long time in Russian literature and science there is only one approach to treating and studying the past of mankind.According to him, the whole development of society is subject to change economic structures.This theory put forward a clear and substantiated by Karl Marx.But today more and more often the story is considered from the perspective of a wider range of factors of development, combining together the formational and civilizational approaches to the history of the origin and development of the human race.
the phenomenon, there are many explanations, but the most important of them says that Marx's theory is one-sided and does not take into account many factors and historical information that can not be taken into account in the study of such a multi-faceted phenomenon, as a society.
formational and civilizational approaches are based in their adherence to the following factors:
- formational - based on economic development and ownership;
- civilization - takes into account all the elements of life, ranging from religious and ending the relationship "individual - the power."
It is worth noting that as it is a common concept in the civilizational approach is not developed.Each researcher also takes into account only one or two factors.So Toynbee allocates sixteen types of society, based on the development of society as a single territory from its inception to the peak and decline.In contrast to him, Walt Rostow identifies only 5 of civilizations, the basis of which the emphasis is placed on the ratio of "population - consumption", the highest of which is the state of mass consumption.
As can be seen from the latter theory, formational and civilizational approaches often overlap with each other, that does not seem strange.This situation is due to the fact that they are all characterized by social history with only one point of view.Thus, formational and civilizational approaches to the study of societies can not fully reveal its emergence and development at all stages, based solely on one method.
So, the most complete of them presented the theory of formation of Marx and the theory of civilizations Toynbee.The majority of researchers recently more and more inclined to think that if you connect the key parameters of these concepts, the formational and civilizational approaches able to fully justify why the development of science, economy, culture and other spheres of public life went on in the way thatIt can be traced through the pages of history.
above is due to the fact that Marx's theory of the 5 stages (formation) of people based mainly on the type of economy and development tools.Toynbee's theory effectively complements it, revealing the social, religious, cultural, scientific and other factors.It is worth noting that in the early stages Toynbee pay more attention to is the religious component than the opposition and cause them.Over time, the situation has changed, and today the formational and civilizational approaches to the study of society are divided only conditionally.
It should be noted that these methods of understanding the history of how there are disadvantages as well as advantages.So, the theory of formations has a detailed study of all aspects of the five stages of the economic history of any community.The disadvantage is a one-sided understanding of the processes arising in the states (namely their studies Marx's theory), which is expressed in the fact that the subject for the study were identified only country in Europe.Experience Slavic states, Arab, American and African world not taken into account.At about the same factor also based its judgment and "father" of the theory of civilizations Toynbee.
formational and civilizational approaches to the history of human development at the moment opposed to what is fundamentally wrong.Such an attitude to study ways of improving society essentially leaves no room to consider the most in-depth all the processes taking place in society.So to prevent the formation of white spots should be used formational and civilizational approaches simultaneously.
