Table 4-1. Value and Model Assumptions in Social
Stratification Paradigms (from Kerbo, p. 87)
Value Assumptions
Critical
Uncritical
1. Inequality is not inevitable
1. Inequality is inevitable
2. People are good (Optimistic)
2. People are bad (Pessimistic)
3. Ameliorative approach to Society
3. Value free sociology
Model Assumptions
Conflict
Order
1. Conflict and Inequality Based Society
1. Consensus Based Society
2. Focus on Societal Parts and Processes
2. Holistic Approach to Society
3. Class or Interest Group Struggles
3. Focus on Social System Needs
Table 4-2. A Typology of Social Stratification Paradigms
(from Kerbo, p. 87)
Value Assumptions
Order
Model of
Society
Conflict
Critical
Uncritical
Does Not Exist
Among Classics
Functional Theory
Durkheim
Ruling Class
Theory
Marx
Power-Conflict
Theory
Weber
Table 4-3. Political Attitudes Defined by Optimism or Pessimism
Regarding Existing Institutions and Common People
Attitude Toward Existing Institutions
Attitude
Toward
Common
People
optimistic
pessimistic
optimistic
Liberal
Radical
Pessimistic
Conservative
Reactionary
Source: Based on Tom Ruth, California Politics Course, Grossmont College, 1970
Figure 4-1. The Dialectical Model
thesis
synthesis
anti-thesis
Figure 4-2. Class Relations in Slave, Estate and Factory
Production Systems
Slave
master
slave
Estate
Factory
lord
employer
peasant
employee
Table 4-4. Marxist Concepts (with Apologies to Kerbo)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Historical materialism: History is a dialectic of modes of production, whose
internal contradictions drive change
Base-Superstructure: cultural and political forms (e.g., Catholicism and
monarchy) reflect the material base of society (mode of production, e.g., feudalism)
Modes of Production: Historically given set of social and economic relations that
characterize how people “wrest a living from nature” in a particular epoch
Means of Production: Essential elements (e.g., land, labor, tools) required to
“wrest a living from nature” (produce necessary and desirable goods and services)
Relations of Production: social relations (e.g., slavery, peonage, tenancy, or
employment) that yield subsistence or surplus in “wresting a living from nature”
Class: relationship of exploitation/surplus appropriation in production (e.g.,
employment) or parties to such a relationship (e.g., master and slave)
Exploitation: the appropriation of surplus labor value by non-laboring classes
Surplus Value: the difference between the labor value represented in its product
and the value of labor’s remuneration (e.g., commodity price minus wage and other
production costs [in employment]; landlord’s share of crop [in tenancy])
Table 4-5. Political Attitudes Defined by Optimism or Pessimism
Regarding Existing Institutions and Common People
Attitude Toward Existing Institutions
Attitude
Toward
Common
People
optimistic
pessimistic
optimistic
Liberal
Marx
Pessimistic
Durkheim
Reactionary
Source: Based on Tom Ruth, California Politics Course, Grossmont College, 1970
Figure 4-3. Durkheim’s Functional Model of the Division of
Labor and Mechanical or Organic Solidarity
-
Division
Of Labor
+
Solidarity
Increasing
Social Density
Table 4-6. Political Attitudes Defined by Optimism or Pessimism
Regarding Existing Institutions and Common People
Attitude Toward Existing Institutions
Attitude
Toward
Common
People
optimistic
pessimistic
optimistic
Weber
Marx
Pessimistic
Durkheim
Reactionary
Source: Based on Tom Ruth, California Politics Course, Grossmont College, 1970
Table 4-7. Weber’s Multidimensional Interests
Class: shared life chances or resources one brings into the market (e.g., lawyer)
Status: shared lifestyle that is honored by other members of status community (e.g.,
environmentalist or yuppie)
Party: shared pursuit of authority (ability to make binding decisions) or influence
(ability to affect such decisions)
Party (political) interests sometimes reflect class interests, sometimes status interests,
sometimes both, and sometimes neither
Table 4-8. Weber’s Types of Social Action and Types of
Legitimate Authority
Types of Social Action
Types of Legitimate Authority
Habitual: customary or routine
(e.g., making breakfast)
Traditional Authority: based on
age old custom or convention
Affectual: feels good; enjoyable
Charismatic Authority: based on
emotional attachment to
exemplary leader
Value Rational: end in itself:
morally or aesthetically right
(e.g., going to church)
Instrumental Rational: means
to an end (e.g., doing
exercises)
Legal Rational Authority: based
on written rules that designate
and circumscribe relations and
positions
Figure 4-4. Weber’s Model of the Shift from Traditional to
Rational Authority
Collapse
Traditional
Authority
Social
Movement
Charismatic
Leader
Routinization
Legal
Rational
Authority
Table 4-9. Distinguishing Marx, Durkheim and Weber by
Perspective, Model, and Focus
Theorist
Perspective
Model
Focus
Marx
Radical
Dialectical
Economic
Durkheim
Conservative
Functional
Cultural
Weber
Liberal
Interactive
Political