Sociology 2259 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Antonio Gramsci, Positivism, Frankfurt School

• School: Western University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: Sociology 2259
• Professor: Neisha Cushing

Document Summary

Deviance, poverty, greed, disadvantage, injustice are systematic & structural: what critical & conflict theories do is expose these structures & systems. Rules are made by the powerful, whether they are legal or customary. Claim these rules are universal but they really aren"t. Everyone is equally not allowed to do certain things under the law, but that isn"t equal in their effect on people. Rules are part of a system that preserves the preferred way of life for the powerful. People who break the rules do so out of need or protest against a system that oppresses them. Conception of social order: social order is maintained through management of conflict between various groups. Concept of society: divided into various groups with competing interests. Dominant group: the one with the most power & authority. Power is the most important explanatory variable. Groups with clashing interests, value & unequal resources compete producing winners & losers.