The assessment of social change focuses on alterations in organization, authority, roles, values, and norms brought on by changes in politics, religion, employment, conflict, crime, and the role of the state. Over the period studied, there has been a consistent decline in the aggregate rural population while the aggregate urban population has continuously increased. This involves changing from a community that is relatively stable and family-centered to one that is rapidly changing and centered in nonfamilial institutions. It also involves a transition from a community with a single traditional ideology to one where people hold divergent ideologies. Over the period studied crimes have increased in tandem with urbanization. This is due in some measure to the deterioration of informal social controls formerly associated with family and a homogeneous system of values and beliefs. This has been replaced with individualism and diversity. Reliance upon formal social control mechanisms, such as the police, to maintain public order and protect citizens has thus increased. 2 tables and 14 references