Theories of Social Stratification: Theory of Economic Determinism or Conflict Theory
Doorsteptutor material for competitive exams is prepared by world's top subject experts: get questions, notes, tests, video lectures and more- for all subjects of your exam.
Theory of Economic Determinism or Conflict Theory
- The Marxist theory of social stratification is based on historical materialism.
- Economic conditions or material conditions of life which determine the rest of the society therefore, hierarchy is nothing but class of a person in the process of production.
- The ‘haves’ possess control over the means of production and ‘have nots’ work for them and are exploited
- There is a quote by Karl Marx , “there can only be two classes and the history of all hitherto existing societies is the history of class struggle between these two .”
Weber՚s Trinitarian Model
Three Dimensions:
- Class: determines life chances and opportunity like attending expensive courses
- Status: reflected by lifestyle choices like wearing expensive clothes
- Power: to influence people with or without consent
Functionalist Perspective
- Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore
- Stratification is universal necessity
- For functional necessity of the social system
- To place and motivate individuals in society
- “Role allocation” and execution
- Training , skills development, rewards to qualified personnel
- Ensures most important position is allotted to the best individual – best man for best job
Gerhard Lenski
- A synthesis of conflict theory with the functional analysis
- Conflict theory questions the need of social needs and functional theory relies on conserving the tradition of continuing stratification
- As functionalists view stratification as the need of the society
- Emphasis on needs, desires, and interests of individuals and sub-groups
MCQs
1. Among the following who has reconciled with the functional and conflict theory of stratification?
- Celia S. Heller
- Joseph T. Howell
- G. Lenski
- Wilbert E. Moore
Ans. C. G. Lenski
2. Who made the following statement?
Globalization as a complex multi-dimensional process involving a dialectical relationship between global and local … also leading to new global inequalities and stratification.
- Karl Marx
- Anthony Giddens
- Morris Ginsberg
- None of the above
Ans. B. Anthony Giddens
#UGC-NET
#Sociological Concepts
#Social Stratification
#Theoriesofsocialstratification
✍ Manishika