FEATURES OF INDUSTRIALISM

 MEANING OF INDUSTRIALISM

Moore, Hoselitz and Nash are concerned with the industrialization process. But industrialism is the end; industrialism is the product of industrialization process. The specific -question we set out to answer is what does an 'industrial society', as distinct from an industrializing one look like? Industrialization is process, industrialism the ideal typical end product that incorporates all the attributes of a fully evolved industrial society. The major theorists of industralism — the ultimate destination of industrial society are Clark Kerr, John Dunlop - Frederick Harbison and Charles Myers whose influential book, Industrialism and Industrial man has dominated the view. For him, industrialism is a set of ideas and values correlative of industrial society. The society is set with certain dominant ideal conceptions, philosophy, a particular pattern of consumption, values and a definite mode of behaviour. In 1960s, when the western societies were enjoying the fruits of successful industrialization and becoming prosperous, both capitalists and workers were happy, and workers were rising to middle class status. Clark Kerr was also definite of declining incidences of strikes. 

1. Greater differentiation of skill levels 

Marx anticipated that industrial technology would lead to the redundance of human skills. The skill would be built into the simple machine-minders endlessly performing repetitive monotonous tasks. But the growth of technology has led to the greater differentiation of skill levels. Skilled manpower, especially at technical, professional and managerial levels, is now a critical prerequisite for industrialization. Countries which do not possess this input have to import skilled men just as they import technology. 

2. Greater differentiation of skill levels

 Marx anticipated that industrial technology would lead to the redundance of human skills. The skill would be built into the simple machine-minders endlessly performing repetitive monotonous tasks. But the growth of technology has led to the greater differentiation of skill levels. Skilled manpower, especially at technical, professional and managerial levels, is now a critical prerequisite for industrialization. Countries which do not possess this input have to import skilled men just as they import technology 

3. Change in education system 

As science and technology are given prime importance, and labour and jobs are to be matched on the basis of skills and education, education system also has to be geared to produce desirable technologists professionals managers and other skilled personnel 

4. Urban growth 

The industry tends to concentrate in cities and metropolises where infrastructural facilities such as transport, communications housing banking and educational institutions are available. The industrial society will be an urban society. Agriculture will have a place in it but only as another industry i.e. agriculture will be totally mechanized or a rationally organized production geared to the pursuit of profit. 

5. Importance of government 

The role of government is very important. The government will have to build and maintain the infrastructure necessary for the growth of science technology and industry. The government will also take the responsibility to provide facilities like transport, communication, educational institutions and law and order. A high degree of government Intervention U required to maintain^ complex functional interdependence of the different sectors of economy. 

6. Large organization 

Large formal organization which produces goods and services is the dominant feature of industrial society. The authority structure of the organization will give some the power to command .and others the responsibility to obey. The managers will be relatively few, and the managed a great many. Written formal rules regulate both managers and the managed, regarding output, performance, hiring and firing, discipline promotion etc.

7. Specialization 

Specialization takes the form of both individual role differentiation and the organization of collectivities around highly particularized functions. A specialized function determines the combination of refined skills needed for its fulfilment (chemists, biologists, engineers, business economists or accountants and probably trained inspectors to ensure standards) Extreme subdivision of tasks in industrial production has given rise to specialization a productive component of technology. Yet social techniques in this regard are probably more important like criteria of selection, communication and administrative, coordination of a rather high order. The circumstances are mostly similar in other contexts; for coordination of some form is always the counterpart of specialization in a system that is successful in its mission. Size also encourages specialization and size again involves important elements of communication. Specialization may also encourage growth of organized units by making possible rather elaborate relations through time and space. 

Role differentiation : This is seen in the bureaucracy in the form of skill distribution, a system of authority a communication network, a system of reward distribution and a labour market. One crude index of specialization, the number of distinguishable occupations continues to grow in all industrial societies. New products and new processes do not uniformly displace old ones and new services link specialists in new ways. Although some specialities may finally disappear and some differentiated tasks may be reassembled as a more complex occupation, the overwhelming trend toward greater differentiation continues. 

Standards of consumption : With growing prosperity standards bf consumption are fast becoming similar in all industrial societies. Though incomes may differ but pattern of consumption or the symbols of status may be same.

Specialized interest groups : A large number of voluntary associations have come up, serving specialized interests and need of people. These also serve as outlets of individuals' emotions. Many can become the member and do work for the fulfillment of their desires or needs. Such members also get recognition as whole members and are rewarded accordingly. 

Organisation of change:

 Change especially desirable has to be planned. In many countries economic growth is planned and it is generally centralized i.e. by central government. Social planning varies not only in the extent of significant changes for which prediction and control may be sought but also in the matter of time. Many changes are institutionalized in the form of laws for ex. 'inheritance of wealth' in family lineages, or protection of environment. It has been discovered that increasing use of chemical pesticides has led to harmful effects or continuous mining has led to environmental or natural depletion. Thus long term consequences have to be studied and assessed. A signal of •warning has to be given. 

Nature and distribution of power in industrial society:

 In Industrial society, though the power must be shared mutually, i.e. by both governed and governor to have a common policy but at the same time organization should also have some power for themselves to carry out their coordinating functions. 4. Trade unionism is believed to perform a number of important functions in an industrial society, providing .stability in industrial relations and making industrial workers a viable unit in society with a potentiality to strive for their rights in work and incomes and make a coherent attempt to achieve improvement in the different aspects of their social life.