Sociologists approach social phenomena from a variety of perspectives. The three main perspectives that are utilized in the field of psychology are structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. Each of these perspectives offers a unique view on societal occurrences and social problems. The first two perspectives look at things from a macro level, while the third perspective looks at things from a micro level. Even though structural functionalism and conflict theory…
KARL POLANYI: The Great Transformation In the 19th century, economy was still “embedded” (Polanyi, 1992) in the society, that is economic activities were influenced by social, religious and political relationships existing between people. Earlier, market exchange of commodities depended on trust, barter system and mutual understanding. Polanyi distinguishes commodities into real and fictitious commodities. Real commodities are commodities that are produced for sale in market. Polanyi,…
Social class is an important dimension of social organization and division. Yet different scholars have very distinct understandings of the meaning of social class, how it should be studied, and how it is related to the broader social order. Choose at least two scholars and analyze their conceptions of social class. What do their conceptions have in common? How are they different? Which understanding of social class is most useful for understanding the dynamics of stratification in contemporary…
Sociology is the investigation of social life, social change, and the social results of human conduct. Sociologists research the structure of gatherings associations, and societies and how individuals interact inside these settings. Sociology is an energizing and lighting up field of study that examines and clarifies essential matters in our personal lives, our groups, and the world. At the personal level, sociology examines the social causes and results of such things as sentimental adoration,…
Harvey Cox’s work The Market as G-d is an analysis of “The Market” and religion—exploring their shared natures and functions as forces within the lived human experience. Cox (in all but name) dissects the structure of a neoliberal economy to discover that the notion of “Free Market” moves and speaks much like that of religion. As Cox explores the relationship between “The Market” and religion within the paradigm of neoliberalism, one witnesses how a neoliberal economy elevates and enthrones the…
Sociology is a broad area of study. It can be connotated with the successes and failures of a society. Theorists and sociologists such as Engels, Nietzsche, and Marx publicized their views and ideals on what kind of society would flourish and what was wrong with the one they were currently living in. Engels and Marx described the effects of communism and a capitalist class working against the laboring class and forcing them away from society. Nietzsche tapped into religion and how it is…
3. ANALYSIS Based on Marx’s concepts in Marxist criticisms written in the theoretical framework above, the Marxism of the necklace will be analyzed. 3.1 Economic Power in “The Necklace” “The Necklace” short story gives us clear image about society in which the distribution of goods are unfair. Mathilde described as a woman who has no skill or even commodity to sell for. She has only beautiful face and appearance that she uses to attract her husband who has similar status to her. She has no…
Karl Marx and Max Weber were sociologists born in Germany during the 19th century. Both sociologists contributed various different outlooks on different social situations; with several of Weber’s outlooks adding on to those of Marx’s. The focus of this assignment is the comparison and contrast of Marx’s and Weber’s theoretical analysis of social class. These aspects will then be further analysed and illustrated using examples in modern society and more specifically in South Africa. Karl Marx…
BUREAUCRATIC MANAGEMENT THOUGHT This theory was given by Max Weber. Bureaucracy (a term widely used in govt. organizations) is an administrative system which is designed to accomplish large scale administrative tasks by systematically coordinating the work of many individuals. Max Weber has indentified three types of powers in the organizations: traditional, charismatic and rational-legal. He named rational legal power as bureaucratic power and claimed it to be the ideal type of power in the…
In England, in the mid-nineteenth century, the industrial revolution gave rise to important transformations in the society. Friedrich Engels’ text extracted from The Condition of the Working Class in England, published in 1845, is the witness of this social revolution. Engels, who was one of the leading ideologists of scientific socialism, is describing the profound changes that British society has undergone since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and already evokes the existence of a…