A COMPARATIVE APPROACH TOWARDS THE CONCEPT OF SOCIAL CHANGE ACCORDING TO EROL GUNGOR AND OZER OZANKAYA

Abstract

The concept of Social change, along with the concept of Social Structure, comprises the two most important basic fields and even set-off points in sociology. The meanings that are altributed to these concepts by the sociologists also determine their approach towards social issues. Erol Gungor and Ozer Ozankaya are two Turkish sociologists, who have different stances towards the issues of the Turkish society due to the different meanings they attribute on the concept of social change. These two Turkish sociologists are also important in that they represent the two different and fundamental approaches in Turkish sociology. Although Ozankaya's approach catholicizes the Marxist approach and then presents it-to be the only way to explain the Turkish society, as well as the rest of all human societies; Gungor's approach on the other hand strongly emphasizes that in order to understand and solve the Turkish social issues one should not separate the Turkish society from its historical and cultural roots.