Multi-Step Processes Flashcards
Four key questions of Sociology
- influence our behaviour?
- we affect social institutions vice versa?
- differences lead to inequality?
- Assumptions about social world we live in?
4 premises of Conflict Theory Sanderson 2007
- conflict between groups of opposing interests, and competing for resources is the essence of social life.
- Power & Economic resources principle source of comp.
- Conflict and struggle typically result in dominating groups controlling others.
- Dominant social groups have disproportional control over the allocation of resources and on society structure.
Critiques of Conflict Theory
Reduces inequality to material inequality
- ignores important phenomena in society.
ex. racism
- ignores some aspects of relations are beneficial.
ex. pay and power for different specializations may be different but equally important. (Waste management vs surgeon)
Karl Marx - German Ideology
Modes of production (5)
German Ideology - materialist conception of history
- Human history is the development of the modes of production - the physical aspects of production and the social relationships surrounding production
- Tribalism: Hunting & Gathering
- Ancient Communal: Advanced Agriculture & Mining (Statesmen & Slaves)
- Feudalism: More Machinery for goods (Lords & Servants)
- Capitalist: Modern Industrial (bourgeoise & proletariat)
- Socialism/Communism (NO CLASS DIVISION)
- Class struggle is the mechanism that moves history forward
Karl Marx - Cyclical History
Cyclical History - Dominant & Subordinate class division in every era. Eventually they revolt bringing us to next era until Communism.
Cycle:
- Innovation
- Complacency
- Revolution
Karl Marx - Base & Superstructure
Base refers to the production forces, or the materials and resources, that generate the goods society needs.
Superstructure describes all other aspects of society.
Karl Marx - Alienation
Definition (1)
(+4)
Increase division of labour during industrialization = alienation of the worker from…
- product of their labour
- labour process
- their species being
- other human beings
Karl Marx - Alienation
Issue
Solution
Issue: Labour produces workers as commodities
Solution: Communism - Emancipation of society from private property. Private property is central to capital accumulation and class distinctions - therefore, eliminating private property will also eliminate class struggle.
NO PRIVATE PROVERTY
Karl Marx - Key takeaways
Key Takeaways:
- industrialization, capitalism, division of labour = bad 4 society
- creates alienation, capital accumulation, class struggle
- fosters class consciousness which leads to revolution to socialism or communism
Who is Randall Collins?
4 crucial differences between Marx and Weber Conflict Theory
The strongest contemporary advocate of conflict theory
- Not all about Marx
- He includes Weber & other sociologists
FOUR DIFFERENCES
1. Emphasis on class & other struggles
Weber - political, ethnic, religious as most important struggles over simply class
2. Inevitability of conflict, domination, and inequality.
Weber - conflict will always exist, communism is not a solution
3. Nature & Role of the state
Weber - state has own agenda in maintaining order
4. Bureaucratic and organizational power struggles.
Weber - alienation made by bureaucratic means not means of production
Importance of functionalism
& Critique
Importance: To identify and promote the sources and forms of social cohesion in society.
Critique: Utopian
- ignores major issues in society
Social Facts
Who?(1)
Definition (1)
Social facts must be… (4)
Rules for studying social facts (3)
Durkheim
definition: things external to, and coercive of, the actor. These are created from collective forces and do not emanate from the individual
Must be:
1. Objective & observable
2. External and precede individuals
3. Coercive
4. Collective
Three Rules
1. One must systematically discard all preconceptions
2. One must precisely define the subject matter based on its inherent properties
3. One must be objective in the study, outside of one’s own ideas or subjective experiences
Suicide - Durkheim
types of suicide (4)
Implications on broader sociology (4)
Types of suicide:
1. Egoistic: Not belonging
2. Altruistic: overwhelmed by goals of society (personal needs don’t matter)
3. Anomic: Suicide is not against social norm in normless society
4. Fatalistic: Extreme rules - loses sense of self
Implications:
1. Power of sociology as a science to explain social behaviour
2. Demonstrates Durkheim strengths of sociological method
3. confirms society is greater than sum of its parts
4. Collective consciousness/representation guide behaviour as people internalize ways they see the world
Durkheim - two forms of division of labour
Mechanical: minimal division of labour
- simple society
Organic: highly organized, complex division of labour
- advanced society
Conflict Theory Vs. Functionalism
Society is…
Social change due to…
Division of labour is…
Conflict Theory
- imbalanced
- the economy, revolution
- bad, increases alienation (work, themselves, others)
Functionalism
- balanced & Interdependent
- society’s improper functioning
- Good, reduces Anomie (normlessness)
