Objectives:

 Define cultural, social, political change;

 Identify cultural, social, political change.

Defining Cultural, Social, Political Change

Social change is the alteration in patterns of culture, social structure, and social behavior over time.
As observed by Heraclitus, no society can successfully prevent change, not even those that try to do
so (Robertson, 1987: 507). Nonetheless, some societies are more resistant to change than others,
particularly indigenous people who continuously uphold their age-old traditions rather than accept
external interventions in their daily lives. Indigenous societies cling to traditions because of cultural
familiarity and total adaptation to the environment where everything becomes a way of life.
Indigenous people view external interference as a threat to the prevailing cultural norms and status
quo of individuals and institutions in their society. To resist change, some indigenous people tend to
be hostile to strangers while others join social movements that fight for the autonomy of indigenous
people. A good case to cite is how the lumads are asserting their right to live in their own ancestral
domains and how they are fighting militarization as well as forcible entry of outsiders in their lands
in Mindanao.
Social change is generally universal but varied in time and space. Although every society is affected
by social change, societies do not change at the same rate Gerhard and Lenski (1987) believed
that the society's rate of social change typically increases as technology advances. This is because
technology expands a wide range of human possibilities. Moreover, the greater the cultural
elements present in a society, the greater the overall consequence of a single invention. This explains
William Ogburn's (1964) theory of cultural lag, which explains that not all cultural elements change
at the same rate. Material culture changes faster than non-material ones as explained by the rapid
development of medical devices to prolong the life of seriously ill people.
Meanwhile, changes in the cultural patterns of behavior and values is called cultural change.
Changes in the tangible or material aspects of culture and intangible or non-material aspects of
people's lives are also part of cultural change. For instance, the alteration of built heritage houses
and buildings in downtown Manila and Iloilo in favor of sleek, modern structures is part of cultural
change. Changes in the dietary patterns of modern day Filipinos—from traditional and slow cooked
meals, such as kare-kare and sinigang, to instant and fast food meals, such as hamburgers and
pizza-is another fine example of cultural change.
Another aspect of change is called political change. It is the change in the political patterns
of behavior and values of individuals as well as political institutions that hold power and control in
society. Proposed changes in the type of government in the Philippines (from presidential to
parliamentary) is a fine example of political change. Movements that call for reforms in government
is also an example of political change. For instance, multi-sectoral groups are holding a protest in
Luneta because of widespread corruption in government.
 Sources of Change
Sociologists have identified four key sources of social, cultural, and
political change: innovation, diffusion, acculturation, and assimilation.
Innovation is defined as an “independent invention to creatively find
solutions to problems” (Kottak, 2000: 74). Notable innovations help
improve the lives of people, providing ease, comfort, public safety, and
even access to information and ideas. Innovation has also transformed
societies from primordial ones to modern communities through scientific
research and technology. For example, the invention of the public
transport system like the metro rail system revolutionized safe travel and
regulated and eased traffic in countries like Thailand and Singapore. In
the same way, the birth of social media like Facebook and Twitter made the delivery of information
and sharing of ideas faster and easier.
Major innovations that brought social, cultural, and political changes in the world include the
telephone, which revolutionized communication systems and further gave birth to more high
definition gadgets that stores and purveys information in a fast and reliable way; the airplane,
which provided safe, fast, and luxurious travel; and the computer, which furnished state-of-the-art
media unit for the preparation, delivery, and storage of information. In his book Social Change,
William Ogburn also listed the seven greatest innovations of all time: the discovery of planet
Neptune, discovery of oxygen, invention of logarithms, invention of photography, discovery of
kinetic theory of gases, discovery of sunspots, and discovery of laws of gravity.

Two Types of Innovation

There are two types of innovation: and secondary
innovation. Primary innovation occurs when an individual or
a group comes up with a completely new idea, method, or
device (Haviland, Prins, Walrath, and McBride, 2008).
Primary innovation significantly contributes to social,
cultural, and political change when it alters the way of life
and views of individuals and institutions. The invention of
photography, for example, has altered how people view
reality as it allowed individuals to capture moments and,
later on, record events through video cameras. The advent
of photography also signifies the birth of related technology
associated with pictures like films and movies; thus, revolutionizing entertainment shows from open-
air performances to closedoor movies. Similarly, cultural events (feasts and historical celebrations)
are recorded in photos and videos; political developments (such as revolts, elections, and
revolutions) are easily recorded and shared on the Internet in just a snap of a fingertip.
Secondary innovation occurs when an individual or a group further develops or improves on an
already existing idea, method, or device (Haviland, Prins, Walrath and McBride, 2008). Example:
smart phones and other forms of wireless communication are improvised versions of the telephone.
Secondary innovation is also an agent of social, cultural and political change. For example, people
in Arab countries used their smart phones and Internet connections to mobilize social movements,
demand political change, and inform the world about important social and political issues
(examples: oppression and lack of democracy) in the Arab world. In the Philippines, smart phones
(and social media) is also used by Filipinos to organize protests and spread informat: about timely
issues, such as corruption and the recent Priority Developme Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam in the
Philippine Congress. Lastly, smart phone is also a status and cultural symbol.
Another source of social, cultural, and political change is diffusion. Diffusion is the act of spreading
culture, tradition, objects, and ideas to other societies. A particular culture can never be isolated
from another culture. Inevitably, a society's culture can be shared or adapted by another society
(Kottak, 2000). Though this is always the case, it is not conclusive. People in a particular society are
also cautious and careful which trait to borrow from other cultures especially if they find it
incongruous or even inimical to their belief and existing norms (Haviland, Prins, Walrath, and
McBride, 2008). For instance, pre-modern societies like highland dwellers of Northern Philippines
shared the tradition of ritual feasting and head-hunting. The last practice, however, is abhorred by
lowland societies in Central and Southern Luzon who considered the act "barbaric” and “inhuman."
Direct and Indirect Diffusion
There are two types of diffusion. Direct
diffusion occurs through trade, marriage war
(Kottak, 2000). For instance, the use of silk cloth
was introduced by the Chines to the Filipinos
through trade. In the same way, the
participation of the Philippines to the brisk
Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade during the
Spanish colonial period provided the impetus
for the diffusion or transplantation of Mexican
flora like corn and peanut to Philippine soil, so
as the Philippine mango to Mexico.
Indirect diffusion occurs when a group comes in
contact with another group indirectly through a third party. There is no direct diffusion of cultural
traits or influence here; rather, another individual or group serves as channel in the flow of
information, idea, or cultural trait. For example, when merchants bring new products, languages,
customs, and beliefs that originated from a certain area and carry those things to another place. In
this case, the two places have no direct contact, but influences are shared through the arrival of the
merchants (i.e. third party) (Kottak, 2000). Similarly, Indian influences to the Philippines indirectly
permeated through Hinduized Malays and Indonesians who served as emissaries of goodwill of the
Sri Wijayan and Majapahit kingdoms. Indian culture and traits especially religious beliefs (i.e.
Bathala) as well as borrowed words (i.e. maharlika, likha, mahal) entered Filipino culture not
directly from India but through Hinduized Malays and Indonesian merchants who had direct contact
with early Filipinos.
Acculturation
Acculturation is the third source of social, cultural, and political change. Acculturation Ac is a product
of a massive cultural change. It entails a show of force by one party over another (Haviland, Prins,
Walrath, and McBride, 2008). For example, the integration of Chinese people in Indonesia involved
forcible measures including bloody persecutions. However, this is not the case among the Chinese in
the Philippines, who admittedly received prejudicial treatment from the locals but significantly have
lo the upper hand in the local economy. Acculturation is also prevalent in the learning of Filipino
culture alongside Chinese culture.
Moreover, acculturation can sometimes be voluntary in nature especially if the introduced norm or
trait is attractive or relevant to the accepting society. For instance, the Mongols became so
acculturated with the Chinese way of life that they abandoned their nomadic culture in favor of the
orderly and structured society of the Chinese. In the Philippine setting, Filipinos became accustomed
to the Spanish penchant for fiestas and
merriment that such celebrations assumed a
local flavour.
Assimilation
Assimilation occurs when the minority group
loses its distinctive cultural traits and adopts
or absorbs those of the dominant culture
(Robertson, 1987: 288). In many cases,
assimilation takes place voluntarily like the
in the case of Mongol rulers who absorbed
Chinese culture. Similarly, various ethnic
groups living in Hawaii have blended
freely for many years without much conflict
with the island-state's way of life. Various
racial groups have also assimilated to the
pluralistic culture of the US.
Nonetheless, assimilation can also be undertaken through force like the case of Chinese immigrants
in Indonesia and Turks in Bulgaria. However, more pluralistic societies, like Tanzania in Africa and
Switzerland in Europe, recognize the importance of diversity and respect for ethnic and cultural
distinctions. In fact, four ethnic groups—German, French, Italian, and Romanche-retain their sense
of group identity while living together in goodwill in a Swiss society.

Overall, social, cultural, and political change matter to human life, society, and progress
because they serve as barometers to the rise and fall of civilization. Human progress is often
measured by changes in the physical and cultural environment, specifically the growth of localities
to cities and technological advancements. All these are anchored on the various changes that take
place in the world associated with natural and man-made upheavals. Both evolution and revolution
are manifestations of social change.