1. VCE Sociology Unit 3 Outcome 1 Community and society ‘The way changes in economic, social and political institutions have affected the experience and representations of community’

2. Changes to community Sociology is all about “change” Some of the biggest changes to the concept and history of community occurred because of the agrarian revolution and industrial revolution More recently change has come from political, economic and social institutions

3. Changes to community In groups, brainstorm examples of changes in a contemporary community because of: ▫Political change ▫Economic change ▫Environmental change ▫Technological ▫Social change

4. Changes to community Karl Polanyi’s (1973) Great Transformation outlines six changes that impacted significantly on society ▫Economic – the rise in capitalism ▫Technological – machinery replacing manual labour ▫Knowledge – rise of intellectual/scientific thinking ▫Population – change in demographics ▫Political – rise of nation-state and democracy ▫Colonialism – global expansion through colonies

5. Changes to community In groups come up with examples of how the Great Transformations impacted on social groupings List other significant changes not on the list and justify their inclusion Now rank the transformations in terms of their impact with the most significant change at the top and least at the bottom

6. Representation Refers to the different meanings or understanding attached to the word community, or how it is “classified” ▫e.g. traditional, gesellschaft, type 1, etc The representation of a community may change ▫e.g. a traditional community may change to a modern community because of government rezoning, urban sprawl, etc

7. Experience The experience of community focuses on the sense of community rather than its structure, form or physical features ▫e.g. how members feel rather than how the community is classified It involves a feeling that members have of belonging and a connection to one another and the group A sense of community is often described as a “sense of belonging” or “community spirit”

8. Institutions Sociologists often reserve the term “institution” to describe normative systems that operate in five basic areas of life, which may be designated as the primary institutions. ▫In determining kinship ▫In providing for the legitimate use of power ▫In regulating the distribution of goods and services ▫In transmitting knowledge from one generation to the next ▫In regulating our relation to the supernatural www.sociologyguide.com/basic-concepts/Social-Institutions.php

9. Institutions In shorthand form, or as concepts, these five basic institutions are called: ▫Family ▫Government ▫Economy ▫Education ▫Religion www.sociologyguide.com/basic-concepts/Social-Institutions.php

10. Institutions Institutions underpin the norms and values of a society and can act as agents of social control ▫e.g. they shape our behaviour through formal and “unwritten” rules Institutions have interdependent relationships with each other (they need each other, and change to one institution filters into changes to another) ▫e.g. changes to the institution of marriage may impact the institution of family Society is always changing and so are institutions

11. Political institutions The relatively permanent social systems through which power is distributed and exercised in society The structures often formally regulate the behaviour of individuals through: ▫Police force ▫Laws and government policy ▫Local council regulations ▫Political parties and NGOs ▫Election process

12. Economic institutions Organisations that ensure economic stability through the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services ▫Financial institutions (banks) ▫Australian reserve bank ▫Taxation system ▫Award wages ▫Social welfare organisations ▫The World Bank ▫Companies (workplace) ▫Share market

13. Environmental institutions Organisations that make decisions that affect environmental performance ▫Kyoto Protocol ▫Copenhagen Treaty ▫Greenpeace

14. Technological institutions Organisations that control access to information and communication technology and other forms of technology ▫Telstra ▫Google ▫Mac/Windows ▫Laboratories

15. Social institutions Set of organised rules and beliefs that establish how societies attempt to meet their basic social needs These beliefs help to shape people’s behaviour ▫Schools ▫Religious groups ▫Family ▫The media ▫Ethnic/cultural groups

16. Changes to representation The following table shows examples of how the “representation” of community has changed because of PEETS Community beforeType of changeCommunity after Traditional (homogenous)Political change Multiculturalism policy Modern (heterogeneous) Type 1 (face-to-face advice)Economic change Counselling funding cut Type 3 (telephone advice) Gesellschaft (anomie)Environmental change eGate Gemeinschaft (connection) Type 1 and 2 (geographic)Technological change Internet Type 2 (virtual) Traditional (1/4 acre block)Social change Urbanisation Modern (apartments)

17. Changes to representation Come up with your own examples of how PEETS have changed a community ▫If you get stuck, you may want to consult the “Change to community experience and representation” handout Community beforeType of changeCommunity after Political Economic Environmental Technological Social

18. Changes to experience The following table shows examples of how the “experience” of community has changed because of PEETS Community beforeType of changeCommunity after Wallan (50km from Melbourne): zoned as rural Political change Forced urbanisation Rezoned as inner-regional and they lost rural retention grant for doctors resulting in shortage and need to travel for medical help Government school: reasonable class sizes and access to resources Economic change Global Financial Crisis Nearing capacity as enrolments from ex- independent school students increase Farmers: not dependent on state water supplies Environmental change Drought Forced off land due to lack of natural water and state water restrictions Kids with illness or disability: missing out on real world friendships Technological change Social networking site for young people with illness/disability A safe place online to interact with others in a similar situation Albury art enthusiasts: enjoyed display of Henson photographs Social change More awareness of childhood sexualisation and pedophilia Albury City Council removed some Henson images despite not receiving any complaints

19. Changes to experience Develop examples of how changes in PEETS has changed how members experience their community Community beforeType of changeCommunity after Political Economic Environmental Technological Social

20. TO DO Write definitions of the following terms in your glossary: ▫Experience of community ▫Institutions ▫Representation of community