“Change is the only constant in life” – this bit of ancient wisdom, which can just as easily be found on a motivational pinboard as in a philosophy textbook, bears some fundamental truths about the essentiality of change in life. In fact, it is not only the case that each individual life is shaped by constant changes but also and especially in regards to the greater frame of society and the human interrelations within. The dynamics of the common life together, better known as social change, are all around us affecting our lives in all the small and big ways possible. 

In sociology, social change is understood as the change in social interactions and relationships that leads to change in social and cultural institutions resulting in a shift in social norms. Or to put it in the words of Ania, “social change means that we are making progress as a society – for example, we are more aware of certain issues (old ones and new ones that appear with time and development of society) and the mindset of people is changing.” Ania is one of four young people from Poland, Germany and the UK that shared their takes on social change for this article.

As a transformation of the societal structure and shift of direction in development, social change is essential for society as a whole – but it is of special significance in regards to the youth since young people are not only profoundly affected by social change but are also one of the driving forces behind it. Causes for social change range between the unviability of and dissatisfaction with the status quo, scientific and technological innovations as well as economic development. In other words, social change is all about challenging preconceived notions to design new worlds and futures – a matter many young people are especially concerned with. Ania Sara describes this special link between youth and social change as follows: “I mostly think about how young people have the courage to say “no,” to say “I will not go along with it.” For me, that is what social change is all about. We do not just follow the mainstream, but we know how to stand against it. That is an incredible strength I see in my peers, and I am proud of it.”

Speaking in terms of the societal power organisation, social change can be induced top-down or bottom-up but either way the effects of social change manifest themselves both as continuous development and a circular phenomenon. Indisputably, progress does not always happen linearly without disruption. Where there is progress there is also regress freely following the motto of “two steps forward and one back”. “Often, we see that social change goes back and forth, and it is very different in each country and/or context” as Dawid remarks.

The different shapes and forms of social change are rooted in the fact that there are diverging and even opposing ideas and ideals of what positive social change looks like.  Positive social change intends to improve people’s life but how this improvement is supposed to look life is a matter of each individual subjective perspective. Ania notes a positive impact of social change on her life and well-being. “For example, I would say that I grew up with a very unhealthy mindset regarding body image (something I’d call ‘diet culture’) that caused me to be hateful towards the way I look for most of my life. These days I see way more body positivity content and messages that played a big role in helping me accept my body,” she explains. But social change does not necessarily lead to positive outcomes for everyone. As a result, the positive social change in someone’s perspective can be a negative social change in someone else’s. Maike states for example that she has recently been scared of social change because society does not always change for better but also for worse. Moreover, Ania’s observation that “the society – or at least the social bubbles [she] lives in – is becoming more open-minded and ‘normalises’ more things (which, in [her] opinion, should have never been considered as bad or weird, but again – it probably also applies to things that actually should not get normalised)” adds to the notion that there is no clear-cut answer to the question how positive social change should look like.

Maybe, the closest approximation to answering the question regarding positive social change is to stick to the directive to “be the change you wish to see in the world”. Embodying the change one strives for, seems to be quite an obvious solution considering that social change is the manifestation of the collective’s power to advance social life together. Even the most profound changes start on the smallest level – the way we act and interact with one another. Consider Ania Sara’s experience: “I feel the effects of social change every day. Growing up in a small village, I never thought I would feel such a deep emotional connection to global issues or be moved to tears by what is happening in the world. But the social changes we are witnessing today, everything from the climate crisis to political unrest, force me to reckon with my place in it all. I find myself more aware and sensitive to the realities around me. It also motivates me to take action, even in small ways.” Only when searching for one’s place within the dynamics of society and taking even the tiniest of actions towards what one deems to be positive, changes in the organisation of social power structures can be achieved in the long run.

These shifts are of utmost necessity in order to empower more and more people to participate actively in the enhancement of social life together – an effort that thrives the fullest when as many different perspectives are brought together as possible. Consequently, the key to truly positive social change is building relationships of trust and respect that join all these unique viewpoints. Change starts in the little things like listening and learning from one another and concludes in the large effort of compromising on a common way and accepting its constant need for adjustment. Tools and methods to build the foundation for these relationships of trust and respect are discourse, education and networking but also volunteering and activism as Maike especially points out. Dawid on the other hand indicates: “It is extremely important to not ignore the mundane, everyday actions which can create a positive change. Even challenging someone’s mindset in a casual way to open their eyes to a different perspective can really make a difference. There is also power in subtlety.” Furthermore, Ania Sara adds to these points: “I believe in change within local communities. I do not have power over the whole world, and I never will. I do not even have power over Poland.  That is something young people often forget. We may not change the whole world, but we can change the world for one person or one community. And that is powerful. […] I try to lead by example. Actions speak louder than words, and I believe that by living my life in a way that reflects my values, I can show others that it is possible to live differently.”

Social change is neither inevitable nor straightforward. Although it may not be halted, it can and must be shaped and transformed actively. Social change takes a hold of human relations, and society as thus, like a pebble dropped in a lake ripples the water – creating waves that continuously cause bigger waves until the whole lake is in movement. In other words, social changes take place in accordance with the ripple effect. As is already to be derived from the sociological definition of the term in question, the way we interact with each other transcends different levels of society and societal organisation to eventually transform social structure and shift social norms. So, let us all act as the pebbles for our own community and take an example of Ania Sara: “Young people are hungry for change, but they need to see that it’s possible, and I try to be that example in my own small world. Whether it’s through how I interact with others, how I make sustainable choices, or how I advocate for change in my community, I make it my mission to contribute in any way I can.”

Special thanks to Ania, Dawid, Maike and Ania Sara for providing their very precious insights for this article! 

Sophia Abegg