SOC101 Final Term Notes

Lesson 23

THEORIES OF SOCIAL CLASS AND STRATIFICATION – II

Max Weber (1864-1920) built his approach to stratification on the analysis developed by Marx, but he modified and elaborated it. Like Marx, Weber

regarded society as characterized by conflicts over power and resources. Yet

where Marx saw polarized class relations and economic issues at the heart of all conflict, Weber developed a more complex, multidimensional view of society.

According to Weber social stratification is a matter of

• Class
• Status Power

According to Weber class divisions derive not only from control or lack of control of the means of production, but from economic differences, which have nothing directly to do with property. Such resources include especially the skills and credentials, or qualifications, which affect the types of job people, are able to obtain.

Class

Weber believed that an individual’s market position strongly influences his or her ‘life chances’. The market positions (capacities) people have in terms of the skills they bring to the labor market as employees, explains the rewards they will receive. Where people have good market capacity they will have very good life chances: these chances include income, perks, and pensions together with less tangible benefits such as security of job, pleasant working environment and considerable autonomy at work. Those in managerial or professional occupations earn more, and have more favorable conditions of work, for example, than people in blue-collar jobs. The qualifications they possess, such as degrees, diplomas and the skills they have acquired, make them more ‘marketable’ than others without such qualifications. Managers of corporations control the means of production although they do not own them. If managers can control property for their own benefit – awarding themselves huge bonuses and magnificent perks – it makes no practical difference that they do not own the property that they so generously use for their own benefit.

Status

Weber’s theory refers to differences between social groups in the social honor or prestige they are accorded by others. Presently status is being expressed through people’s styles of life. Markers and symbols of status—such as housing, dress, manner of speech, occupation – all help to shape an individual’s social standing in the eyes of others. People sharing the same status form a community in which there is a sense of shared identity. Weber argued that status often varies independently of class divisions. Possession of wealth normally tends to confer high status, but there are many exceptions. Olympic gold medalists, for example, may not own property, yet they may have very high prestige. Property and

prestige is not one way street:

Although property can bring prestige, prestige can also bring property. Power

The third element of social class, is the ability to control others, even against their wishes. Weber agreed with Marx that property is a major source of power, but he added that it is not the only source. With time, industrial societies witness the growth of the bureaucratic state. This expansion of government and other types of formal organizations means that power gains importance in the stratification system. Party formation is an important aspect of power, and can influence stratification independently of class and status. Party defines a group of individuals who work together because they have common backgrounds, aims or interests. Party can be influenced by class but can also influence the economic circumstance of party members and thereby their class. Party membership cuts across class differences. There are parties based on religious affiliations and nationalist ideals and may include the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’. There could also be groups possessing effective political power without economic leverage (military, trade union). Therefore inequality could there due to political power. In Weberian perspective society can be divided in 2+ classes as below:

Upper class UPPER CLASS Upper middle class MIDDLE CLASS Middle-middle class Lower middle class

Skilled manual workers Semi-skilled workers. Unskilled manual workers. WORKING CLASS

The poor THE POOR

Weber’s theory comes closer to explaining the dynamics of stratification in modern societies. Weber anticipated the proliferation of classes, with a new class of white-collar employees, administrators, technicians and civil servants, who are growing in number and importance. Property relations are important (Marx) but the market position and marketability is decisive in determining an individual’s class position. Weber rejected Marx’s view that the workers (or employees) have nothing but their labor to sell to the highest bidder. The reality is that:

• Workers possess skills.
• The distribution of skills can be controlled (keep it scarce).
• Increase skill marketability.

Comparative picture of the conflict approach by Marx and Weber

MARX WEBER Relationship to means of production is all important Focused more on the market position of those in employment.

Increasing polarity between classes and revolution Growth of white-collar class that would mitigate against the collapse of capitalism

Class all embracing Separate political status factors fact of life To come into play.