Essay on Cyclical Theories of Social Change
Essay on Cyclical Theories of Social Change – “Cyclical theories of social change focus on the rise and fall of civilisations attempting to discover and account for these patterns of growth and decay” – (Ian Robertson). Spengler, Toynbee and Sorokin can be regarded as the Champions of this theory. Their ideas may be briefed here.(a) Spengler: ‘The Destiny of Civilisations’: ADVERTISEMENTS: Oswald Spengler, a German school teacher, in his book “The Decline of the West”-1918, pointed out that the fate of civilisations was a matter of “destiny”. Each civilisation is like a biological organism and has a similar life-cycle; birth, maturity old age and death.After making a study of eight major civilisations, including the West, he said that the modern Western Society is in the last stage, i.e. old age.…