The main argument of this essay is to compare and contrast the liberal and radical approaches to social change. Accompanied by practical examples, I will state and re-enforce the theoretical approach that plausibly explains the prevailing circumstances in Zambia. This essay will begin by defining briefly what the liberal and radical approaches are; also it will explain what is understood by the term social change. It is also necessary to point out that I have taken a stand on agreeing that the liberal approach takes a crediblestance in explaining the prevailing circumstances in Zambia. In this essay I will explain how this is and compare and contrast it with the radical approach.
Social change refers to an alteration in the social order of …show more content…

In other words, the radical approach is based on the principle that for society to develop it should overcome and eradicate the drive of capitalism. Marx rejected the foundational aspects of the liberal approach, hoping to destroy both the state and the liberal distinction between society and the individual while fusing the two into a collective whole designed to overthrow the developing capitalist order of the 19th century (Eisenstadt, 1973: 34).
Marx and Engels emphasized that it was nothing but material conditions of man that was actually the main prime mover of social change and development. The changing material conditions around man actually enabled him to distinguish himself from the animal world to become what he is today. Social change under this approach is also centered on three laws that a society can develop. The laws that influence social change are; the law of succession of the modes of production, the law of correspondence between the superstructure and the economic base and the law of correspondence between productive forces and the relations of production.
My argument will now be directed to the first law of social formation. The first law states that for society to develop it must under gostages known as social formations or modes of production namely (by order); Primitive communalism, Slavery as a mode of production, Feudalism, Capitalism and Communism. These stages,