etc. are discussed, followed by problematisation of reproduction of the relations of production. Biological conditions of human evolution are considered together with a critic of biologisi concepts of society and social evolution. The contribution of scailan and cultural anthropology to the understanding of social and cultural evolution is critically examined. Notion of diffusion and endogene development of societies are problematised. The evolution of social complexity is viewed on the background of comparison of societies with domestic, tributary and capitalist dominant modes of production. Europocentric views on modern or capitalist development are analysed. Theories of modernisations are critically reviewed along with ruling theories of growth and development after World war II and their social cost is critically assessed. Actual global social changed is analysed using tools of the world-sytsems, articulation, and other theories. Current developmental dilemmas and challenges are discussed. The consequences of limits of growth are discussed as well as attempts to introduce sustainable social development.