In six pages this paper discusses how citizen empowerment can lead to changes in society with the early 20th century Progressive Era in the United States serving as an example. Five sources are cited in the bibliography.
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can take a number of formats. It can also result in either positive or negative impacts. A number of philosophers, from ancient to contemporary times, have commented on
the theme of change. One of the most obvious of these is Karl Marx who analyzed change from the perspective of socialism verses capitalism. Marx saw change from
the perspective of empowerment, of going from what he viewed as an unacceptable situation to an acceptable one. Other philosophers, of course, have viewed change from a more negative
standpoint. Chinua Achebes "Things Fall Apart" provide one of these views. He depicts change as it occurred in traditional African life with the arrival of colonialism. He
saw change as disruptive of the beauty, strength, and even validity of traditional life. These contradictory philosophical views can be rectified if we look at change from the perspective
of empowerment, however. Change which effects empowerment of the people, indeed change which is effected by empowerment of the people, is almost always positive in its societal impact.
A number of diverse examples can be provided to illustrate the positive effects change through empowerment can have. One of the
most interesting of these, however, can be found in regard to labor issues in the early twentieth century. This period is of particular interest in regard to the theme
of change since it epitomizes the growth of the same capitalism and the same changes that came with it that Marx so criticized. Indeed, no issues or no other
time period can be more effectively utilized to illustrate the importance of change through empowerment of the people. The first twenty