Complex Society

Introduction
Defining a Complex Society
Modern Society
Post-Industrial Society
Summary

Introduction

We have highlighted a number of simple societies' characteristics in previous post. Complex societies, we discover, are neither tribal nor simply structured. We discover that the complexity of contemporary society is, in part, defined by technological development. Although there is a rural-urban divide, community life is not wholly distinct from that in simple societies. In complex societies, we look at issues related to women's employment as well as industrial conflict. Finally, we focus on post-industrial society, including some of its key characteristics and current trends.

Defining a Complex Society

Modern society is a complex society that has advanced technologically from the time of hunting and gathering to the moon landing. Modern industrial nation-states are contrasted with simple societies, which are referred to as "complex societies," in a number of significant ways.

larger territory and population membership;
greater occupatio~lal differentiation, and specialisation of work and social groups;
advanced technology for production of consunier items, building of houses, work places, etc;
greater co-ordination in the management of the complex society;
quick rate of change in terms of consumer goods, forms of education, and so on;
faster modes of inass communication, such as, radio, TV, computers internet etc

Change was initially brought about by technological developments. The nation-state was founded as a result of the expansion of vast markets, job opportunities, and population growth. Comparable to nothing in simple societies, this is far more inclusive in its organization.

Rural-Urban Dichotomy

The rural and urban communities are clearly distinct from one another, according to earlier sociological theories. The idea of the rural-urban dichotomy, however, changed over time. Sociologists have discovered that even in rural areas, there is a high level of individualism, lack of understanding, fear, and suspicion of strangers. A serious blow was dealt to the notion of rural life as a "peaceful village.". These studies showed that the idyllic communal existence in villages was not true. Interestingly, the 1950s saw a change in how people thought of urban communities. It was discovered that having family and friends around made life comfortable, casual, and close. In other words, urban villages do exist in city life.

Complex societies have a very mysterious feature in this regard. Additionally, there are people who work in cities but reside in rural areas. Thus, neither the town nor the village cannot be viewed as a stereotype. The presence or absence of close associations was independent of the environment. They were autonomous.

Aspects of Community Life

The aforementioned information makes one thing abundantly clear: in a complex society, rural and urban life are not mutually exclusive. In fact, it was no longer possible to assume that an association's type was determined by its environment. This does not imply, however, that there are no distinctions between populations in rural and urban areas.

Later studies stressed that:

i) social class and
ii) stage in family cycle were very important factors in the complex societies.

Studies show that social class has an impact on a person's ability to choose their place of residence. Choose an area within a social class based on the stage of your family's cycle. Young parents in a social class therefore do not have the same level of investment as older parents. Thus, there are a number of limitations on where one can live. Similar social class and family cycle stages are clustered together by the housing market.

Some sociologists emphasize that the group, not the community as a whole, is what is influenced. They make the case for researching regional social structures. They think that these ought to be researched in light of:.

maintenance and establishment;
modifying circumstances; and
inter-relationships with national systems

It was suggested that relationships within communities and local behaviors are closely related to societal behavior. Personal ties were thought to be drastically dwindling. As a result, local "horizontal" ties are being replaced by vertical links to the central decision-makers. Despite the fact that community reflects the nation, the two are thus intricately linked. Once again, a critical component of urban studies is the analysis of economic factors. Additionally, it was believed that urban issues are not unique to cities, e. g. slums and hardship. As a result, it can be said that community studies do aid in the study of social change. However, a locality study provides more accurate data for the same.

Types of Urbanisation

There are three types of urbanisation concept:

i) Over-urbanisation.
ii) Under-urbanisation.
iii) De-urbanisation.

Overurbanization is a problem in developing nations. The villages that surround cities are their enclaves. They are also regarded as "beachheads," from which economic expansion and its advantages spread to rural areas. In our opinion, metropolitan development in overpopulated areas is caused by foreign capital. The major nations of the developed world are thus abusing cities.

These urban areas start to take advantage of the rural areas nearby. For economic and political hegemony, they are nevertheless reliant on industrial nationdoth. The manufacturing sector doesn't expand strongly in this environment. There is too much focus on the service sector. As a result, there is urbanization rather than true industrialization. Therefore, over-urbanization implies that cities in the developing world are not sufficiently industrialized in comparison to population ratios. The image shows the strong agrarian roots of the service industry.

Modern society

The foundation of contemporary society is industry. Technical expertise is highly regarded in such societies. The value of unskilled labor is low. The wage structure reflects everything mentioned above. Management and administrative services enjoy great prestige. There are several aspects of modern society. These consist of:.

i) profit-motive production by big capitalists;
ii) technological advances;
iii) high rate of urban populations;
iv) bureaucratic organisation; and
v) spread of education.

Modern societies and big businesses are therefore crucial, but they also make interaction impersonal. Eastern Europe is underurbanized in contrast to the developing world, which is overurbanized. In comparison to overurbanization, this is sort of the opposite situation. Under-urbanization results from excessive or overindustrialization and a lack of support systems, such as housing, whereas the former is caused by industrialization and Iow rural employment opportunities. As a result, the state was unable to provide housing for those who worked in cities. In addition, the free market rate was too expensive for the typical person's budget. As a result, getting to work requires a long commute both up and down. Chances of owning a home are only available to those in higher social classes. The burden of industrialization is placed on the less affluent segments of society through the process of under-urbanization.

De-urbanization is the topic we'll look at next. Since the late 1970s, there has been a shift in British society from large urban towns to small towns and villages. Thus, urban/industrial relations have become more rural. This is considered to be the outcome of the economic and industrial policies that support such a process. In the fields of advanced technology, this ruralization is particularly pronounced.

Community therefore continues to be crucial in general. Examining change is useful. The concept of a good community is still very prevalent today. Nevertheless, it is important to always keep in mind how your community is connected to the rest of society.

Again, in terms of expectations and duties, kinship significance is diminished in modern society. However, a complicated division of labor emerges. A large organization has a lot of specialized areas.

Subcultures and countercultures come in a variety of forms in contemporary society, each one representing a particular demographic. These develop in relation to political ideologies, music, or philosophy. Further, we discover that the sacred arena in contemporary society is comparatively small. Folk societies, in contrast, are considerably smaller and more cohesive. Technology is not widely used, and the religious ethos is very strong. It presents a somewhat dissimilar picture of contemporary society.

Modern society has some additional facets. One perspective holds that a mass society is what is emerging. Small groups have no chance in that society. People deteriorate psychologically, becoming shallow and lacking in deep commitment. There is insecurity and rivalry in relationships. Local organizations are isolated from the mainstream in terms of politics. People rarely feel a sense of belonging at their place of employment, and job satisfaction is uncommon. Politicians thus use this discontent to their advantage. However, some sociologists see only pluralism in these circumstances. They believe that individuals in contemporary society have a plethora of options.

Work in Complex Societies

Work is defined as paid work in complex organizations. Work nevertheless might not result in a salary. It may take time and require skill without producing a wage, for example. g. house maintenance. In societies, there is frequently a tendency to favor leisure over work. Work is therefore any mental or physical activity that produces a specific outcome. As a result, work can take many different forms. In fact, in complex societies, hobbies like cricket, football, wrestling, and tennis have in some ways evolved into professions that pay well. The players support themselves by entertaining the audience. Others are ready to accept payment for their performances. So the primary area of work is employment or self-employment. Recreational activities are also connected to it.

Work Structures

Work and family are frequently inextricably linked in simple societies. In the Trobriand Islands, according to Bronislaw Malinowski, a magician oversaw a lot of the day-to-day operations. Once more, kinship responsibilities were taken into account when distributing agricultural output. In such societies, domestic and professional activities are intertwined. This also applied to pre-industrial France. Here, family members provided comprehensive assistance with farm work. Contrarily, complex societies have particular employees or workers. These people share a workplace that is not their home. Their work is overseen and involves power and machinery. As a result, employment freedom is limited. Without pausing, fixed hours must be worked diligently.

In a complex society, the wages that are paid to the employees are the main draw. To higher authorities (managers, supervisors, etc.), they must submit. (while at work. From simple societies, this is all very different. There are hardly any work rhythms that take into account the pace and endurance of the worker. The issue of breaking the routine is not brought up. There are some provisions for emergencies (casual leave, medical leave, etc.). (in government-run organizations. The days of loose rhythms or rhythms focused on the individual are over. Commercial offices in complex societies emphasize punctuality and nonstop work. Timekeeping is fundamental to capitalist and contemporary work environments.

These factors were gradually no longer seen as being forced upon the workers; instead, they were seen as being advantageous. They were prepared to put in a lot of effort and adhere to all regulations. This effort to instill time consciousness and a commitment to hard work in employees is still going strong today. Some people have objected to all of these changes. The complex societies are aware of the significant increase in the standard of living, though. However, some of the work has been both mentally and physically taxing. In today's complex societies, alienation is a reality of social life. Compared to the tribal situation, this is completely the opposite. g. Kalahari Bushmen. There, material needs were few and simple to satisfy. There was no propensity or chance to inflame desires.

Therefore, some sociologists have noted that simple societies have led to better quality of life. It is not as robotic or incessantly time-focused. For leisure, there is enough time. The definition of "leisure time" has changed in complex societies, though. Many organizations, including. Businesses, workplaces, etc. pay their employees for vacation time, and they grant them special leave time in order to increase the workers' capacity and productivity. In complex societies, work has become one of the most important aspects of life, and wage labor is a significant component of the work sector. The act of completing the work is also regarded as a form of work. Some sociologists believe that when work, in the form of wages earned through employment, social standing, and a certain standard of living, permeates every aspect of life—as it does in a complex society—people's attitudes become excessively commercialized. In fact, some sociologists think that class in modern societies can be explained in terms of consumption. As a result, someone who consumes more or more expensive items may be categorized as belonging to a higher class. Conflicts between the economic factors can result from the tendency toward commercialization. We will use the topic of industry conflict as an example to highlight this point.

Conflict in Industry

In the workplace, the employer has control over the workers' labor during a specific period of time. The employer wants to employ the worker in different roles. He therefore intentionally leaves the terms of the contract vague. However,

(i) management worker discussions and frequently disputes center on
(ii) technical qualifications;
(iii) responsibility; and
(iv) work conditions and effort.

As a result, the topic of pay and work effort is constantly brought up. The employee desires more facilities and higher pay. However, the management's goal is to maximize profits, which includes keeping the workers' pay low and their hours of work long. The same issue applies to both technical skill and pay. Management is once again looking for responsible behavior. Depending on the level within an organization, different responsibilities apply. Higher positions come with more responsibility and pay. After that, this too becomes a point of contention.

When attempts are made to replace workers with machines, there are additional areas of contention. This is also referred to as labor retrenchment. It also exists when efforts are made to closely regulate them. Dehumanizing and alienating jobs can happen frequently.

Strikes, whether they are legal or illegal, are the most obvious form of industrial conflict. Other techniques, however, call for worker cooperation in order to:

i) go slow;
ii) absenteeism; and
iii) sabotage.

These techniques may not appear to be very effective at first glance, but they seriously harm management. When management acknowledges an industrial dispute as a just course of action, its significance increases. Rarely is this the situation. Management frequently refuses to recognize labor unions. The pluralist perspective on industrial conflict holds that different groups may have a variety of grievances. Later, when decisions need to be made, they must be involved. Another contentious topic is the control of employees. Additionally, this control is implemented through bureaucratic laws and rules. As a result, options are drastically constrained, and a strong sense of confinement results. Unfairnesses exist in industrial conflict, which is a global reality. To solve this problem, though, is crucial.

Employment and Women

Appreciable progress has been made in advancing women's employment in complex societies. However, in the professional spheres, men and women continue to be segregated. There is "horizontal" segregation because most jobs held by women are administrative, culinary, receptionist, nursing, educational, and other support positions. There is also "vertical" segregation; for instance, few women hold skilled manual jobs or the highest levels of management. As a result, their salaries are also less than those of men. As things stand, discrimination against women in the workplace is fading. No longer is it believed that a woman must remain at home and perform only domestic duties.

Furthermore, the idea of two incomes has grown in acceptance because it raises the standard of living. However, women continue to be in charge of raising the next generation. Also, domestic work falls under this. However, men do contribute to household duties in most urban nuclear families, whether voluntarily or as a result of social pressure. As a result, most jobs offer maternity leave. Likewise, mothers frequently spend time with their children. The would-be father may also take advantage of the provision for paternity leave. However, employers still view women as less important employees than do men. They aren't frequently given workshops to attend, which would improve their abilities. A common perception is that they are less serious about their work because of domestic commitments. However, it is not necessary that union meetings, etc., are true. despite the fact that improved communication and technology are bringing more and more women into the workforce, these conditions do not encourage their participation. In general, men still dominate the workforce.

Post-Industrial Society

There are many different dimensions or characteristics that make up post-industrial society. These characteristics set it apart from modern society. Three of them will be looked at here, and two more will be in the section after this. The first significant trait is:

Service Economy: In post-industrial societies, manufacturing and agriculture don't employ the vast majority of the labor force. Governments are major employers and the two main employment sectors are services and commerce. Just the U. today. S. A. demonstrates this stage's signs. Servicks account for more than 60% of the labor force. More growth is anticipated in this. In industrial societies, blue-collar and semi-skilled labor predominate.
Professional and Technicians. Technical and professional operators, however, increasingly dominate in post-industrial societies. The post-industrial society's foundation starts to take the form of a new class system.
Theoretical Knowledge: The value of theoretical knowledge in the post-industrial society cannot be overstated. Social science that is based on math and science has a significant impact. In actuality, there is a perceived shortage of experts with scientific training. Universities gain a great deal of importance by meeting this need.

Further Features

Technology Planning
The use of some technologies has been shown to be harmful in modern society. g. DDT harms wildlife, crops, and birds. Nuclear energy generating facilities pose a risk for accidents like Chemobyl and produce nuclear waste. USSR. Technology assessment is used in post-industrial societies to guard against any negative effects. As a result, both the government and the general public are much more aware of the possibility that the development of technology may occasionally have negative side effects.
Intellectual Technology
For a post-industrial society, an innovative intellectual technology will be essential. Modern machine technology is not what it is. Intellectual technology includes organizational tools and management strategies. It is essential to use computers, supercomputers, and new mathematics extensively. Politicians, not technologists, make the decisions about how advanced technology is actually used. The less-developed population may be completely exploited in this scenario's economy. This could spark a revolution among the exploited. Therefore, the post-industrial society may not last for very long or-else societies, both developed and developing, may take conscious precautions to protect themselves from overexploitation of the natural environment and pollution.

Some Trends

The continuation of current trends is necessary for the emergence of the post-industrial society. Let's think about some of these things that could happen if this doesn't happen:.

i) State Tasks: These include wealth distribution and saving. These two contradict one another because the latter entails spending money rather than saving it. The issue cannot be resolved by raising taxes. It costs a lot to get an education, get medical care, and get insurance. A financial crisis occurs when savings are insufficient to cover them.
ii) Cultural Change: Cultural change is possible, and it can affect not only the economy but also all facets of social life. The new generation may find fulfillment both inside themselves and outside of their careers.
iii) Ideologies: Post-industrialism imposes strict regulations on the major corporations. It embodies a form of "state capitalism.". State socialism exists in other nations. Socialism is supposed to result in a communal society where the state eventually becomes unnecessary. However, current communist trends do not support this. Some sociologists believe that community structures should take the place of bureaucracy.

Future trends are therefore the subject of much speculation. However, it has recently been questioned whether the future lies in progress alone. This factor has come in to create much sobriety and stops utopic visions of the future from being readily accepted: Cannot there be devastation in a global sense or regional nuclear holocaust?

A new era of social existence has begun in the twenty-first century. This era is referred to as the "information age" where global communication through radio, T. V. , Computer networks, satellites has changedthe very notion of social group or community. people from various geographic and linguistic groups. can be part of an Internet group, constantly in touch with each other and so on. Sources ofknowledge and its accessibility through improved communication technologies has taken such a significant shape that we can talk about a 'global' world today where development of any kind, be it social cultural, political or economic; it affects all societies throughout the world in different ways and different proportions. One example is the post September or 9/11 event in America when in 2002 the World Trade Center (WTC) building was destroyed by two aeroplanes carrying passengers. Thousands of people were killed. The tragedy was immense but its socio-political implications are still being felt everywhere in the world.

Summary

The concept of complex societies has been covered in this artlicle. The topic of complex societies was discussed before we got started. The rural and urban aspects of community life had to be taken into account. It also looked at the different forms that urbanization can take. As a significant subtype of complex society, we looked at modern society. We looked at the nature of work in these societies. We discussed two crucial issues: industrial conflict and women's employment. Finally, we looked at post-industrial societies and their components. Studying traits and a variety of future trends that complex societies, such as the medieval revolutions that truly made the world a global community, may adopt was part of this. We have thus given a comprehensive picture of complex societies.