According to Max Weber, social class position is based on the level of wealth, power and prestige an individual holds. In contrast, Marx and later conflict theoristsbelieve that social stratification stems from the fact of differential access to and control of the goods, power and other resources of society, mainly between the ownership class (bourgeoisie) and everyone else (proletariat). The dominant group takes advantage of their high status in order to maintain control over resources.
We are best served by not seeing these thoughts as opposed to one another, with one being “better or worse”; instead, we should see Weber as critiquing Marx – offering commentary on Marx’s ideas, suggesting changes when the original ideas seem unsupported by the data, and extending those ideas through adding new ideas and modifying older, less effective ones.
For this paper, I want you to first think critically about what Marx and the conflict perspective offer in terms of explaining stratification (or one’s social class position). Which of Marx’s ideas seem to accurately describe social reality as you see it? Use his terms and give concrete examples which demonstrate that what Marx describes as the reality of stratification actually exists in the world today. Put differently, how is Marx “right” and what evidence do you have that he is “right”?
Then I want you to think about how Weber’s ideas on stratification represent a critique of Marx. Specifically, how do the ideas of wealth, power, and prestige extend Marx’s ideas about stratification? What are the weaknesses in Marx’s description of stratification that are addressed by Weber, or put differently, how are Weber’s key ideas an improvement on Marx’s ideas? Again, use concrete examples that demonstrate the difference between Marx’s and Weber’s views of stratification and how it works.
Finally, summarize the value added by Weber’s critiques. In concrete terms, what does Weber’s formulation allow you to better understand and explain about stratification processes and about how people experience these processes? Develop an example that demonstrates this added value or improved explanation.
Your paper should be at least 500 words but not more than 750 words. (You will not lose credit if you must go over the 750 word limit, so long as your work is organized and the additional words are needed to create a substantive argument).
Your work should be submitted as a PDF file or something compatible with Microsoft. (Your Google accounts give you access to these file formats if needed). DO NOT send PAGES files (i.e. files from the word processor native to Apple). D2L cannot open that file type.
If you only use course materials, you do not need to do in-text citations or a reference list. If you use materials from outside the course, you must include both. Any style will do as long as it is used consistently.