Some Uses of the Past: Traditions and Social Change

Abstract

Traditions are strong beliefs which legitimate a social system and a culture. Though it would seem that traditions would invariably hinder creative social change, this is not so. A potential agent of change must understand well and respect the traditions of the people among whom he works, but he need not be paralyzed by them. Some traditions contain within themselves a justification for change. Some can be mobilized for development, some are merely irrelevant, some are inimical to change but can be attacked easily, others are inimical to change but must be handled very carefully.