SOC 885 Study Guide - Final Guide: Alain De Botton, Social Inequality, Meritocracy
29 Mar 2016
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The term used to talk about social inequality is social class. Change theorists: more important question is how inequalities become structured. Link inequalities of wealth and income to the economic structure and class relationships. They accept differences of ability among people. Emphasize forms of social inequality in the capitalist economic system. Expansion of globalization and neoliberalism has increased the divide between the haves and have-nots. Most of us connect inequalities of wealth and power not to structural arrangements but to individual characteristics. Inability to succeed is seen as a result of failure on the part of individual. Unconsciously, most people adhere to liberal notions of inequality. Biological determinists: underdevelopment of some nations is a proof that certain groups are biologically inferior. Liberal argument: global inequality is a result of some inherent disadvantage that keeps certain countries from fairly competing. If given help in these areas, they will develop and become wealthy.
