Table 4-1. Value and Model Assumptions in Social Stratification Paradigms (from Kerbo, p. 87)

Value Assumptions

Critical Uncritical

1. Inequality is not inevitable 1. Inequality is inevitable

2. People are good (Optimistic) 2. People are bad (Pessimistic)

3. Ameliorative approach to Society 3. Value free sociology

Model Assumptions

Conflict Order

1. Conflict and Inequality Based Society 1. Consensus Based Society

2. Focus on Societal Parts and Processes 2. Holistic Approach to Society

3. Class or Interest Group Struggles 3. Focus on Social System Needs

Table 4-2. A Typology of Social Stratification Paradigms (from Kerbo, p. 87)

Value Assumptions

Critical Uncritical

Model of

Society

Order

Does Not Exist Among Classics

Functional Theory

Durkheim

Conflict

Ruling Class Theory

Marx

Power-Conflict Theory

Weber

Table 4-3. Political Attitudes Defined by Optimism or Pessimism Regarding Existing Institutions and Common People

Attitude Toward Existing Institutions

optimistic pessimistic

Attitude

Toward

Common

People

optimistic Liberal Radical

Pessimistic Conservative Reactionary

Source: Based on Tom Ruth, California Politics Course, Grossmont College, 1970

Figure 4-1. The Dialectical Model

thesis

anti-thesis

synthesis

Figure 4-2. Class Relations in Slave, Estate and Factory Production Systems

slave peasant employee

master lord employer

Slave Estate Factory

Table 4-4. Marxist Concepts (with Apologies to Kerbo)

• Historical materialism: History is a dialectic of modes of production, whose internal contradictions drive change

• Base-Superstructure: cultural and political forms (e.g., Catholicism and monarchy) reflect the material base of society (mode of production, e.g., feudalism)

• Modes of Production: Historically given set of social and economic relations that characterize how people “wrest a living from nature” in a particular epoch

• Means of Production: Essential elements (e.g., land, labor, tools) required to “wrest a living from nature” (produce necessary and desirable goods and services)

• Relations of Production: social relations (e.g., slavery, peonage, tenancy, or employment) that yield subsistence or surplus in “wresting a living from nature”

• Class: relationship of exploitation/surplus appropriation in production (e.g., employment) or parties to such a relationship (e.g., master and slave)

• Exploitation: the appropriation of surplus labor value by non-laboring classes• Surplus Value: the difference between the labor value represented in its product

and the value of labor’s remuneration (e.g., commodity price minus wage and other production costs [in employment]; landlord’s share of crop [in tenancy])

Table 4-5. Political Attitudes Defined by Optimism or Pessimism Regarding Existing Institutions and Common People

Attitude Toward Existing Institutions

optimistic pessimistic

Attitude

Toward

Common

People

optimistic Liberal Marx

Pessimistic Durkheim Reactionary

Source: Based on Tom Ruth, California Politics Course, Grossmont College, 1970

Figure 4-3. Durkheim’s Functional Model of the Division of Labor and Mechanical or Organic Solidarity

DivisionOf Labor Solidarity

IncreasingSocial Density

-

+

-

Table 4-6. Political Attitudes Defined by Optimism or Pessimism Regarding Existing Institutions and Common People

Attitude Toward Existing Institutions

optimistic pessimistic

Attitude

Toward

Common

People

optimistic Weber Marx

Pessimistic Durkheim Reactionary

Source: Based on Tom Ruth, California Politics Course, Grossmont College, 1970

Table 4-7. Weber’s Multidimensional Interests

Class: shared life chances or resources one brings into the market (e.g., lawyer)

Status: shared lifestyle that is honored by other members of status community (e.g., environmentalist or yuppie)

Party: shared pursuit of authority (ability to make binding decisions) or influence (ability to affect such decisions)

Party (political) interests sometimes reflect class interests, sometimes status interests, sometimes both, and sometimes neither

Table 4-8. Weber’s Types of Social Action and Types of Legitimate Authority

Habitual: customary or routine (e.g., making breakfast)

Affectual: feels good; enjoyable

Value Rational: end in itself: morally or aesthetically right (e.g., going to church)

Instrumental Rational: means to an end (e.g., doing exercises)

Traditional Authority: based on age old custom or convention

Charismatic Authority: based on emotional attachment to exemplary leader

Legal Rational Authority: based on written rules that designate and circumscribe relations and positions

Types of Social Action Types of Legitimate Authority

Figure 4-4. Weber’s Model of the Shift from Traditional to Rational Authority

TraditionalAuthority

CharismaticLeader

SocialMovement

Routinization

Collapse

LegalRationalAuthority

Table 4-9. Distinguishing Marx, Durkheim and Weber by Perspective, Model, and Focus

Theorist Perspective Model Focus

Marx Radical Dialectical Economic

Durkheim Conservative Functional Cultural

Weber Liberal Interactive Political