Social Change - Malthus Social Theory - Essay Example

The present inflation is good proof that his predictions might come true if the population continues to increase at the present pace. While this view is being held by Neo-Malthusians, anti-Malthusians have claimed that since Malthus did not consider birth control as a means of population control and also did not take potential technological growth into account, his predictions have no significant relevance. His predictions were thought to promote war, misery, and unrest among the population and hence his views were not considered seriously during his time. However, with the present growth rate, especially in regions such as Africa, his predictions are gaining prominence in the present time (Elwell).

• Explain why there is starvation around the world. Provide specific examples to support

your answer. In your opinion, what should the Most Industrialized Nations do to get food to the hungry?

Poverty, war, a slow-growing economy, and frequent occurrence of natural calamities are principles reasons for starvation or hunger around the world. While in industrialized countries, people only lack about 130 kilocalories per day on average that in underdeveloped countries are about 450 kilocalories on average per day. This huge difference is due to the slow economic growth and the higher rate of poverty in these countries. Studies have shown that countries, where people are in extreme hunger, include Africa, Afghanistan, the Caribbean, and Asiatic countries such as Bangladesh and Korea. Some of the solutions that can be undertaken to reduce hunger are to resolve conflicts and promote peace, economic investments and improve agricultural produce. Industrialized nations where there is a large majority of people within the higher income group should help people who are in hunger and fund programs such as free school lunches for needy children (2012 World Hunger).

3. Define the Group of 7 (G-7), now known as the G-8 (which includes Russia), and describe its origin, purpose, and growing concern with ethnic warfare.

In the beginning, the G-7 involved informal meetings among the heads of state who were accompanied by their foreign and finance ministers. Later these informal meetings were separated from the actual summit during which the group discusses global economic growth, international trade, energy, climate change, and foreign relations. When it was formed in 1975 the group included Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 1998 Russia joined the group and this G-8 group holds regular dialogues with developing economies such as India and China. Prior to the summit the finance ministers of the G-7 nations also hold general meetings. The increasing episodes of warfare and terrorism have resulted in the inclusion of political-security issues in the G-7 agenda. These issues include human security and control of the use of arms in several developing countries (G7/G8, G20).

4. Describe and discuss the three processes of social change that were brought about through technology, according to William Ogburn. Explain cultural lag.

According to Ogburn, technology brought about three major social changes namely innovation, discovery, and diffusion. The development of technology which has majorly contributed to industrialization is constantly being subject to various innovations which have given rise to newer technologies. The human race has also made important discoveries such as food production through controlled methods, domestication of animals, and planting of seeds. Diffusion of developments occurs when communities contact each other which results in a transfer of useful technologies. However, it takes considerable time for a society to accept any new form of technology that is developed and the disequilibrium that exists between the new technology and the old concepts held by the society can create a cultural lag that exists until the society is able to accept the new advances made by technological discoveries (Impact of Technology Change).