Complexities of Social Change in Bangladesh : Historical Aspirations and Contemporary Realities

This book examines post-independence Bangladesh from a sociological perspective, discussing the structural and cultural factors that threaten its achievements, and how it might overcome existing hurdles to ensure continuity and long-term stability in its social transformation.

Connecting historical aspiration with contemporary reality, this book examines post-independence Bangladesh from a sociological perspective, discussing the structural and cultural factors that threaten its achievements, and how it might overcome existing hurdles to ensure continuity and long-term stability in its social transformation. Structured around three broad phases of transformation – post-liberation reconstruction (1972–1990), globalization and digitalization (1991–2010), and contemporary transformations (2010–2025) – the book traces continuity, rupture, and reconfiguration across the evolving sociopolitical landscape of Bangladesh. The chapters chart key developments in Bangladesh’s history such as July Uprising of 2024, the evolution of religious and cultural politics since 2012, and the rapid expansion of the service and digital sectors in recent years. The book also examines the transformative impact of digitalization, social media, and technology on kinship, marriage, youth culture, and everyday life. Ultimately developing an integrated analytical framework for understanding Bangladesh’s societal dynamics, the book will be of interest to scholars, researchers, and postgraduate students in the fields of sociology, political science and South Asian studies.