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Capitalism and Stratification

Capitalism and Stratification. Some Key Elements. Concepts. The building blocks of sociology Two important Sociological concepts include: Social Stratification and Capitalism Let Discuss…. Social Stratification. Definition: Social Stratification is defined as:

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Capitalism and Stratification

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  1. Capitalism and Stratification Some Key Elements

  2. Concepts • The building blocks of sociology • Two important Sociological concepts include: • Social Stratification and Capitalism • Let Discuss…

  3. Social Stratification • Definition: • Social Stratification is defined as: • Sets of relationships in terms of ranking and establishing other relationships

  4. SOCIAL STRATIFICATION • REFERS TO HOW SOCIETY IS LAYERED • LEVELS ARE CONCIDERS SOCIAL STRATA… • i.e UPPER CLASS, MID CLASS, LOWER OR WORKING CLASS

  5. Stratification differs from social inequality: • Social inequality is inter-personal, situational, contextual… • Social Stratification is broad and society…How society is layered from top to bottom

  6. 5 Stratification Systems in History • Slavery--US South, South Africa • Estate--Middle ages, Feudalism Clergy, Aristocracy, Peasantry

  7. Caste System –India • Class System- Modern capitalistic societies US<Canada, England 5. Communism-State control-Soviet Union, China, Cuba

  8. Capitalistic Society • Modern post-industrial capitalistic societies are based on the stratification system know as the SOCIAL CLASS SYSTEM… • The class system is the most OPEN form of social stratification…

  9. Social class is a ranking or grouping of individuals according to position in the economic scheme of things. • UPPERMIDDLELOWER

  10. Class • Class systems & stratification result in differences in: • Access goods and services 2. Powerto dispose of them.

  11. Social class • One’s Class standing is based upon: • income, • wealth, • education • occupation.

  12. Capitalism and Stratification. • The social class is system in capitalist society is supported by Neo-liberalism Neo-liberalism-an ideology that values the free market individualism

  13. Neo liberalism like classical liberalism… • Promotes the rights of the individual over the collective. • The State should not interfere with economic individualism.

  14. Neo-liberals advocate in favour of natural inequality. • Social Darwinistic notions of `survival of the fittest’ • A movement towards the right wing of the political spectrum.

  15. The Political Spectrum • RIGHT Wing TO LEFTWing • INDIVIDUALISM TO COLLECTIVISM

  16. THREE FEATUREs 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)

  17. Capitalism is characterized by four main activities: • Systematic Production • Systematic consumption, • Systematic exchange-capital or money • Personal income and wealth accumulation.

  18. Keynesian Economics • Post WW2 to late 1970s • THE STATE stimulates economic growth • THE STATE seeks stability in the private sector • THE STATE relies upon public projects to regulate economic behaviour • See Obama’s tactics vs. Georg Bush

  19. Contrasting Major Perspectives Sociological perspectives include on capitalism and stratification include: • The structural functionalist perspective-stratification is functional, • The symbolic interactionist perspective –stratification is about status and culture

  20. 3. The conflict perspective (including the Marxist and feminist perspectives), -stratification is about domination and oppression

  21. Stratification /Functional Davis and Moore (1958). “Some Principles of Stratification” • Inequality is natural • A society of equal rewards is impossible • Stratification is necessary and Functional

  22. Conflict Theory • Class differences are not natural and inevitable • Class differences are mostly about wealth not income…income is year by year whereas wealth is historical

  23. CONFLICT THEORY • SUPPORTS A RADICAL AGENDA • THE FAR LEFT ON THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM • CONCERN WITH SOCIETY AS AN “OUGHT” RATHER THAN IS>>>

  24. Weber and Stratification • Social Stratification is about status difference • Social Stratification is part of human values generated by the `Spirit of Capitalism’ • Capitalistic ethos-hard work, rationality, individualism part of formal rationality.

  25. Summary • Theoretical perspectives on capitalism and stratification • SF-conservative status quo-stratification inevitable and necessary • Symbolic Interaction-liberal-critical, pessismistic.. • Conflict/Feminist-radical---question authority • Post Modernism-deconstruction and fragmentation.

  26. Further left on the political spectrum= Keynesianism - Social democracy- Welfare state capitalism. (Left wing)… The far left –Socialism (Marxist) or True communism..

  27. Material Conflict Approach • "The History of all hitherto existing societies is the history of class struggle“ • SEE MARX’S DAS KAPITAL (1860)

  28. SOCIALISTS • SOCIALISTS BELIEVE THAT ALL MEN ARE BASICALLY GOOD, NOT EVIL or EGOISTIC. • SOCIAL SYSTEMS MAKE HUMAN CORRUPT..

  29. Socialism IS: An economic system in which … the means of production are collectively owned.

  30. IDEOLOGY • Conflict theoristsdefine ideology as a body of assumptions, ideas, and values the combine into a coherent world view.

  31. IDEOLOGY= • Marx and Engels-ideas are social creations… =bourgeois false consciousness

  32. IDEOLOGY =IDEAS LEGITIMIZED • Legitimacycomes to us from a variety of sources: • PARENTS • SCHOOLS • MASS MEDIA • POLITICAL LEADERS

  33. Conflict Theory :False Consciousness • The bourgeoisie maintain false consciousness. FOUR IDEOLOGIES INCLUDE: 1. I.e. The cream rises to the top 2. Freedom requires some exploitation 3. “Any man can become President.” 4. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”

  34. Marx and Modes of Production • TRIBAL • ANCIENT COMMUNAL • FEUDAL • CAPITALISTIC • SOCIALISTIC

  35. Daniel Bell (1973) • The Coming of Post-industrial Society: A Venture in Social Forecasting

  36. Revolutions • EARLY INDUSTRIAL –19thc • MID- INDUSTRIAL- 20th c • POST- INDUSTRIAL 21st c

  37. FORDISM-1910 • The Second Revolution • The Factory Model Mid 20thc

  38. The Global Economy • THE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY VS. • THE HAMBURGER ECONOMY (MCJOBS)

  39. Criticisms of Post Industrialism • Labour market polarization • Labour market fragmentation • .

  40. 21st Century capitalism • Four main Characteristics:

  41. Canadian Industrialization • CANADA IS A RESOURCE NATION • INDUSTRIALIZATION AND CAPITALISM WERE PRODUCTS OF THE 20thc in Canada

  42. `Fordism’

  43. Gender roles in Can. Economy CAPITALISM: INCREASES INEQUALITY BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN through the 20thc

  44. Gender and Economy • TO Marxists and a Feminists • Work roles, gender roles are social constructs. • Capitalists use ideology to manipulate behaviour

  45. Consumerism SEE T. VEBLEN

  46. Consumption-Conflict View Capitalism= consumption and production=Commodity Fetishism

  47. History of Consumerism

  48. Consumerism and capitalism =PRODUCERISM- LEADS TO CONSUMERISM, LEADS TO STATUS SEEKING BEHAVIOUR

  49. Veblen Goods • Veblen goods theory- people's preference for buying them increases as a result of their price. • Product and price -direct function • A product must be good, it is expensive…

  50. Consumerism The term and concept of "conspicuous consumption" originated at the turn of the 20th century.

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