The Analysis of Social Change
Based on Observations in Central Africa

This book describes the impact of European civilization upon traditional African societies and considers the fundamental relations between the various structural changes that accompanied it.

Godfrey Wilson (Author), Monica Wilson (Author)

9780521095549, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 1 October 1968

188 pages
19.8 x 12.9 x 1 cm, 0.19 kg

Monica Wilson and the late Godfrey Wilson wrote this book as a result of field work in Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia, where they were able to observe the impact of European civilization upon traditional African societies and the structural changes that accompanied it. These effects are described here and studied in order to see what fundamental relations may be discovered between the various changes observed. General theories of the movement of civilization can thus be tested against the particular instance of this part of Africa since 1944, the study is still of importance as a pioneering study of social change.

1. Central African society: a problem for analysis
2. Scale
3. Social Elements
4. Primitive and civilised society
5. Equilibrium and disequilibrium
6. Practical implications
Index.

Subject Areas: Sociology & anthropology [JH]