The development of a society is just as important as development (i.e. change for the better) in all aspects of life. Over the past decades, our society has undergone several drastic changes. These changes took place in every aspect of a person’s life. It started with the basic needs and how those needs became easily available. As a result, society then started focusing on more materialistic things.
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What is the development of society?
The development of society refers to the betterment of the living conditions and well-being of every individual, who is a part of the society. This includes a better healthcare system, proper wages, better working conditions, as well as the other facets of life required for a decent standard of living.
Society as we know is a group of individuals involved in social interaction or large groups of people sharing the same space. A society is usually formed by individuals who are typically subject to political, territorial, and other dominant cultures.
Humans have established a vast number and types of societies throughout history. These societies can be classified into three broad categories:
- Pre-industrial
- Industrial
- Post-industrial
Each of these societies has/had some sort of downfall in them, leading people to strive for better living.
The pre-industrial societies consisted mainly of food production and manual labor. It was subdivided into hunting and gathering, pastoral, horticultural, agricultural, and feudal.
Then came the Industrial society, between the 15th and 16th centuries. They relied heavily on machines powered by fuel for the production of goods. This led to an increase in production and caused an even greater surplus than before. Due to large surpluses, it caused a lot of changes, one of them being the increase in population.
The post-industrial society flourished between the 17th century and the present day. This society is dominated by information, services, and technology. Industrialists are now seeing a shift towards an increase in labor in the service sectors over manufacturing and production. Service sectors include government, education, health, research, sales, law, and banking.
Importance of development of a society
It is important for societies to develop especially those which have emerged out of conflicts in the past. So that a society can grow and build a stronger economy.
1. Job creation
One of the main reasons for job creation is the shift of workload from one sector to another. Earlier people used to engage only in farming. But gradually, these farmers moved to manual labor and wanted more work as there was a surplus in the amount of food being produced. Thus, most of people started moving to factories to find better job opportunities.
2. Industry Diversification
Since there was a large outburst in the working population and food was available in surplus, there was no need for farming for a living. This motivated the industrialists to expand and diversify their industries so that they could create more job opportunities.
3. Population growth
A large population has the potential to bring greater economic development. Economic growth and population growth go hand in hand. With the increase in population, the economy develops too. Thus, more people mean more work to do, at lower wages.
4. Tax Revenue
With the development of society, the economy is bound to develop. Consequently, the government needs to maintain the surroundings of the society and provide a better life to the people. For that, the government needs to have funds.
Those funds are collected through tax. These tax revenues are paid by both the people and companies. More companies in the region convert this increased tax revenue for community projects and local infrastructure.
5. Better quality of life
Better infrastructure and more jobs improve the economy in a region and raise the standards of living for the people. Societies now strive towards providing a better life for the people in order to increase welfare and production.
Factors for the development of a society
Many nations have undergone changes to become developed societies. Every society has to follow certain procedures and norms to grow and modernize its surroundings. These are some of the factors to determine the development of a society.
Through these factors, we can see how effectively a country has transitioned from an underdeveloped nation to a developed nation. Some of the ways a society can become developed are:
1. Education system
By providing education to each and every child, the country can ensure a higher literacy rate, especially for women. This leads to better jobs and improvement in the quality of living. The values of education are of paramount importance in promoting the development in society and eradicating illiteracy and poverty.
2. Resources
Resources are important for the development of a society. They help in increasing the standards of living and purchasing raw materials and fuel. An increase in the ability to purchase helps a nation in ranking higher in foreign exchanges which kick-starts the development process in motion.
3. Better medical facilities
“Health is wealth”. A nation can become developed only if the citizens have a proper healthcare infrastructure.
4. Women empowerment
Empowerment of women is a necessity in the development of society. It will give them a significant role in the society. Women and girls have faced discrimination and abuse in the past (and even now). This is not only a heinous crime but also prevents them from playing a major role in societal development. Only if a nation is willing to treat its women equally and give them the same rights, can the nation prosper.
Differences and similarities between society and culture
Culture is a set of beliefs, practices, learned behavior, and moral values which are embedded in a person and passed on from one generation to another. It is something that differentiates one society from another and unites the social framework through influence.
On the other hand, society is a group of people who live together and may have common interests. They may reside in a specific area and share cultures over time. It is a structure that also provides a way for people to organize themselves.
On the contrary, a similarity between society and culture is that sometimes culture may arise from society. They are not interchangeable and have a mutual co-existence.
Conclusion
The world around us is ever-changing. Nothing remains the same, and so does the society and its culture. There are many countries around the world that are developed and others struggling to make it through. But every nation is trying to modernize and develop its society in the best possible manner. Some of the ways to achieve the development of a society can be by providing better education for children and women, advanced medical facilities, and equal rights.
Today’s world is growing at a tremendous pace. With newer faith, belief, and ideas constantly replacing the old ones, it can be said that our societies would always be undergoing changes and constantly developing over the years to come. Change would be the only way for the proper development of a society and that would be the best for all.
Frequently asked questions on the development of society
1) What is development in a society?
Development in a society refers to the betterment of the living conditions and well-being of every individual, who is a part of the society. This includes a better healthcare system, proper wages, better working conditions, as well as the other facets of life required for a decent standard of living.
2) Why is development important to society?
The development in society is a boon to mankind. Here’s how it benefits society:
- Better chances of job creation
- Healthy living conditions and improved healthcare facilities
- Improved quality of education for all
- Happier citizens
3) What are the different types of development in society?
While it is a common notion that development in society refers to only living standards and societal administration, it also includes the physical, cognitive, and emotional development of the individuals.
4) What are the factors for development of society?
The factors for the development of society include:
- Proper education system to educate both young and old minds.
- Ensuring better living conditions and medical facilities.
- Empowering and educating women.
- Developing technological knowledge and understanding.
- Upholding the cultural values.
Written by: Reinhard Collaco (@reinisintheclouds)
Image courtesy: Pixabay
