Ch 7 Global stratification n n Social stratification

Ch. 7 - Global stratification n n Social stratification Division of large groups of people in regards to their power, property, and prestige Affects life chances, access to material possessions, and life expectancy Every society stratifies its members

Systems of social stratification n Slavery- ownership of some people by n others Not usually based on racism Debt, crime, and war and conquest n Estate- system of medieval Europe n n The nobility The clergy The commoners

n n n n Caste- status determined at birth and lifelong Prohibits intermarriage India’s 5 castes Brahman Kshatriya Vaishva Shudra Harijan (Dalit)

n n n Class system- based on money/material possessions Ascribed (always? ) Allows for social mobility What determines social class? Marx- social class depends on the means of production Weber- social class made up of property, prestige, and power

n n n n Why is social stratification universal? Functionalist view Motivating qualified people (Davis and Moore) Society must make certain that its positions are filled Some positions are more important than others The more important positions must be filled by the more qualified people Society must offer rewards to motivate the more qualified people

n n n Conflict view Conflict is the basis of social stratification Mosca- organization and leadership- some lead while others follow- those in power seek rewards for themselves Marx- power elite justify being at topclass struggle and scarce resources is basis for human life Current theory- groups w/in the same class compete for scarce resources

n n n How do elites maintain stratification? Controlling ideas n Elite used ideology of the divine right of kings n Schools teach that their country’s gov’t is the best Controlling information n Elite manipulate the media to release certain info and w/hold other info

Global stratification n Most industrialized nations Capitalistic nations n 31% earth’s land, 16% world’s people n n Industrializing nations Lower incomes, access to electricity, indoor plumbing, cars n 20% earth’s land, 16% world’s people n n Least industrialized nations Most live on less than $1000/year n 49% earth’s land, 68% world’s people n

How nations became stratified n n Colonialism- nations taking over others, exploiting their labor and natural resources World system theory- industrialization led to 4 groups of nations Core nations n Semiperiphery n Periphery n External area n n Culture of poverty- way of life perpetuated

Maintaining global stratification n Neocolonialism- economic/political dominance of the least industrialized nations by the most industrialized nations n n Sell weapons, nation in debt, remain dependent Multinational corporations- companies that operate across many nat’l boundaries Work w/ elite of least industrialized nations n Payoff elite n