SOCY 211

LEARNING ACTIVITY 10

ENVIRONMENTAL THEORIES:

STUDY UNIT: 6

LECTURER: MS. K. PHAJANE

J.E. COETZEE

33760845

TEL: 0795043183

21 MAY 2021

1. Introduction

Various theories within the history of Sociology have been offered on all the possible factors influencing human society and its development. Herein will briefly be discussed some of the classic theories that focus on the environment as chief influence and impetus behind societal progress, as well as on how these may be applied to the South African context.

2. Geographical Determinism

According to proponents of the theory of Geographical Determinism, the development and progression of societies can both be attributed to their geographic location and specific characteristics such as climate, as well as inversely explained by it (Hannigan, 2006:1-2). As such, Geographical Determinism may be seen as a single-factor theory that can be criticised as placing too much emphasis on geographic location and the possible correlations between geographic location and development (Hannigan, 2006:2).

3. Biological Determinism

Biological Determinism, according to Hannigan (2006:2), holds that the development, and more specifically progress, of societies may not be ascribed to social reform inasmuch as biological Darwinism. It is argued that progress in society, like that of entire biological species in principle, depend on the successive, intergenerational efforts of individuals within these societies (Hannigan, 2006:2). Society’s continual development is thus theorised to gradually take place, similarly to the process of Darwinian Evolution. Individuals who succeed within society by whatever means (usually merciless tactics), are theorised as both the products of their like-minded, like-mannered predecessors, as well as the intergenerational driving force behind societal progress. Similar to Geographical Determinism, Biological Determinism may thus be seen as single-factored (Hannigan, 2006:2), and additionally renders the cause-and-effect relation of societal development entirely out of human control – the latter points of which brings the discussion to the very different, yet nonetheless relevant theory of development namely Modernisation Theory.

4. Modernisation Theory

Modernisation Theory argues, inter alia, that countries underdeveloped exist because they essentially need to catch up with other, developed countries by using the latter’s economic and developmental practices and methodologies (Matunhu, 2011:65-66), and that technology and innovation act as a significant driving force for progress and the paramount transition of these underdeveloped countries necessary to facilitate their development (Shareira, 2015:79). As such, it would appear that the environment and environmental forces are largely dismissed when it comes to the process of development or viewed as inconsequential obstacles in the way of societal progress that need be overcome. However, contrasting this may seem with the current theme of discussion, this view may be particularly useful in evaluating, for instance, a society’s response to the environment (and its consequential treatment thereof), as well its response to environmental disasters. This will be illustrated in the final section of this discussion by applying the above-mentioned theories to the South African context.

5. Application to the South African context

If one were to apply these theories to South Africa, one would argue that, because of its geographic location at the Southern tip of Africa, the climate could be regarded as generally favourable for agricultural activities rarely reaching any climate extremities. This, according to the combined underpinnings of Geographical and Biological Determinism, would arguably cascade into both the successful development of a functional society, as well as the progressive success of that society over time. Agricultural infrastructure is established, thus successfully leading to a steadily growing population, continuous and growing division of specialised and specialising labour, the growing of economic activities, and ultimately a continuously progressing and developing society. This illustrates, albeit in a rudimental way, how the theories of Geographical and Biological Determinism may be applied to the South African context in order to illustrate their underlying, theoretical premises. In terms of Modernisation Theory, how the environment is viewed or thought of, could, as mentioned, yield potential insights into the driving force behind technological innovation in South Africa, as well as its responses to environmental disasters such as droughts, for instance. If the environment is generally seen as something that ought to be beaten, then this could possibly have a powerful effect on the motivation for the search of new technologies and infrastructure that could not only push society forward, but also contribute to the ease with which natural disasters are circumvented and managed.

6. Conclusion

Thus, the environment has been shown as a substantial, theorised influence on the trajectory of progress and development of human society. However, single factor theories such as Geographical and Biological Determinism should be considered as integrative parts of the proverbial bigger picture of human societal development both past, present, and future.  

7. Reference list  

Hannigan, J. 2006. Environmental sociology: a social constructivist perspective. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Routledge.

Matunhu, J. 2011. A critique of modernization and dependency theories in Africa: critical assessment. African Journal of History and Culture 3(5): 65-72.

Shareira, B.F. 2015. Theories of Development. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 2(1): 78-90.