Running head: SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN SOCIETIES 1

Social problems in societies

Kimani Samuel

Kenyatta University
Running head: SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN SOCIETIES 2

Social problems in societies.

Social problems are those matters which impact the society negatively such as:

 Unemployment

 Crime

 Poverty

 Incurable diseases

Society is a group of people living together in a given geographical area. These people may share

same traditional practices or the same nationality, for example the Maasai ethnic group and the

people of Nigerian nation state.

Notably, majorly prevalent social problems in different geographical areas may vary

greatly as evident in the case of developed nations in Europe and the United States compared to

the less developed nations in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the developed countries predominant social

problems include the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots, domestic disputes, lack

of employment, environmental degradation by large manufacturing corporations, increasing

terrorist activities, racism and increasing health care cost.

In the less developed nations major social issues include corruption by oppressive

regimes, inequality in distribution of income, poor hygiene and living conditions in slums,

persistent food shortage during times of economic and political crisis, genocide, increasing cases

of crime by unemployed youths, oppression of the girl child and women and the spread of

HIV/AIDS.
Running head: SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN SOCIETIES 3

Turning our focus on Kenya tropical diseases such as malaria are responsible for early

infant mortality. Spread of human immune deficiency virus (HIV) through unprotected sex has

been declared a national disaster by the government. It is important to note that social problems

are related in that one may lead to another problem e.g. deaths related to HIV/AIDS leave more

children without parents. These children end up living under poor conditions because they don’t

have anyone to provide them with basic needs; they drop out of school and join crime (the male

child) or prostitution (female child). Unemployment far from affecting the unemployed also

affects growth progress of the whole economy. Social issues in less developed nations affect how

they relate with the developed nations e.g. Kenya constantly relying on grants from United

Kingdom and the US to finance its budget deficit. Consequently terms laid by lenders which may

be in their own selfish interests have to be met leading to more problems on the part of the

developing nations. From this we learn social issues are related and all of them have to be

addressed because it would be counterproductive addressing one only.

In conclusion in order to overcome the impact of social problems in different human

societies, talented and dedicated researchers and sociologists are needed to conduct professional

analysis to find out root causes of these social problems which have massive consequences on

human wellbeing and come up with sound policy designs to mitigate their impact or even

eliminate their existence, by use of artfully designed institutions and ways of coordinating social

behavior. An example is where governments shun the free market system and embrace a planned

economy system which regulates activities of manufacturing firms by setting minimal pollution

levels and efficient use of natural resources.

Running head: SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN SOCIETIES 4

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Jenkins, R. (2002). Foundations of sociology. London: Palgrave MacMillan

Karl, M., & Engels, F. (1964). The communist manifesto. New York: Washington Square

Press

Willis, Evan. (1996). The sociological quest: An introduction to the study of social life.

New Jersey: Rutgers University press