Rural sociology needs a conceptualization of social change and its implications for the discipline. Scientifically adequate conceptualization would enable rural sociologists to understand their own and others' social roles as activities which are aspects of social change. With this understanding the rural sociologist could conceive of his…

Discusses incorporating the dynamics of complex systems, as presented in the theory of dissipative structures, into models of evolving social systems. Considers the importance of instability and minor and random events and the limits of forecasting, generalization, and control. Concludes that the nonlinear paradigm represents a link between…