Syg 2000 Exam 2 |37 Complete Q’s and
A’s
Conflict/Critical Theory - --Theoretical framework that assumes that society
is held together by power and oppression.
-Views groups in society as engaged in continuous power struggle or conflict
-Conflict may take form of politics, litigation, and negotiations. People who
have more political, economic, and social resources have more privileges
than those who do not have these resources.
-Helps to explain social change, but does not explain social stability. Also
doesn't explain social unity.
- Karl Marx - --Viewed Society as a clash between capitalists and workers
-Argued that capitalists exploit workers by owning means of production,
forcing people to sell labor to survive and paying less than the value of their
labor. Exploitation results in worker alienation
-Predicted that working class would become aware of exploitation and
overthrow capitalists in order to establish a free, classless society
- Max Weber - --Agreed with Marx that economic conditions produce and
maintain social inequality and conflict, but extend beyond monetary capital
to include "power" and "prestige" as sources of inequality
-He argued that bureaucratic organizations were destructive to human
vitality and freedom
-Through bureaucratic structures, like large-scale organizations, powerful
groups maintain their interests in society
- C. Wright Mills - --Argued that most important decisions made in the US
are made behind the scenes by the "Powerful Elite"
-Highlighted the idea that powerful individuals have similar class
backgrounds and interests, interacting on a regular basis. So, they move in
an out of influential circles to create policies and practices that less powerful
groups must follow
-Power elite occupy positions of authority over others and therefore have
more influence and control
- Power Elite - -A small clique of top corporate, political and military officials
- Authority - -Power that people accept as legitimate rather than coercive
- Capitalism - -Economic system characterized by private ownership of
means of production, from which personal profits can be derived through
market competition and without government intervention
A’s
Conflict/Critical Theory - --Theoretical framework that assumes that society
is held together by power and oppression.
-Views groups in society as engaged in continuous power struggle or conflict
-Conflict may take form of politics, litigation, and negotiations. People who
have more political, economic, and social resources have more privileges
than those who do not have these resources.
-Helps to explain social change, but does not explain social stability. Also
doesn't explain social unity.
- Karl Marx - --Viewed Society as a clash between capitalists and workers
-Argued that capitalists exploit workers by owning means of production,
forcing people to sell labor to survive and paying less than the value of their
labor. Exploitation results in worker alienation
-Predicted that working class would become aware of exploitation and
overthrow capitalists in order to establish a free, classless society
- Max Weber - --Agreed with Marx that economic conditions produce and
maintain social inequality and conflict, but extend beyond monetary capital
to include "power" and "prestige" as sources of inequality
-He argued that bureaucratic organizations were destructive to human
vitality and freedom
-Through bureaucratic structures, like large-scale organizations, powerful
groups maintain their interests in society
- C. Wright Mills - --Argued that most important decisions made in the US
are made behind the scenes by the "Powerful Elite"
-Highlighted the idea that powerful individuals have similar class
backgrounds and interests, interacting on a regular basis. So, they move in
an out of influential circles to create policies and practices that less powerful
groups must follow
-Power elite occupy positions of authority over others and therefore have
more influence and control
- Power Elite - -A small clique of top corporate, political and military officials
- Authority - -Power that people accept as legitimate rather than coercive
- Capitalism - -Economic system characterized by private ownership of
means of production, from which personal profits can be derived through
market competition and without government intervention
