Population Segment & Social Issues - Essay Example

1). The rapidly changing global institutions were influence by environmental forces such as the geographical, technological, demographic, economic, and social forces, respectively. Globalization is the greatest example of social change in a global perspective and is altered or sustained by environmental forces. The emergence of social change dates back as early as sixteenth century when Spanish exploitation of gold and silver led to the depredation of indigenous cultures in America, price hike, slavery, and series of wars.

During the eighteenth century, globalization in the form of industrial revolution abounds rapidly with free trade policies, gold standard, and financial global system of Europe and United States. Britain played a major role in military technology that the decline of Britain in 1880-1900 also corresponds to the decline of economic globalization. Late nineteenth century marked the period of deglobalization. It was in half of twentieth century that globalization emanate again in the society (Babones, 2006, p. 4). The unending changes brought by globalization will always impinge the dynamics of social change and environmental forces will constantly played a major role on social change. . Four of the environmental forces are selected and described below: A.

Geographical Forces The geographical forces refer to the physical environment. The lives of the people are often affected when the physical environment changes. In order to adapt to the current changes, people take control (only limited) over the environment. Natural disasters are the most feared geographical force that dramatically affects the society. Natural disasters occur in the form of hurricanes, floods, tornados, and most often, in human interventions. A typical example of a natural disaster that leaves a marked social change is the incidence of hurricane Kathrina (Kendall, 2010, p. 562). Hurricane Kathrina resulted in a vast destruction and a formidable number of deaths in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

Aside from the abrupt change in physical environment, this hurricane also had affect millions of people negatively. National priorities were altered and survivors of hurricane Kathrina suffered from loss of property and trauma. The hurricane has changed the lives of many people, leaving them pain and suffering from traumatic loss. Sometimes, natural disasters are brought upon by human interventions. In pursuit of economic advancement, people built shopping malls, residential areas, industrial plants, and highways.

The excessive development of physical environment can cause floods and other worst complications just like what happened in New Orleans. B. Technological Forces Globalization has resulted in the revolution of social media. Internet social media like Facebook, twitter, etc. made it easy to access greater amounts of information particularly when the issue was talked about by the society. With the help of technology, nongovernment organizations and activist