The
consequent flood of innovations that has swept through the West and
across the planet in the past two generations has made drastic social
change a matter of the utmost urgency. The only open questions concern
the direction of the changes, their rapidity, and the success of the
social system in adapting itself to the shattering effects of newly
released social forces.
Social change can come with the rush and turmoil of revolution or the
studied step-by-considered-step constancy of the conscious improvement
of society by society. Two powerful social forces limit gradualness. One
is human impatience. The other is the rapidity with which masses of
people all over the planet are being informed of the good-life potential
implicit in present-day western affluence.
Impatience is emotional rather than rational. It is a compound of human
urges on one hand and on the other hand of the frustrations built up in
individuals and populations attracted by new wants and frustrated by
barriers of custom-habit; the carefully constructed apparatus of
direction, division and restriction (the State, the Church, the
communication media), and the potent class forces of the
counter-revolution.
In every modern community the media of mass communication are
broadcasting information regarding the widening consumer prospects
created by the current revolution in science and technology. In every
modern community there are eager, ambitious, hopeful individuals urging
their fellow workers and fellow citizens to get moving toward the
promised land of peace and plenty.
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