How Societies Change

In this brief, accessible text for undergraduates, Chirot (international studies, sociology, U. of Washington-Seattle) surveys major political structures, ideas, and ecological and social pressures that have affected the evolution of societies over the past 10,000 years, with a focus on the last 5,000 years. Emphasis is on the unsolved problems of industrial societies. This second edition is updated to reflect scholarship since 2004. The first chapter on early human societies now includes new information on DNA analysis and the latest archaeological findings. The book concludes with a simplified model of how societies work and how to approach the study of contemporary social change. For this second edition, the final chapter has been rewritten to discuss social structures, social change, and politics in the contemporary world, including the rise of China and India as economic and political powers. Also new to this edition are case studies on dilemmas in development and globalization. Annotation c2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)