Historical Analysis of Changes in Rural Social Structure: A Sociological Critique on Relevance Of Theoretical Perspectives To Empirical Data

Abstract

This theoretical paper focuses on socio-structural changes in a rural community of the province of Punjab, Pakistan. Specifically, changes in the social structure of rural community of the Punjab and factors associated with such changes over a period of fifty decades are examined retrospectively. A village named Mohla is situated in Central Punjab, Pakistani. It was extensively studied soon after partition of the Subcontinent by a Turkish scholar, Eglar (1960). A comprehensive probability sample survey was conducted to assess the changes in the social structure along with relevant reasons. Changes in various social institutions are discussed in the light of various social structural perspectives which include functionalism, modernization and globalization. Local structural context is also looked into to develop a comprehensive analysis of the changes that have taken place in the community over the study period. It comprises of factors such as political, religious and regional aspects associated with the variables under study. A thorough critique on the aforementioned perspectives is also developed while discussing the social structural changes in the rural community. The present study focuses on socio-structural changes in a rural community of the province of Punjab, Pakistan. In this paper, we have discussed the observed changes in the light of various theoretical perspectives. Specifically, changes in the social structure of rural Central Punjab and factors associated with such changes over a period of fifty years are assessed retrospectively. A village in Pakistani Punjab was extensively studied soon after partition of the Indian subcontinent by a Turkish scholar, Zekiya Eglar (1960). Our research is being inspired by the intensive work done by her. We have taken her study as a starting point to observe the changes that have taken place over the period of time. Aspects of social structure that we have covered are stratification structures, marriage and family institution, gender roles, traditions, belief system and leisure activities.