1. The Age of Social Change

 

The Age of Social Change

• Post-French Revolution, ideas of freedom and equality spread across Europe.
• Society before the 18th century was divided into estates controlled by the aristocracy and the church.
• The French Revolution opened possibilities for societal restructuring.
• New ideas on individual rights and social power spread to Europe and Asia.
• Indian reformers like Raja Rammohan Roy and Derozio discussed the significance of the French Revolution.
• Societal changes were debated, with varied responses ranging from conservative to radical views.

Political Ideologies: Liberals, Radicals, and Conservatives

• Liberals:
  • Advocated for religious tolerance and representative parliamentary governments.
  • Opposed dynastic rule and supported individual rights against government control.
  • Did not believe in universal adult franchise; voting rights were limited to property-owning men.
• Radicals:
  • Wanted governments based on the majority population.
  • Supported women's suffrage and opposed privileges of the wealthy.
  • Accepted private property but disliked its concentration among a few.
• Conservatives:
  • Initially opposed change but gradually accepted the need for slow, respectful societal changes post-French Revolution.
  • Believed in maintaining the past while incorporating necessary changes.

Industrial Society and Social Change

• The 19th century witnessed profound social and economic changes, including industrialization and urbanization.
• Industrialization brought long working hours, poor wages, and unemployment.
• Housing and sanitation issues arose due to rapid urbanization.
• Liberals and radicals sought solutions to these challenges.
• Most industries were owned by individuals, many of them were owned by liberals and radicals who believed in individual effort and enterprise.
• They supported labor and education as means to societal development.
• Some nationalists, liberals, and radicals sought revolutions to overthrow existing monarchies and establish equal rights.

The Coming of Socialism to Europe

• Socialism emerged as a significant ideology, opposing private property and advocating for collective social interests.
• Different Visions of Socialism:
  • Robert Owen: Advocated for cooperative communities like New Harmony in Indiana, USA.
  • Louis Blanc: Wanted government support for cooperatives to replace capitalist enterprises.
• Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels:
  • Critiqued capitalism, arguing that profit was derived from worker exploitation.
  • Advocated for a communist society where all property was socially controlled.
  • Believed workers would eventually overthrow capitalist systems.

Support for Socialism

• By the 1870s, socialism spread across Europe.
• An international body, the Second International,  was formed to coordinate socialist efforts.
• Workers in England and Germany formed associations to improve living and working conditions.
• These associations demanded shorter working hours and voting rights.
• In Germany, socialist associations supported the Social Democratic Party (SPD) in winning parliamentary seats.
• By 1905, socialist and trade unionist efforts led to the formation of the Labour Party in Britain and the Socialist Party in France.
• Despite their influence, socialists did not form governments in Europe before 1914.

Summary

After the French Revolution, the powerful ideas of freedom and equality began spreading across Europe and beyond. Before the 18th century, society was divided into classes, with the aristocracy and the church holding most of the power. The French Revolution made people think it was possible to change this structure. New ideas about individual rights and who should control social power started to be discussed in many parts of the world, including India.

However, not everyone wanted to completely transform society. There were three main groups with different ideas:

• Liberals wanted governments that allowed freedom of religion and protected individual rights. They supported elected governments but believed only property-owning men should vote.
• Radicals wanted governments that represented the majority of the population. They supported women's right to vote and opposed the privileges of the rich.
• Conservatives were against radical changes but accepted that some changes were necessary, though they believed these should happen slowly.

The 19th century was also a time of big social and economic changes due to the Industrial Revolution. New factories brought people to cities, but working conditions were often harsh, with long hours and low pay. Liberals and radicals looked for ways to solve these problems, believing that if individuals were free to work and succeed, society would improve.

During this time, socialism became an important idea. Socialists believed that private property led to social problems because it allowed a few people to control wealth while others suffered. They wanted society to control property instead of individuals. Some socialists, like Robert Owen, tried to create cooperative communities where everyone worked together and shared the profits. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels argued that workers needed to overthrow the capitalist system to create a society where all property was shared.

By the late 19th century, socialist ideas had spread across Europe. Workers began organizing to demand better working conditions and the right to vote. Socialist parties started forming, like the Labour Party in Britain and the Socialist Party in France. Although socialists influenced some laws, they didn’t manage to take control of governments in Europe before World War I.