SOC 104 Chapter Notes -Melting Pot, Ethnic Group, Primordialism
Document Summary
Difference among human societies is normal and natural. Inequalities are social and often attributed to these differences. These differences present themselves in biological and cultural patterns. They are often the product of geographical proximity, historical, social and economic relations of conflict and cooperation. Though it may be the products of normal processes of socialization, ethnocentrism and prejudice hinder human cooperation. Race reflects a social rather than a biological reality. Emile durkheim suggested that the concept of collective consciousness is a primary source of identity formation. Durkheim (the division of labour in society): in pre-modern societies the role of community or group sentiments over individual ones were important, similarities/sameness within the group lead members to distinguish themselves from the others . Max weber argued that social group formation is associated with the social practices of inclusion/exclusion: social group formation is important for the distribution of scarce and valuable resources, ethnic identity is linked to primordial attachment .
