ABSTRACT
The four theories of social change manifest several interesting similarities as well as quite striking differences. Once the theories have been grasped—at least so far as their basic tenets are concerned—the reader must himself confront the task of analysing their value as explanations of actual social changes. The writer does not regard it as his function to make up the reader’s mind for him, but to indicate to him, and to help him use, some of the cognitive tools needed for the task of passing an informed judgement. To this end, it is of first priority to compare and contrast the theories with one another in a variety of ways.
