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The process of social, political and economic change is very complex. Change may involve many different factors, and multiple processes operating concurrently. First, many coincidental, unique or random factors influence the change process. For example, geography can have an impact on whether a civilization develops one great center versus many smaller independent centers. Similarly, the presence or absence of specific people may be one major determinant of the path a society takes. Consequently, the specific forms that a society takes, and the particular paths, for example of development, taken by different societies will not be the same among different societies. On the other hand, there are systematic or common processes which affect all societies. For example, successful development generally requires a basic degree of social mobilization, structural differentiation, development of free resources, specialization and diversity of social organization, and a stable and flexible governmental system. Social, political and economic change can best be understood by combining systematic with more unique, random or coincidental factors.
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