本书系统地介绍了有关社会变迁的主要理论观点，清晰、准确地分析了社会变迁的原由、发展、模式及其对社会的影响，考察了在多元文化背景下促进或妨碍社会变迁的诸多因素，对促成变迁的方法及其评估方式进行了详细描述，同时对社会变迁中的重大现实问题，如国际恐怖组织、伊拉克战争等进行了深入的探讨和分析。
本书广泛借鉴了人类学、社会心理学、经济学、政治科学和历史学等领域的有关理论，进一步拓展了研究的深度与广度。
新版广泛参考了采用此书的教师和学生的建议，在保持原结构体系不变的前提下进行了内容的充实与修订，关键思想有了新的深入。

Preface
1 Introduction: Dimensions and Sources of Change
The Organization of the Book
The Nature of Social Change
Conceptualizations of Social Change
Sources of Change
Technology
Ideology
Competition
Conflict
Polity
The Economy
Globalization
Structural Strains
Summary
Suggested Further Readings
References
2 Theories of Change
Evolutionary Theories
Conflict Theories
Structural-Functional Theories
Social-Psychological Theories
Summary
Contents
Suggested Further Readings
References
3 Patterns of Change
Evolution
Diffusion
Acculturation
Revolution
Modernization
Industrialization
Urbanization
Bureaucratization
Summary
Suggested Further Readings
References
4 Spheres of Change
The Family
Population
Stratification
Power Relations
Education
The Economy
Summary
Suggested Further Readings
References
5 Duration of Change
Duration of Change from a Historical Perspective
Transitory Social Changes
Fads and Fashions
Lifestyles
Cults
……
6 Reactions to Change
7 Impact of Change
8 Costs of Change
9 Strategies of Change
10 Assessment of Change
Index