Sociology was Born to Solve Modern Problems
Transition of society during 1800s
- Factories replaced farms: Machines took over jobs, and cities grew crowded.
- Old rules broke down: In villages, everyone knew each other, but in cities, people became strangers.
- New social classes emerged: A small group got rich (capitalists), while workers lived in slums.
Founders of Sociology Reacted to These Changes:
- Auguste Comte (Father of Sociology) said we need a “science of society” to fix social problems caused by modernity.
- Karl Marx studied how factory owners exploited workers. He argued capitalism created inequality.
- Émile Durkheim worried that modern life made people feel lonely and disconnected (he called this anomie).
- Max Weber warned that modern societies were becoming too bureaucratic (ruled by strict rules and paperwork).
In short: Sociology began as a response to the confusion and challenges of modern industrial society.
Key Themes in Sociology are About Modern Life
Sociology studies topics that define modern societies:
A. Capitalism and Inequality
- Marx’s ideas about class struggle (rich vs. poor) are still relevant. For example, today’s debates about billionaires vs. gig workers reflect this.
- Modern issues like outsourcing jobs to poor countries or automation (robots replacing humans) are studied through sociology.
- Urban Slums: Dharavi’s informal economy vs. Mumbai’s luxury apartments show inequality.
B. Urbanization and City Life
- Cities are hubs of modern society. Sociologists study:
- Why slums exist next to skyscrapers.
- How city life affects mental health (e.g., loneliness in crowds).
- The role of public transport, parks, or housing policies.
C. Institutions of Modernity
- Government: How democracies function, why people protest, or how laws are made.
- Education: Schools prepare people for jobs in a modern economy.
- Family: Nuclear families (parents + kids) replaced joint families in cities.
D. Technology and Globalization
- Social media changing friendships (e.g., Instagram vs. face-to-face chats).
- Globalization: How a smartphone made in China is sold in India, affecting local jobs.
- Climate change as a global risk (e.g., floods in Pakistan linked to factories in the U.S.).
- Jio Revolution: Cheap internet changed how Indians socialize, shop, and protest.
Sociology Uses Tools Made for Modern Society
Sociologists rely on methods suited to study large, complex societies:
- Surveys: Asking thousands of people about their jobs, habits, or opinions (e.g., election polls).
- Statistics: Using data to find patterns (e.g., linking education levels to income).
- Fieldwork: Studying modern subcultures, like IT workers in Bengaluru or TikTok influencers.
Example: To understand why young Indians delay marriage, sociologists might interview people, analyze dating apps, or study changing laws.
Sociology vs. Anthropology: The Modern vs. Traditional
- Anthropology traditionally studied small, tribal societies (e.g., rituals of Amazon tribes).
- Sociology focuses on large, modern societies (e.g., caste in urban India).
- However, today both overlap. For example, sociologists study tribal communities displaced by dams, while anthropologists study Wall Street bankers.
Does Sociology Ignore the Past or Non-Western Societies?
Critics argue sociology is too focused on the West and modernity.
- Historical Sociology
- Scholars like Barrington Moore Jr. studied feudal societies to explain why some countries became democratic (e.g., India) and others dictatorships (e.g., China).
- Example: To understand Modi’s India, we might study British colonial policies.
- Studying Non-Western Societies
- Sociology now includes studies on Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
- Example: Analyzing how WhatsApp spreads fake news in Indian villages shows the mix of modernity (technology) and tradition (caste politics).
- Postmodernism: A branch of sociology argues that “modernity” itself is changing.
- Today’s society is fluid—think of people working from home, identities shaped by Netflix, or cryptocurrencies.
- Example: A YouTuber in a small town earning global fame represents postmodern society.
Conclusion
Sociology is like a mirror to modern society. It started by studying factories and cities in 19th-century Europe but has evolved to tackle today’s issues—AI, pandemics, or climate change. While it can study tribal villages or medieval kingdoms, its heart lies in analyzing the complex, fast-changing, interconnected world we live in now.
Simple References to Remember:
- Durkheim: Modern life can make people feel lost; society needs shared values.
- Marx: Capitalism creates rich vs. poor conflicts.
- Weber: Bureaucracy and rationality rule modern workplaces.
- Giddens: Globalization makes the world a “runaway train” of change.