The journal discusses the relationship between tradition and modernity as used in the theory of social change. With a particular focus on the Indian community, the author identifies seven fallacies regarding these two intertwined concepts. One of the misconceptions is that new changes replace old traditions (Gusfield, 1967). People often hold the erroneous belief that the birth of one culture effectively substitutes the older one.
They also assume that a novel product, religion, or decision-making method will supersede the previous one. However, the author suggests that the latest versions of something increase the alternatives available to the community. For instance, magic and medicine, which are considered tradition and modernity respectively, are used complementarily. Two religions can also exist in syncretism within one community (Gusfield, 1967). Debunking this myth shows that introducing an element of modernity within a society does not necessarily displace tradition. Instead, the two are likely to interact with one another, as seen in the examples provided.
Another fallacy that the author discusses is that developing society is static. It is flawed to believe that traditional society has not evolved in the past. For instance, India was influenced by British culture, Islam religion, and certain socio-cultural movements during different periods.
Even India’s caste system has been altered in the past, which shows that no component is fixed (Gusfield, 1967). The author further illustrates this point by discussing how India evolved into an agricultural community rather than an industrial one. The British protectionism over their textile industry resulted in the decline of the local Indian enterprises, and consequently, their society shifted from industrial work to agriculture (Gusfield, 1967). This underscores the point that tradition has always embraced meaningful transformation instead of being unchanging as commonly believed. By demystifying these fallacies, the journal shows the real relationship between tradition and modernity.
Reference
Gusfield, J. R. (1967). Tradition and modernity: Misplaced polarities in the study of social change. American journal of sociology, 72(4), 351-362. Web.