POST-INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY- a term widely used in sociology and political science to refer to the highest stage in the evolution of modern Western society. The concepts of post-industrialism, despite their outward novelty, have much in common with the ideas of the founders of the theories industrial society And de-ideologization , and above all with conceptual constructions R. Arona And W. Rostow . The founder of the concept of post-industrial society is D.Bell , who put forward in his famous book "The Coming Post-Industrial Society" in 1973 the thesis that modern Western society is entering a new phase of its own development that goes beyond industrialism - domination industrial sector in the economy and related social and political structure society. Bell accepted the division of historical development into two main stages, characteristic of the theories of industrialism - 1) pre-industrial, characterized by the predominance of the agricultural sector in the economy, traditional social relations and political institutions and structures, and 2) industrial, a distinctive feature of which is the dominance of the industrial sector and the modernization of social and political institutions of society. According to Bell, con. 20th century coincides with the third stage - the stage of post-industrialism, which is distinguished by the promotion of the service sector and the production of knowledge. As a result, the transition from industrial to post-industrial society was determined by changes in the economy and the promotion of science to the role of one of the leading productive forces of society.
Describing the economic system of a post-industrial society, supporters of the theories of post-industrialism, as a rule, identify a number of characteristic features inherent in it. Among them is the crucial importance of widespread use information technologies, the transformation of the production of knowledge into an independent branch of the economy, and the university - into the main place of this production, the spread of flexible forms of small-scale production of industrial products, replacing the unified mass production, etc. In the social structure of society, these changes are correlated with the disappearance, blurring of the boundaries of social classes, thanks to universal access to the main resource of a post-industrial society - knowledge - through developed system education and the emergence of representatives of a professionally trained highly mobile elite in key positions in society. Property as a criterion of social stratification of society is losing its former importance, giving way to the level of education, accumulated knowledge. In the political sphere, post-industrialism is distinguished by the final assertion of a pluralistic democracy while improving the efficiency of the work of state institutions and structures. At the same time, supporters of the theories of pluralism focus on the first part of this statement, believing that the saturation of society with information is quite within the framework of the concept of a “competent citizen”, capable of active political participation and providing such participation with a sufficient degree of rationality and efficiency of the entire management system. Adherents of elitist views, on the contrary, focus on the training of highly qualified managers, a well-trained "ruling elite" capable of coping with the global challenges of the new era (see below). Meritocracy , New class concept etc.). Unlike an industrial society torn apart by class contradictions and social conflicts , the stage of post-industrialism, according to the supporters of the concept, is distinguished by the presence of only one main conflict - between knowledge and incompetence, efficiency and inefficiency.
Literature:
- Bell D. The Coming Post-Industrial Society, vols. 1–2. M., 1998;
- Block E. Postindustrial Possibilities: A Critique of Economic Discourse. Berk., 1990;
- Brzezinski Z. America in Technetronic Age. Boston, 1967;
- Touraine A. La société postindustrielle. P., 1969.
The modern world cannot imagine its life without large cities, complex technical mechanisms, and a rapidly developing market. Without such phenomena as industrial and post-industrial society, the current era in the development of mankind could not have been formed.
According to economic concepts“industrial society” is commonly understood as a society formed in the course of a complex process of industrialization. Its emergence was facilitated by the emergence and further active development of machine production and the emergence of forms of labor organizations corresponding to a certain time interval, so necessary for achieving scientific and technological progress. 
Peculiarities
An industrial society is characterized by mass production of goods, going in a stream, it is equipped with automation and mechanization of labor. Under these conditions, the active development of the market sector, which consists of goods and services, the establishment of a humane attitude in economic sphere, an increase in the managerial role and, at the same time, the formation of a certain segment of the population - civil society. The father of the term "industrial society" the whole world calls a sociologist and philosopher from France -.
The process of becoming
An industrial society is generally considered to be a society that was founded on the basis that constitutes industry. Industry itself, in turn, is characterized by a number of dynamic structures. Society is characterized by such indicators as the division of labor and the accelerated development of its productivity. For this kind of conditions are very important:
- High level of competition.
- Rapid development of human capital along with entrepreneurial resource.
- Formation of civil society and the necessary management systems.
- Education means of global communication.
- Progress in the field of quality of life.
- High level of urbanization.
The basis for the creation of an industrial society can be the result industrial revolution, as a result of which this large-scale event can be expected to redistribute work force. The number of people employed in agriculture drops sharply when the share of the population employed in industry, trade and other non-agricultural employment begins to rise. This trend inevitably leads to an increase in the number of population in cities. 
Features of an industrial society
- At this historical stage, there is a progressive growth and development of specialized education, infrastructure, living standards and culture.
- Transition from manual to machine production.
- global urbanization.
- High labor mobility of the urban population and so on.
An industrial society is characterized by the emergence and development of:
- Printed products (newspapers).
- scientific activity.
- Possibility of conducting educational training and so on.
This term defines society economic basis which is determined from the innovative sector interacting with high-performance industry. The post-industrial society is characterized by: a high proportion of innovative and high-quality services. They are concentrated in GDP. Equally important is the ongoing competition in the economic and other spheres of activity. Many economists add to this list a high proportion population involved in a number of services.
Industry, which is within the framework of development in the field of post-industrial society, nourishes the desires of economic agents, the population, which is the main consumer. 
Historical information
At the very beginning of the 20th century, the scientist L. Kuraswami, who specialized in the history economic development Asian countries, the term "post-industrialism" was modeled, later it was introduced into scientific circulation. It acquired its modern shell of meaning in the 1950s thanks to Daniel Bell, a professor at Harvard University.
The main development factor
The basis of a post-industrial society, or rather, it can be called its main component, is human capital, which is made up of professionals, scientific and complex knowledge contained in all vast areas of economic innovation.
Essence
The core of this historical process lies in the growth of the quality of life of people and the area of development in the field of innovative economy which includes the knowledge industry. 
Concept
Human capital requires investments in the form of investments. They, in turn, improve its quality.
Occurrence criterion
Many scientists believe that the change in the structure of employment can be called the foundation of a post-industrial society.
Common features between industrial and post-industrial society
- They are natural historical processes.
- They require the involvement of human labor.
Differences
- High labor productivity.
- Improved quality of life of the population.
- The predominance of an innovative economy, accompanied by venture business and the presence of high technologies.
- High cost of human capital.
- The industrial society is a product of the industrial revolution.
Throughout the existence of mankind, society has not stood still and has developed. Science considers such development from different angles, using two different types of approach: civilizational and formational. In this article, I propose to consider only the first of these approaches.
This approach provides for the division of the stages of development of society into 3 time periods. Let's look at them and try to give each a detailed description and distinctive features.
Pre-industrial (agrarian) society
The first time period in the development of society. This type society is characterized by employment of the population mainly in the field of agriculture, while labor is of an individual nature. The main factor of production is land, labor is carried out manually, without the use of machinery. In this society, the life span is very short (40-50 years), there is a high mortality rate, which occurs due to underdeveloped medicine, and indeed all spheres of life, which, however, is compensated by a high birth rate. There is no social mobility, class or estate affiliation is determined at birth. The form of government is a monarchy. There are no examples of states of such a way of life in the modern world, however, various tribes of aborigines living in the territories of Africa and Australia can serve as such examples.
industrial society
An industrial society is characterized by the employment of the population in all spheres of activity. Thus, 85% work in the industrial sector, 5% in the service sector, and 10% in the agricultural sector. Naturally, these figures are not absolutely accurate, but they cannot change significantly and show the approximate employment of the population in different types activities. In this society, social mobility appears, however, it is not so high, there is a division into classes, belonging to which is not determined at birth. Unlike the agrarian society, in the industrial one there is the use of technology in many types of labor, while the main factor of production is capital. Average duration life is quite high (about 70 years). The form of government is a republic, which provides every person with natural rights (the right to life, freedom, etc.). A vivid example of such a society can serve as the USSR (from the time of its foundation to the collapse) and modern China.
post-industrial society
Post-industrial society is characterized by high employment in the service sector. Thus, the distribution of labor in these areas of activity is approximately as follows: the service sector - 60%, agriculture - 5%, industry - 35%. At the same time, there is a complete automation of production, and knowledge is its main factor. There is high social mobility (higher than in an industrial society), class affiliation is not assigned at birth, but is determined only by the mental and other abilities of an individual. Life expectancy in such a society is higher than in the previous two, it averages more than 70 years. The form of government is a republic, which, just like in an industrial society, provides natural and other rights to people, but at the same time, an active civil society appears, which receives many rights to participate in political life. Vivid examples of states with this type of society can be modern Sweden, Spain, France.
General concept of the economy
For every person, the mention of the economy is absolutely normal. But not always an ordinary person can accurately define this concept. The fact is that this term has several interpretations and a number of derivative terms and concepts.
Initially, the economy was called the ability to manage (manage a household, house). Later, this concept was extended to the management of the estate. In many rich houses, the position of housekeeper or housekeeper has been preserved up to the present day. These people were responsible for the provision and maintenance of the residents of the house or estate.
But already in the early stages of development market economy scientific substantiation of the processes taking place in the economy was required. Therefore, the economy has received a new definition (and more than one).
The economy is the whole set of enterprises and organizations that carry out the production, distribution, sale, exchange and consumption of various goods, regulate and service these processes.
In this context, along with this term, it is appropriate to use the term "economy" or "economic complex" as a synonym. The economy has its own branch and territorial structure. The division into branches is largely conditional. And the distribution of enterprises across the territory is subject to the main economic laws.
Economics is also called the branch of science that studies the patterns of formation and development of production, exchange, distribution and consumption of material and spiritual goods, the regulation of these processes, their theoretical justification and forecasting. further development economy.
Types of economic systems
Economy as a kind economic activity is the basis for the development of society. The joint and interconnected formation of production, social, social and political ties leads to the formation of one or another economic system. There are several criteria for identifying and classifying these systems: the form of ownership of the means of production, the role of the state in managing the economy, etc.
Remark 1
An economic system is a set of relationships in society on the issues of production, distribution and consumption of material and spiritual goods and the management of production and distribution.
Throughout the history of human development, economists distinguish four types of economic systems:
- traditional;
- market;
- planned (or command and administrative);
- mixed (but this system has several models).
Depending on the level of economic development of society, another variant of the classification of socio-economic formations is used. In one of his works, the outstanding scientist-economist E. Toffler identified three types of society. But since he considered the development of the community of people and production in dynamics, then we are talking about the stages of development of society (socio-economic formations or economies). According to his doctrine, every society goes through the following stages: agrarian, industrial, post-industrial.
Later, scientists identified more intermediate options - the agrarian-industrial and industrial-agrarian stages of the development of society. Sometimes these stages are simply called economies, so terminological confusion sometimes arises.
The essence of the agricultural, industrial and post-industrial economy
The term "agricultural economy" is used in different contexts. This is a science, and a branch of the economy, and a type of economic system (or a stage in the development of society).
The agrarian economy is called the section economic theory studying the features and patterns of production, distribution and consumption of agricultural products.
The agrarian economy (agrarian sector of the economy) is a set of enterprises and industries that are responsible for the cultivation and production of agricultural products, their processing and sale.
Definition 1
An agrarian economy or an agrarian civilization is a form of organization of a traditional economic system with a dominant position in the economy of the agrarian sector.
The features of an agrarian civilization (agricultural economy) are:
- production is regulated on the basis of established traditions and customs;
- the basis of the economy is agriculture;
- the industry is absent or is at the initial stages of formation;
- the social structure is characterized by a rigid hierarchy;
- in the early stages, the communal form of ownership prevailed, and in later stages - state form land ownership;
- production serves to satisfy immediate needs (and not for sale);
- low rates of economic development.
Agricultural production and crafts meet the emerging needs of the population. All the peoples of our planet passed through this stage of development. But in some peoples this stage exists to this day. Separate centers of agrarian civilizations have survived in some parts of the globe (Equatorial Africa, South India, among the natives of Australia).
With the emergence and development of industrial production, certain processes in society are also accelerated. Then comes the agrarian-industrial and industrial-agrarian stages. The share of industry in the economy is gradually growing.
Definition 2
The industrial economy (industrial society) is such a stage of the economic development of society, in which production of material goods takes precedence natural resources and industry.
Most of today belong to this category. developed countries peace. The share of agricultural production does not exceed 15% of the total domestic gross product. The growth of the urban population is increasing, entrepreneurship is developing.
Definition 3
A post-industrial economy is a stage in the development of society in which, as a result of scientific and technological revolution there was a shift in priorities from the production of goods to the production of services.
characteristic features post-industrial economy are:
- the driving role of science in the economy;
- information and knowledge are a production resource;
- expansion of communication opportunities of society and economy;
- increasing the role of intellectual labor resources;
- strengthening of urbanization processes.
It is proved that society is constantly evolving. The development of society can proceed in two directions and take three definite forms.
Directions of development of society
It is customary to single out social progress (a development trend from lower level the material state of society and the spiritual evolution of the individual to a higher one) and regression (the opposite of progress: the transition from a more developed state to a less developed one).
If we demonstrate the development of society graphically, we will get a broken line (where ups and downs will be displayed, for example, the period of fascism is a stage of social regression).
Society is a complex and multifaceted mechanism, in connection with which progress can be traced in one of its areas, while regression in another.
So, if we turn to historical facts, we can clearly see technical progress(transition from primitive tools to the most complex CNC machines, from draft animals to trains, cars, airplanes, etc.). However back side medals (regression) - destruction of natural resources, undermining the natural habitat of a person, etc.
Criteria of social progress
There are six of them:
- affirmation of democracy;
- the growth of the welfare of the population and its social security;
- improving interpersonal relationships;
- the growth of spirituality and the ethical component of society;
- weakening interpersonal confrontation;
- a measure of freedom granted to an individual by society (the degree of individual freedom guaranteed by society).
Forms of social development
The most common is evolution (smooth, gradual changes in the life of society that occur naturally). Features of her character: gradualness, continuity, ascent (for example, scientific and technical evolution).
The second form of social development is a revolution (quick, deep changes; a radical upheaval social life). The nature of revolutionary change has radical and fundamental features.
Revolutions can be
- short-term or long-term;
- within one or more states;
- within one or more areas.
If these changes affect all existing public spheres (politics, everyday life, economics, culture, public organization), then the revolution is called social. Such changes cause strong emotionality, mass activity of the entire population (for example, such Russian revolutions as the October, February).
The third form of social development is reforms (a set of measures aimed at transforming specific aspects of society, for example, economic reform or educational reform).
Systematic model of typologies of social development D. Bell
This American sociologist delimited world history into stages (types) regarding the development of society:
- industrial;
- post-industrial.
The transition from one stage to another is accompanied by a change in technology, form of ownership, political regime, lifestyle, social structure of society, mode of production, social institutions, culture, population.
Pre-industrial society: characteristics
There are simple and complex societies. pre-industrial society(simple) is a society without social inequality and division into strata or classes, as well as without commodity-money relations and the state apparatus.
In primitive times, gatherers, hunters, then early pastoralists, farmers lived in a simple society.
The social structure of a pre-industrial society (simple) has the following features:
- small size of the association;
- primitive level of development of technology and division of labor;
- egalitarianism (economic, political, social equality);
- priority of blood ties.
Stages in the evolution of simple societies
- groups (local);
- communities (primitive).
The second stage has two periods:
- tribal community;
- neighborly.
The transition from tribal communities to neighboring ones became possible thanks to a sedentary lifestyle: groups of blood relatives settled close to each other and were united both by marriages and by mutual assistance regarding joint territories, by a labor corporation.
Thus, pre-industrial society is characterized by the gradual emergence of the family, the emergence of a division of labor (inter-gender, inter-age), the emergence of social norms that are taboos (absolute prohibitions).
Transitional form from a simple society to a complex one
The chiefdom is a hierarchical structure of a system of people that does not have an extensive administrative apparatus, which is an integral part of a mature state.
According to the size criterion, this is a large association (more than a tribe). There is already horticulture without arable farming and a surplus product without surplus. Gradually, there is a stratification into rich and poor, noble and simple. The number of management levels - 2-10 and more. Modern examples of chiefdoms are: New Guinea, Tropical Africa and Polynesia.
Complex pre-industrial societies
The final stage in the evolution of simple societies, as well as the prologue to complex ones, was the Neolithic Revolution. A complex (pre-industrial) society is characterized by the emergence of a surplus product, social inequality and stratification (castes, classes, slavery, estates), commodity-money relations, an extensive, specialized management apparatus.
It is usually numerous (hundreds of thousands - hundreds of millions of people). Within the framework of a complex society, consanguineous, personal relationships are replaced by unrelated, impersonal ones (this is especially evident in cities, when even cohabitants may be unfamiliar).
Social ranks are replaced by social stratification. As a rule, a pre-industrial society (complex) is referred to as stratified because the strata are numerous and the groups include only those who are not related to the ruling class.
Signs of a complex society by V. Child
There are at least eight of them. The signs of a pre-industrial society (complex) are as follows:
- People are settled in cities.
- Non-agricultural specialization of labor is developing.
- A surplus product appears and accumulates.
- There are clear class divisions.
- Customary law is replaced by legal law.
- Large-scale public works such as irrigation are born, and pyramids are also emerging.
- Overseas trade appears.
- There is writing, mathematics and elite culture.
Despite the fact that the agrarian society (pre-industrial) is characterized by the emergence of a large number of cities, most of the population lived in the countryside (a closed territorial peasant community, leading a subsistence economy, which is poorly connected with the market). The village is oriented towards religious values and traditional way of life.
Characteristic features of pre-industrial society
The following features of a traditional society are distinguished:
- Agriculture occupies a dominant position, which is dominated by manual technologies (the energy of animals and people is used).
- A significant proportion of the population is in rural areas.
- Production is focused on personal consumption, and therefore market relations are underdeveloped.
- Caste or estate classification system of the population.
- Low level of social mobility.
- Large patriarchal families.
- Social change is proceeding at a slow pace.
- Priority is given to the religious and mythological worldview.
- Homogeneity of values and norms.
- Sacralized, authoritarian political power.
These are schematic and simplified features of a traditional society.
Industrial type of society
The transition to this type was due to two global processes:
- industrialization (creation of large-scale machine production);
- urbanization (resettlement of people from villages to cities, as well as the promotion of urban life values in all segments of the population).
Industrial society (originated in the 18th century) is the child of two revolutions - political (the French Revolution) and economic (the English Industrial Revolution). The result of the first economic freedoms, a new social stratification, and the second - a new political form (democracy), political freedoms.
Feudalism has been replaced by capitalism. In everyday life, the concept of "industrialization" has become stronger. Its flagship is England. This country is the birthplace of machine production, new legislation and free enterprise.
Industrialization is interpreted as the use of scientific knowledge regarding industrial technology, the discovery of fundamentally new sources of energy that made it possible to perform all the work previously carried out by people or draft animals.
Thanks to the transition to industry, a small proportion of the population was able to feed a significant number of people without the procedure for cultivating the land.
Compared with agricultural states and empires, industrial countries are more numerous (tens, hundreds of millions of people). These are the so-called highly urbanized societies (cities began to play a dominant role).
Signs of an industrial society:
- industrialization;
- class antagonism;
- representative democracy;
- urbanization;
- the division of society into classes;
- transfer of power to the owners;
- little social mobility.
Thus, we can say that pre-industrial and industrial societies are actually different social worlds. This transition obviously could not be either easy or quick. It took Western societies, so to speak, the pioneers of modernization, more than one century to implement this process.
post-industrial society
It gives priority to the service sector, which prevails over industry and agriculture. The social structure of the post-industrial society is shifting in favor of those employed in the aforementioned area, and new elites are also emerging: scientist and technocrats.
This type of society is characterized as "post-class" in view of the fact that it shows the collapse of entrenched social structures, identities that are so characteristic of industrial society.
Industrial and post-industrial society: distinctive features
The main characteristics of modern and postmodern society are shown in the table below.
Characteristic | Modern society | postmodern society |
1. The basis of public welfare | ||
2. Mass class | Managers, employees |
|
3. Social structure | "Grainy", status | "Cellular", functional |
4. Ideology | sociocentrism | Humanism |
5. Technical basis | Industrial | Informational |
6. Leading industry | Industry | |
7. The principle of management and organization | Management | Coordination |
8. Political regime | Self-government, direct democracy |
|
9. Religion | Small denominations |
Thus, both industrial and post-industrial society are modern types. The main distinguishing feature of the latter is that a person is not considered primarily as an “economic person”. A post-industrial society is a “post-labor”, “post-economic” society (the economic subsystem loses its decisive importance; labor is not the basis of social relations).
Comparative characteristics of the considered types of development of society
Let us trace the main differences that have a traditional, industrial and post-industrial society. Comparative characteristics presented in the table.
Comparison criterion | Pre-industrial (traditional) | Industrial | post-industrial |
1. Main production factor | |||
2. Main production product | Food | Industrial goods | |
3. Features of production | Exceptionally manual labor | Widespread use of technologies and mechanisms | Computerization of society, automation of production |
4. Specificity of labor | Individuality | Predominance of standard activities | Encouraging creativity |
5. The structure of employment | Agriculture - approximately 75% | Agriculture - approximately 10%, industry - 75% | Agriculture - 3%, industry - 33%, services - 66% |
6. Priority View export | Mainly raw materials | Manufactured products | |
7. Social structure | Classes, estates, castes included in the collective, their isolation; little social mobility | Classes, their mobility; simplification of the existing social structures | Saving an existing social differentiation; an increase in the size of the middle class; professional differentiation based on qualifications and level of knowledge |
8. Life expectancy | 40 to 50 years old | Up to 70 years old and above | Over 70 years |
9. The degree of human impact on the environment | Uncontrolled, local | Uncontrolled, global | controlled, global |
10. Relations with other states | Minor | Close relationship | Complete openness of society |
11. Political sphere | Most often, monarchical forms of government, lack of political freedoms, power is above the law | Political freedoms, equality before the law, democratic transformations | Political pluralism, a strong civil society, the emergence of a new democratic form |
So, it is worth recalling once again the three types of social development: traditional, industrial and post-industrial society.