Book Details

• Author: Piotr Sztompka

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2023

• ISBN: 9788131613290

• Pages: 366

• Cover: Hardcover

• Release Date: 20-04-2023

About the Book

The sociology of social change has often emerged as a response to historical upheavals, and in today's era of accelerated transformation, the need to reassess these ideas is greater than ever. Social Change by Piotr Sztompka offers a sweeping and critical reappraisal of the intellectual traditions that have shaped sociological understanding of change. It functions both as an advanced textbook for students and a reference guide for scholars navigating the complexities of contemporary transitions.

Divided into four major sections, the book begins with the foundational concepts and categories in the study of change, such as social time, modernity, and globalization. It then traces three grand visions of history—evolutionism, modernization theories, and historical materialism—alongside critiques and contemporary alternatives. The third section, Making History, challenges deterministic models by emphasizing human agency, while the final part delves into the aspects of social becoming, spotlighting the roles of individuals, ideas, social movements, and revolutions.

Sztompka presents a nuanced framework that goes beyond linear progress narratives, positioning history as a dynamic, contested, and participatory process. With precise arguments and global scope, this book equips readers with the conceptual tools necessary to understand social change in both historical and modern contexts.

About the Author

Piotr Sztompka is a distinguished Professor of Sociology at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, and a recurring Visiting Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. His academic journey has included positions at prestigious institutions such as Columbia University, the University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Rome, La Sapienza. An influential thinker in modern sociology, Sztompka has authored numerous landmark works including System and Function (1974), Sociological Dilemmas (1979), Rethinking Progress (1990, with J. Alexander), and Society in Action (1991). His scholarship continues to shape contemporary thought on progress, agency, and societal transformation.