Question 1(a) · 440 words written
Opening · a definition
Karl marx studied society through Historical materialism. Historical because he traced the evolution of society and materialism as he classified society on the basis of material production. economic relation governed the mode and forces of production. People came together for the process of production. Surplus produce lead to the transformation of relation of production creating a new classes of contention.
Body · points and prose
ncient - master and slaves - 3) Feudal - feudal lords and serfs - 4) Capitalist - bourgeoisie and proletariat
- contending class
economic relation governed the mode and forces of production. People came together for the process of production. Surplus produce lead to the transformation of relation of production creating a new classes of contention.
Karl Popper criticised Marx for economic reductionism i.e reducing society to just economic relations. For marx, the base of the society was infrastructure - rof + fop. The superstructure consisting of polity, family, religion etc was also based on the infrastructure.
Historical materialism can also be viewed through the wider lense of culture, customary laws rituals etc.
The theory of power proposed by classical pluralist and Talcott Parsons have similarities and differences.
Max Weber defines power as the ability of men or group of men to exercise power over others even against their resistance.
Classical Pluralist
Classical pluralist believe that power is held by the society at large. Robert Dahl envisages the concept of polyarchy. There are other scholars like John Locke, Robert Mckenzie who observe power is spread among a wider section of society contrary to elite theorist.
Parson's theory
Parson views power to be held by the society at large. There is a value-consensus based on which a collective goal is decided. The degree of power depends on the ability to achieve the collective goal.
He believed in the variable sum concept of power where power varied across all sections of society.
Pluralist and Parsons : similarity
Pluralist and Parson agree on the variable sum concept of power. Power varies across people at different points of time. This is in contradiction to Marx and Weber's zero sum concept of power.
They also agreed that power was held mutually among people. citing their functional need. However, the pluralist and Parson had serious differences in the following aspects.
Pluralist and Parsons : Differences
Pluralist did not agree on value consensus based on which a collective goal would emerge. society was too heterogeneous for it to have a collective goal and more so value consensus.
Pluralist also believed that power alone cannot be the sole measurement for social integration and social collectivity. There are other alternatives to power relations such as pressure groups, civil society etc.
Trends
Close
Autocracy is replacing democracy. Countries like Thailand, Myanmar are demanding decentralization of power-relationship eg Hong Kong- pro democracy protest. Here, pluralism is important to accomodate different people's view. But in a developed society like America collative goal becomes a higher standard of accomplishment.
The theory of power remains evergreen in the study of sociology.