SOC102H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Feudalism, The Communist Manifesto, Lumpenproletariat
Document Summary
Longest history in sociology; some = most consequential is class inequality. It"s about the rich and poor, and the power that comes with the inequality. Rich is more powerful than the poor, this is an extremely important consequence. Only a fraction is due to discrimination, but more so economic difference inequalities affects society. Despite 200 years of conversation, there is disagreement about the boundaries of class. Majority of north americans say they are middle class. European society is much more likely to be aristocratic and acknowledging upper class. Two of the big players are max weber and karl marx. Both gave definitions of class that are fairly similar. Weber: class is due to their circumstances, we are engaged in economic enterprises in competition (ie. labour market) and some compete more successfully. It is our advantage or disadvantages in relation to others. Marx: it is about the bargaining power, competitive power-advantages you have as a competitor.
