The social sciences have been examining the concept of social change since the early days of their existence. This does not mean that there is a universal theory of social change. There are numerous theories or perspectives of social change. But social change theories can all be classified into one of three perspectives: cyclical, evolutionary, and dialectical theories. The common characteristic of these theories is their relationship to the concept of progress. Cyclical theories emphasize the inevitable stagnation after a period of rise, growth, and progress. Evolutionary theories, in turn, are based on the belief in a steady and permanent development towards progress, while dialectical theories see progress as a result of