Marxism and Conflict Theory PDF

Marxism and Conflict Theory Karl Marx German-born philosopher and economist. The Communist Manifesto (Marx and Engels 1848) A political document outlining the history and critique of Capitalism and proposing a Communist solution through the revolution. The document held within it, important the...

Marxism and Conflict Theory Karl Marx German-born philosopher and economist. The Communist Manifesto (Marx and Engels 1848) A political document outlining the history and critique of Capitalism and proposing a Communist solution through the revolution. The document held within it, important theoretical considerations about the structure of society, and the types of social relations the structure produces. This forms the sociological basis of Marx’s work Das Kapital (1867) – Critique of capitalism Produced economic theory which has had major sociological impact. Influenced by the work of G. F. W. Hegel Thesis – an ideal state; status quo; the way things are Anti-thesis – the challenge/contradiction to the thesis Synthesis – The resolution between the two; the new form/state/idea In his critique of a capitalist society, he observed the extraction of surplus and the competition of the free market system which led to the exploitation of the working class labour. Conflict Perspective Labour Theory of Value (LTV) The production of products in relation to the market price. Price determined by the time taken to produce a particular product; more labour time, higher price. Profits were generated therefore through the exploitation of labour. This theory however was disproven, leading to a change in economic theorising around market pricing. The emergence of Subjective Theory of Value (SVT) Historical Materialism Developed in collaboration with Friedrich Engels The history of development and social change can be studied and understood, through labour and production. Modes of production – feudalism, capitalism, socialism; each has its own way of organizing society and producing social relations. Class struggles – produced because of the structure and organization of the society. Feudalism Capitalism Requires resolution through societal change. What is Social Gratification? Anthony Giddens (2009): “The concept of social stratification is used to describe inequalities that exist between individuals and groups within society.” Nasser Mustapha (2018): “Social stratification is structured social inequality, whereby the patterns of inequality are intimately related to the social structure and persists over a relatively long period. Harold Kerbo (2017): “Social stratification refers to a system with predictable rules behind the ranking of individuals and groups which theories of social stratification are meant to uncover and understand. The existence of a system of social stratification also implies some form of legitimation of the ranking of people and the unequal distribution of valued goods, services, and prestige. Without belief systems justifying the inequality and unequal ranking it is unlikely a stratification system would remain stable over time.” According to Giddens (2009), there are three basic characteristics of socially stratified societies: Societies are ranked into social categories. The social categories or groups consist of people who share common characteristics that are important within that society but may not have necessarily met or interacted. The life experience and opportunities people have, are heavily dependent on the social categories people belong to, and how those social categories are ranked within a society. The ranks of the social categories tend to change very slowly over time. The system that guides and determines the ranks is somewhat of a bedrock of the society. Key Terms and Concepts Status – the amount of honour and prestige held/given to a person who occupies a particular role or position in society. Social class – a group of people who share similar wealth and income in society. Class system – the system that determines and reinforces the social classes, the distinction between the social classes, and the positions of the social classes in society. Social structure – How society is organized, based on the value system, the key characteristics defining social groups, and the location of the social groups. Social mobility – the movement of individuals and/or groups from one position to another within the social stratification of a society. Types of Social Stratification Closed vs Open system of Stratification (Mustapha) Closed System of Stratification Open-system of Stratification (ascriptive) (achievement) Social status determined by the social Social status determined by economic class a person is born into, or inherited factors, usually income in some way/through birth Social position ascribed at birth Social position determined through an individual’s efforts in their lifetime There exists rigid boundaries between The demacracation between and among and among the classes of the society classes are flexible Littile to no movement among the Movement is likely and possible. People classes. One cannot improve an can improve their position and status in ascrivbed position in the society, society. People are born into their caste or Class membership depends to a large position and these determine their extent, on characteristics which people occupation, interaction, access to can control(e.g. education, income) resources and opportunities and power. Weber’s Critique of Marx’s Social Stratification German sociologist Max Weber's theory of social stratification, also known as the three- component theory of stratification, posits that social difference is determined by three factors: class, status, and power: Class: A person's economic position in society, based on birth and individual achievement (position, not ownership of the means of production). Status: A person's social prestige or honor, which may or may not be influenced by class. Power: A person's ability to get their way despite the resistance of others; the level of influence they possess over others. Weber's theory is based on the idea that these three factors are interrelated and influence one another. For example, a person can have high status without being wealthy, or be wealthy without having power. Symbolic Interactionism / The Interactionist Perspective SI - How people create and interpret the world around them through symbolic interactions individuals interact with each other using symbols—words, gestures, and objects that have agreed-upon meanings. Symbols are crucial in the exchange of meaning and the formation of social identities social behaviour is not just reacting to the environment but involves active interpretation and meaning-making. George Herbert Mead Symbolic Interactionis m Charles Herbert Horton Blumer Cooley George Herbert Mead An American philosopher and sociologist Mind, Self, and Society (1934). In this book, he explored the link between individual consciousness and society. He argued that individuals create their sense of self through interactions with others and society. Language and symbols are essential tools in shaping human behavior and that individuals interpret symbols differently based on their social interactions. Herber Blumer American sociologist. Student of G.H. Mead, and further expanded and development SI He emphasized that meaning is created through social interactions and the interpretation of symbols; the role of language, symbols, and shared understandings in shaping social reality. Humans act towards things based on the meanings they assign to them, and these meanings are derived from social interactions. Charles Horton Cooley An American sociologist. Put forward the theory of the “Looking glass Self” Individuals develop their self-identity based on how they believe others perceive them to be. He emphasized the role of socialization and communication in constructing one's self- concept. Individuals use social interactions as mirrors to understand how others view them. Key Principles and Concepts Symbolism - the subjective meanings that individuals assign to objects, events, and behaviours. Individuals interpret and give meaning to symbols based on their own subjective beliefs, values, and experiences. This means that symbols can have different meanings to different individuals and that these meanings may change over time. Social interaction - fundamental to the construction of meaning; that individuals engage in ongoing social interactions through which they create and negotiate the meanings of symbols. Symbolic communication - to the use of symbols and gestures to convey meaning in social interactions. These symbols may include verbal language, non-verbal cues, and gestures, which individuals use to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and intentions. Model of Symbolic Interaction Theory