ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the question of how we can transform society, a very challenging but nevertheless feasible task. The chapter emphasizes that human action and social structures are dynamically related, making it extremely difficult to anticipate the consequences of decisions and actions. It argues that we must avoid the extreme positions of determinism and voluntarism, and instead adopt a realistic possibilism: society can be changed, but not without great effort and arduous struggle. The chapter then develops an informed understanding of transformation and presents five guiding principles that work to preserve its radical meaning. The bulk of the chapter is then devoted to showing how society can be transformed, and the need to consider “the social” in doing so. The chapter shows how all five facets are involved in initiating social change and transforming society. It also shows that different aspects of power are crucial in this work, as power permeates all five facets. The chapter concludes that calling for social and equitable transformation is not wishful thinking, but a realistic option that requires deep commitment to realize.
