How are societies divided? Why are all societies stratified? What motivates people within society? How do elites control the populace?

Marx and Weber ( at it again)

Marx Proletariat v. Bourgeoisie Thought what was holding workers back from revolting was a sense of false class consciousness. What class would you answer?

Weber Determined that class was made up of three components: Property- earliest voters Prestige- Jersey Shore and Paris Hilton…really folks? Power- BP again means Bully Pulpit

Why are all societies stratified? Marx and communism didn’t exactly work out in the USSR and is dramatically eroding in China. Why? Why might a stratified society be unavoidable?

Functionalists v. Conflict Read the conclusions of Davis and Moore on p What is their theory, and why does Tumin disagree? Then read the arguments of Conflict sociologists Mosca and Marx on p. 240 and summarize their views. What are the key differences between these perspectives?

Your thoughts on U.S. stratification? Do you feel or sense this stratification about you? To what extent do you consider it? Thinking of books, television, Hollywood, etc., can you think of any particular stories in which the populace is being controlled, manipulated or monitored by a small controlling elite?

What do these have to do with shedding control?

Means of control: Controlling ideas: -naturally stronger or smarter -more inclined to lead. Controlling Information: -in the interest of national security -hard drive scanners -“Tiny Brothers”

Labeling Nations pp map

How did this come to be? Using pp , summarize the three theories offered as to how our currently stratified world came to be. The three include Colonialism, World System Theory and Culture of Poverty. If time, read the “Thinking Critically” inset on pp

Maintaining Global Stratification How do we explain how the most prosperous nations/groups continue their prosperity in relationship to others?

Neocolonialism Definition: the economic and political dominance of the least industrialized nations by the most industrialized nations Larger nations have more ability to determine how much they will pay for exports of less industrialized nations. More options if they have to do without. More hazardous industries also often moved to these nations from the more industrialized. Turns lesser industrialized nations into debtor nations to the wealthier. For cheaper products to support their economies, more industrialized nations might overlook particular political or social issues within the lesser. (Ex. Saudi Arabia)

Multinational Corporations Definition: companies that operate across national boundaries Able to facilitate many of the issues found from neocolonialism, but allow governments to have greater amounts of plausible deniability Have greater freedom than governments with whom they do business. Often less publicized. Go where they will have to pay less for labor and taxes. Increases net profits. If doors closed in one nation, can look to others. “Favorable business climate.” Offer opportunities in skill development, infrastructure and capital base.

Technology and Global Domination Always has been a part of separating human groups (Guns, Germs, and Steel), but rapidly advancing in the 21 st century. India and China are two emerging economies in the last 20 years to aggressively expand R&D of new technologies.