Chapter 7 Global Stratification Systems of Social Stratification

Chapter 7 Global Stratification

Systems of Social Stratification Slavery • Causes • Conditions – Temporary – Not Necessarily: Inheritable, Powerless, Poor • Bonded Labor in the New World • Slavery Today © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Systems of Social Stratification Caste • Birth determines status, which is lifelong • India’s Religious Castes • U. S. Racial Caste System – From the moment of birth, race marked everyone for life © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Systems of Social Stratification Class • Class System • Based on Money and Material

Systems of Social Stratification Other • Global Stratification and the Status of Women – Gender is a basis for social stratification • The Global Superclass – Growing interconnections among the world’s wealthiest people produce a global superclass © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Determinants of Social Class • Karl Marx: – The Means of Production – Bourgeoisie – Proletariat – Class Consciousness – False class consciousness • Max Weber: Property, Power, & Prestige © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Why is Social Stratification Universal? Functionalist View • Davis and Moore’s Explanation – Society Must Make Sure Positions are Filled – Some Positions More Important than Others – Important Positions Be Filled with Those Qualified – To Motivate Qualified People, They Must Be Rewarded © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Why is Social Stratification Universal? Functionalist View • Tumin’s Critique of Davis and Moore – How do We Know Positions Most Important? – Stratification Should = Meritocracy – It Ought to Benefit Everyone • The Conflict Perspective: Class Conflict and Scarce Resources © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Why is Social Stratification Universal? Functionalist View – Mosca’s Argument – Marx’s Argument – Current Applications of Conflict Theory • Lenski’s Synthesis © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

How Do Elites Maintain Stratification? • Soft Control Versus Force – Controlling People’s Ideas – Controlling Information – Stifling Criticism – Big Brother Technology © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Comparative Social Stratification • Social Stratification in Great Britain – Compared with Americans, the British are very class conscious • Social Stratification in the Former Soviet Union – Moscow reestablishes its authority; Mafia ties © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Global Stratification: Three Worlds • • The Most Industrialized Nations The Industrializing Nations The Least Industrialized Nations Modifying the Model – Oil-rich nations of the Middle East – Kuwait is an excellent example © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

How Did World’s Nations Become Stratified? • Colonialism • World System Theory – The globalization of capitalism • Culture of Poverty • Evaluating the Theories – Most sociologists prefer colonialism and world system theory © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Maintaining Global Stratification • Neocolonialism – Relevance Today • Multinational Corporations – Buying Political Stability – Unanticipated Consequences • Technology and Global Domination © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Strains in the Global System • It is never easy to maintain global stratification • Stream of Unanticipated Events • Contradictions Rear Up • Cracks in Global Banking © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.