Capitalism and Stratification
Two Key Concepts in Sociology
19thc
• INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
• Problems: pollution, overcrowding,
disease, exploitation of workers.
•
See: Growth of Towns and Cities
Tools of the Sociologist
• CONCEPTS
• THEORIES
• PARADIGMS
THEORY AND Concepts
• The relationship between
theory and concepts in
sociology is as follows:
• a. Concepts are the
building blocks of sociology
• b. From concepts
sociologists develop
propositions about how the
social world works
• c. Formalized propositions
are hypotheses…ie. Social
stratification, social inequality
• d. Hypotheses that stand the
test of time are raised to the
level of theory…ie Marx’s
theory of dialectical materialism
• E. Groups of theories of similar nature
become PARADIGMS.
The Two Concepts
• CAPITALISM DEFINED…
• STRATIFICATION DEFINED
CONCEPTS
• CAPITALISM-Economic system based
upon social class standing
THREE Components OF
CAPITALISM
• 1. Private ownership of property
• 2. Pursuit of personal profit (surplus
value)
• 3. Free competition and consumer
sovereignty-laissez-faire (to let go)
Processes OF CAPITALISM
• Capitalism is characterized by
four main processes:
1. Systematic Production
2. Systematic consumption,
3. Systematic exchange-capital or money
4. Personal income and wealth accumulation.
Stratification defined
• Set of relationships in terms of ranking
and establishing other relationships
• STRATIFICATION-Means of dividing
people based upon economic and cultural
characteristics
PARADIGMS
•
PARADIGMS EACH PROVIDE
UNIQUE INSIGHT INTO…
CAPITALISM AND STATIFICATION.
1. Structural Functionalism-Durkheim
2. Symbolic Interactionism-Weber
3. Conflict Theory-Marx
Paradigms and Politics
• STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISMconservative
• SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM-liberal
• CONFLICT THEORY-radical
Political Spectrum
• EXTREME RIGHT WING
• =DICTATORSHIP
• EXTREME LEFT WING
• =TRUE COMMUNISM
Capitalism
• Capitalism is the first system of
stratification that is open. (class vs.
caste) Individuals may carve out
their own positions regardless of the
State.
• Provides at least, the illusion of
meritocracy and achievement.
Stratification Systems in
History
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
SlaveryEstateCasteClass
Communist
Social class
•
One’s Class standing is based upon:
1.
2.
3.
4.
income,
wealth,
education
occupation.
th
19
c Classical Theories
• E. Durkheim-See Stratification as
functional
• Max Weber –Stratification is about
rationalisation
• Karl Marx-Stratification is controlled by
elites
Paradigms
• Paradigm -set of explicit and
implicit assumptions that gives
an idea meaning and direction.
Different Lenses on Society
• . Each perspective has
different assumptions about:
1. the nature of mankind
2. causes of human behaviour
Theoretical perspectives on
capitalism and
stratification
1. Structural Functional-Right wing
conservative status quo-stratification
inevitable and necessary
2. Symbolic Interaction-liberal-critical,
pessimistic..
3. Conflict/Feminist-Left wing radical--question authority
Structural-functionalism
1. Structural-functionalism holds that
society is ‘normative’ order
2. People’s behaviour is organized
around social institutions
Structural Functionalism
3. Institutions are comprised of rules
and norms
4. Functionalists focus on social
integration
5. SF theorists tend to ask questions
about the functional and
dysfunctional elements of human
behaviour and social institutions.
Stratification according to
Functionalism
Davis and Moore (1958). “Some Principles of
Stratification”
1. Inequality is natural
2. A society of equal rewards is impossible
3. Stratification is necessary and functional
Symbolic interactionism
1. Symbolic interactionism views
human behaviour is the result of
individual interpretation of symbols
2. Focus on social context and social
interaction.
Symbolic interactionism
3. People perceive and construct their
social reality
4. Tends to ask questions about how
individuals make sense of their
social world
SI- Weber on Stratification
1. Social Stratification is about status
difference
2. Social Stratification is part of human
values generated by the `Spirit of
Capitalism’
3. Capitalistic ethos-hard work, rationality,
individualism part of formal rationality.
CONFLICT THEORY
• Differences in wealth, status and
power between classes, ARE not
natural.
• They are socially constructed by
owners of the means of production
Marx Quote
• It is not the consciousness of men that
determines their existence, but their
social existence that determines their
consciousness.
Karl Marx
Material Conflict Approach
• "The History of all hitherto
existing societies is the
history of class struggle“
• SEE MARX’S DAS KAPITAL (1860)
Conflict Theory :False
Consciousness
• The bourgeoisie maintain
false consciousness.
• FOUR SLOGANS
INCLUDE:
Marx’s Modes of Production
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
TRIBAL
ANCIENT COMMUNAL
FEUDAL
CAPITALISTIC
SOCIALISTIC
To Marx,
1. Capitalism is a mode of production-not
the first, not the last…
2. Capitalism-generates stratification as
class system.
3. Capitalism is first mode of production in
which pure class divisions exist.
4. Potential for proletarian revolution???
SUMMARY
• CAPITALISM AND STRATIFICATION
are two key concepts in sociology
• Various analyses of the concepts are central
in the three main paradigms in sociology
• Functionalism, Symbolic Interaction and
Conflict Theory.