Civilized societies are characterized by particular factors, including a set political, socio-economic, religious, and cultural structure. In the early historical periods of Western cultures, socializing and communicating played a critical role in sharing innovative and controversial ideas. In this way, the ideological division contributed to certain social groups being seen as less educated or traditionally correct, which further led to different treatment towards such groups. Generally, the socio-economic gaps between privileged and non-privileged classes weakened the state’s unity and structure and, therefore, could be considered an example of poor civilization. On the other hand, advances in the arts, architecture, and sciences certainly aided in developing enlightened western societies (Hunt et al., 2019). Today, civilization can definitely be seen as progressive and adjustable, as globalization improves cross-cultural awareness while political campaigns aim to minimize financial gaps between social classes.
I agree with the idea that civilization is extremely difficult to manage, not only due to the present power imbalance but also because of the constantly emerging trends and alternating social values. Hence, what used to be ethically wrong in the past may become widely accepted in the future, and vice versa, with new information being discovered and old facts reappearing. In that case, sharing power will not resolve the issue as long as social values remain flexible and varying because the question of what is ethically correct then becomes too subjective. While inclusivity and diversity are more encouraged than they have been in the past, more time is needed to incorporate the concepts into daily life naturally. As historical events have demonstrated, time becomes the essential factor to consider in evaluating modern-day civilization.
Relatively to the initial social system, humanity has definitely improved the stability of one’s socio-economic stance and in-group inclusivity; however, more time is needed to secure emerging trends and promote the mentioned innovations.
Work Cited
Hunt, L., Martin, T. R., Rosenwein, B. H., & Smith, B. G. (2019). The making of the west: Peoples and cultures. Bedford/St. Martin’s.