ASSIGNMENT

Assignment



Assignment

Locate an article that you feel addresses one of the three ways that we can think about social change that the author has identified on pages 66-67. Discuss why you chose the article and which of the three social change areas it addresses.

The article that we have selected is “Social Change and Crime Rate Trends: A Routine Activity Approach” by Lawrence E. Cohen and Marcus Felson. This article has identified the impact of social trends on bringing about a social change. Instead of focusing on the traits and characteristics of the offenders and criminals of the modern era, this article has addressed the circumstances in which these predatory acts occur (Harper, Leicht, 2011). It withholds the concept that extreme economic pressures, unemployment, poverty, lack of basic amenities, rivalry and enmity are some of the reasons that create a hostile environment to stimulate a criminal culture ion the society (Lawrence, Marcus, 2003). In this state of utter helplessness and deprivation, the youth adheres to crimes of different kinds and become culprits of various horrendous crimes and wrongdoings. Human ecological theory provides the basis for such a behavior in which an individual is influenced by the social trends and conditions and resorts to commit crimes of sheer brutality and offence (Lawrence, Marcus, 2003).

We chose this article because it provides a comprehensive understanding about the impact of social trends on the social change that occurs in a society. It suggests that social structure cultivates this convergence and ultimately illegal activities feed upon the legal activities in our everyday life (Harper, Leicht, 2011).

Sources:

Harper, C.L. & Leicht, K.L. (2011), Exploring social change: America and the world (6th Ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Lawrence E. Cohen and Marcus Felson (2003), “Social Change and Crime Rate Trends: A Routine Activity Approach”, American Sociological Review, Vol. 44, No. 4 (Aug., 1979), American Sociological Association, pp. 588-608. If you could choose between what we called the Anglo-American political economy and the continental European model of political economy, which would you prefer? Why?

The Anglo-American political economic model is a system of capitalism that holds the interests of a shareholder in high value. Being the suppliers of risk capital, Anglo-American economic model focuses on the interests of the shareholder which carries central importance in the management of firms. The continental European model of political economy is a social market capitalism model that builds upon consensus building and cooperation of the entire organization rather an adopting an individualistic system (Harper, Leech, 2011). We would prefer the continental European model of political economy because it provides for equality within the economy which primarily puts the survival of the entire entity in the face of competitiveness. The model seems to be in the collective interest of the entire economy and produces lesser poverty at lowest margins. For these reasons, we would prefer the European model of political economy (Bush, 1987).

Europeans need to work and deepen their model on the basis of social and political order that ...