Race and Ethnic Relations (4/16)

31
Race and Ethnic Relations (4/16) 1. Systems dynamics (review) 2. Categorical Inequalities 3. The Issue of Exploitation

description

Race and Ethnic Relations (4/16). Systems dynamics (review) Categorical Inequalities The Issue of Exploitation. Race and Ethnic Relations in American 20 th c. Sociology. Park worked for a while as Booker T. Washington’s assistant Washington was a conservative Souther black intetgrationist - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Race and Ethnic Relations (4/16)

Page 1: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Race and Ethnic Relations (4/16)

1. Systems dynamics (review)

2. Categorical Inequalities

3. The Issue of Exploitation

Page 2: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Race and Ethnic Relations in American 20th c. Sociology Park worked for a while as Booker T.

Washington’s assistant Washington was a conservative Souther black

intetgrationist Figures such as DuBois and Cox

Did path breaking work But were marginalized in sociology And eventually left the discipline.

Myrdal’s An American Dilemma was one of the founding documents of 20th c. sociology.

Page 3: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Dynamic core of Classical Theory in terms of feedbacks

Conflict theory Marx (DuBois) Positive feedbacks Alienation Rich groups get

richer…

Functional theory Durkheim (Gordon) Negative feedbacks Anomie Functional needs:

universalism, solidarity and integration

+ -

Page 4: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Conflict theory as a game of monopoly

This dynamic insures, that no matter what the abilities or attitudes of the players, rich will get richer and acquire more advantages and privileges, so that the structure will polarize

properties rents

Or, more generally,

ResourcesWealth, property, social position, power influence, health…

Access to further resources

+

+

+

+

Page 5: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Real world Monopoly In Marxian analysis, property income is

one part of class polarizationWhich also involves exploitation: the

income at the top comes from below.But life-chances, power, status and

ideology are also important.E.g. income wealth education

Consolidation of social position involves multiple resources: power, influence, status, etc

Page 6: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Functional theory as thermostats We have seen that 20th c. functionalism took

the maintenance of homeostasis in a biological organism as its model.

Parsons argued that the normative system maintains social functions.

There is a process of integration and inclusion Norms develop toward universalistic inclusive

modern norms that are good for eve3ryone

Violation of a norm

+

-

Negative santions

Page 7: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Types of dynamic:1. Conflict theory in race relations:

Positive feedback leads to exploitation and domination

E.g. a game of monopoly Rich and privileged groups get richer and

poor ones get poorer and exploited.

E.g. slaves, Indians, Hispanics. E.g. education, status, power, etc.

resources Access to more resources

+

+

Page 8: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

The dynamic of monopoly:

The dynamic of such positive feedbacks is polarizing and discontinuous.

but besides rents there is health, education, status, power, etc.

People are always influenced by the impact of policy choices on their life chances and that of their kids..

propertiesRents (i.e. $ to buy and improve properties)

+

+

resources Access to more resources

Page 9: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Types of functional dynamic:2. Functionalist theory in race relations:

Negative feedback from normative system E.g. controls in an organic system Any goal directed or control system can be analyzed

as self-maintaining feedbacks.

E.g. a thermostat. Parsons consolidated the notion of a movement

toward universalism and inclusion (assimilation.)

Violation of norms

Negative sanctions

+

-

Page 10: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

An example: An American Dilemma (1944)

Gunnar Myrdal had developed various economic feedback models in the 1930’s.

His massive and influential analysis of US race relations, An American Dilemma,

was based on the concept of “cumulative causation” i.e. positive feedbacks.

He developed the analysis in the 1950’s and 60’s to deal with Third World development,

And in 1978 he received the Nobel Prize.

Page 11: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

1st Positive feedback: the vicious cycle of minority deprivation

He argued that disadvantage produces further disadvantage in a vicious, cycle.

The advantages of an advantaged group cumulate, and the disadvantages of a disadvantaged group cumulate.

low income low wealth

poor health high crime rate

low educational attainment family disorganization

Page 12: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Implications of cumulationMany of these relations have been

clearly demonstrated.The system is self-reinforcing.The response to a group’s disadvantage

must involve the many kinds of disadvantage

Race relations involve class.

Page 13: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

2nd Positive feedback: racism and minority deprivation

Myrdal also argued that the poverty, unemployment, crime or other disadvantages of a disadvantaged group tend to generate or reinforce stereotyping, prejudice, segregation and political marginalization.

And they are reinforced by them Minority deprivation leads to racism

(Stereotyping, attitudes, sentiments, segregation, political marginalization and structures of white supremacy).

Racism leads to minority deprivation

Racism Minority deprivation+

+

Page 14: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Implications of Positive feedbacks Myrdal argued that the cumulative

consequences of these feedbacks was a cascade that appeared “natural”

but that was socially produced, highly unstable, and amenable to social policy in the long run. In the same way that in increase in racism or in

minority deprivation produces a cascade of further increases,

A decrease in racism or in minority deprivation produces a cascade of further decreases.

The system is ameliorable precisely because of positive feedback amplifications.

Page 15: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Negative feedback in An American Dilemma

Myrdal argued that the main control system was the value system he called “the American Creed.”

It calls for all persons and groups to have equal opportunity, equal treatment by the law, and equal life chances.

The operation of cumulative causation violates the American Creed, generating pressure for reforms.

Pressure for reforms to reduce racism and racial inequality

Racism and racial inequality

+

-

Page 16: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Gordon: assimilation and the melting pot Milton Gordon argued that there was a long

term tendency to assimilation. There is. This analysis was firmly rooted in the Chicago

school. He was also aware of the problems and

limitation of “melting pot assimilation” as a kind of domination.

And of the obstacles to any assimilation.

Page 17: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Parsons: Inclusion and the limits of Civil Rights. Parsons developed the analyses of Myrdal

and of various people like Gordon to argue that modern values are inclusive, and that sociology is crucially concerned with integration and solidarity

This was the main message of the pattern variables analysis.

It was contested and non-trivial in the 1950’s It was limited to “civil rights”

Page 18: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Wilson, Tilly, and FeaginAll the late 20th c. sociologists have stressed

ways that the structure of institutionalized group inequality is cumulating.

It does not undo it to stop the original conditions.

One needs reparations, affirmative action, or proactive dismantling of the structure.

Page 19: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

W.J.WilsonPresident of the ASA 1990Clinton policy advisorAnalysis of the “Truly Disadvantaged”

as subject to a vicious cycleAnalysis of Institutional racismAnalysis of the employment origins of

the underclass.

Page 20: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Parts of the Wilson modelRacial discrimination

Inequality

Weak labor force attachment:

Social isolation, networks, work habits and histories.

Increased no. of poor

Economic cycles

Smaller pool of employed men

Underclass formation:

Unemployment Welfare, drugs, crime, violence

Anger

Concentrated Urban povertyJop flight

unemployment

Anti-bias laws

Few positive role models

Flight of black middle class

Illegitimacy

Limited aspirations

Page 21: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

The basic cycle of Wilson’s model

Changes in the social structure of opportunities

Underclass formation:

Unemployment

unemployment

Changes in family structures

Page 22: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Implications: It’s jobs; it’s jobs Short version:

1. Ghetto poverty is largely a matter of black and white, but that is because of history

2. drain out the jobs, and you have a pathological structure 20 years later.

The patholgoical structure is self-reinforcing But it can only be addressed in conjunction

with supplying jobs and access to jobs.

Page 23: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Implications: Culture and Social StructureThe social structure of opportunities has

a powerful affect on family and community structure and on the family structure and attitudes.

And those further influence the job performance and skills.

Neither can be changed in isolation.Both are central to racism.

Page 24: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Family and COP in Wilsons model

Weak labor force attachment:

Social isolation, networks, and histories.

Underclass formation:

Unemployment Welfare, drugs, crime, violence

Anger

Concentrated Urban poverty

Few positive role models

Illegitimacy

Page 25: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Civil Rights Law in Wilson modelRacial discrimination

Weak labor force attachment:

Social isolation, networks, work habits and histories.

Concentrated Urban povertyJop flight

unemployment

Anti-bias laws

Few positive role models

Flight of black middle class

Limited aspirations

Page 26: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Institutional racismThe analyses that focus on culture are

blaming the victimBut the analyses that ignore or excuse

ghetto behavior are supporting a pathology.

One needs proactive policy that address segregation and social isolation as part of a job policy.

Page 27: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Why CR failed Wilson modelRacial discrimination

Inequality

Weak labor force attachment:

Social isolation, networks, work habits and histories.

Increased no. of poor

Economic cycles

Smaller pool of employed men

Underclass formation:

Unemployment Welfare, drugs, crime, violence

Concentrated Urban povertyJop flight

unemployment

Flight of black middle class

Illegitimacy

Limited aspirations

Page 28: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Civil Rights failed to address

1. Segregation (e.g. Gattraux Project)

2. Social Isolation

3. Jobs

4. Overall inequality I.e. the Myrdal analysis does not say things

must get better, and when last hired are first fired, then in the absence of social policy, they will get worse.

Page 29: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

The problem of ExploitationDo some people benefit from the

arrangements that hurt others?Does the question whose bull is being

gored influence one’s policy responses?Has white wealth been built on black

poverty?What is the leverage?

Page 30: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Leverage based on Exploitation In what ways does the benefits to the rich

provide leverage? One could say, “the only good Indian is a

dead Indian?” One could not say, “the only good worker is a

dead worker” One could not say, “the only good slave is a

dead slave” One could not say, “the only good wife is a

dead Stepford wife”

Page 31: Race and Ethnic Relations  (4/16)

Tilly’s model of categorical inequality Exploitation: the privileged group benefits

from the labor of the exploited group and creates divisions in it.

Eg. South Africa, Women in the Corporation Opportunity Hoarding: the privileged group

benefits from maintaining restricted access to jobs, etc.

E.g. long Island vs. Marseilles