Intentional Social Change

Lumping government social planning, grassroots social movements, and other such social phenomena under the term "intentional social change," Sato (behavioral science, Tohoku U., Japan) presents a theoretical discussion of why some efforts succeed while others fail. His rational choice theory of intentional social change is based on a analysis of multi-level transition consisting of a macro to micro level transition, through which the introduction of an institution by the change agent alters the situation in which decision makers choose their action; the process of decisions makers choosing actions in the new situation; and a micro to macro level transition, in which actions chosen accumulate and result in new social consequences. The theory is illustrated in more detail through discussion of a treatment of free medical care policy for senior citizens as analyzed through a social dilemma model and an extensive-form game of incomplete information. The theory is also explored in an account of the process by which mass social movements develop using a public goods provision model. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation c2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)