AIR 67 · CSE 2022 · Sociology I · 62 pages

Kasturi: Sociology I answer copy

23 answers by Kasturi, as written in the test. Each question opens a page with how other toppers answered it.

The questions

  1. Q1(a)"Historical Materialism is Economic Determinism". Critically analyze.
  2. Q1(b)Briefly discuss the functional pre requisites of social systems by Talcott Parsons.
  3. Q1(c)Explain the nature and scope of quantitative methods of data collection in sociological research.
  4. Q1(d)History is past sociology and sociology is present history. Examine.
  5. Q1(e)Discuss the relevance of feminist methodology in sociological research.
  6. Q2(a)To understand the emergence of sociology in Europe there is a need to appreciate the relationship between society and ideas. Elaborate in context of emergence of sociology as a distinct discipline.
  7. Q2(b)"Suicide as a 'social fact' is an illustration of, Emile Durkheim's views on 'society' and 'methodology'." Discuss
  8. Q2(c)"Religion is the opium of masses and instrument of classes." Critically analyze.
  9. Q3In India also, media excessively focuses on issues of the dominant castes. Subaltern perspectives like dalit and tribal issues take a back seat. With emerging media technologies like influencer jobs, internet of things, 5G revolution, both modernisation and traditionalisation occur at breakneck speed.
  10. Q4(a)Sociology and social anthropology are still divided by differences of terminology, approach and method but lately there has been convergence in both disciplines. Analyze.
  11. Q4(b)Critically examine to what extent the concept of 'latent and manifest functions' evolved by RK Merton has given greater significance and relevance to the functional analysis in understanding social reality.
  12. Q4(c)What do you mean by rationality? Discuss Max Weber's treatment of rationality in his work.
  13. Q5(a)Robert D. Putnam conception of 'social capital'.
  14. Q5(b)Critically examine theories of revolution.
  15. Q5(c)Discuss the sociological significance of distinction between 'Family' and 'Household'.
  16. Q5(d)Critically examine linear theories of social change.
  17. Q5(e)In the wake of globalisation, the power of nation state is evolving. Critically analyze.
  18. Q6(a)Compare and contrast conflict and functionalist theories of social stratification.
  19. Q6(b)Where on one hand mass media has served as an important tool of social change but on the other hand it has also emerged as tools of inequality and conservatism. Examine.
  20. Q6(c)Discuss Ogburn's theory of defunctionalisation of family.
  21. Q7(a)While classical pluralists have some similarities with Parson's functionalist theory but it also differs from it in many important aspects. Examine.
  22. Q7(b)Are the high rate of marital break-downs indicative of fundamental structural changes in the institution of marriage? Examine.
  23. Q7(c)Critically evaluate the 'impact of automation' on the workers in the industrial and post-industrial societies.

The answers

Question 1(a) · 219 words written

"Historical Materialism is Economic Determinism". Critically analyze.

Opening · a definition

Historical materialism refers to the theory of material conception of history and materialistic theory of social change by [Karl Marx].

Body · points

  1. Society is seen as evolving according to modes of production - from slave to capitalist

  2. The material conditions are defined within frame of economic infrastructure supporting the social superstructures of culture, politics etc.

  3. change in society occurs due to ripe economic and materialistics conditions like rise in population, energy resources i.e. forces of production

However, it is criticised by [Karl Popper] as economic reductionism.

  1. Over emphasis on the structure of economy

  2. change in history also occurs due to other factors like religion - as shown by [Max Weber] in rise of protestant ethics in rise of capitalism

  3. Political factors like regime change E.g. The Bolsheviks adopted socialism in USSR and not vice versa

  4. Phenomenologists and ethnomethodologists argue that social action explains change sinces humans possess subjective consciousness.

  5. The determinism - prediction of future socialism and communism is too far fetched as it is also exploitative as per [Frank Parkin]

However, historical materialism can still be said to be relevant

i) Problems in society can be linked to material issues like poverty, inequality etc.

ii) Rising working class movements, Arab Spring, Occupy Wall Street can be explained by structure of the economy.

Close · no separate close

None written.