Consensus and conflict theories Flashcards
Who coined the organic analogy? What is this?
What did he argue society needs to function?
How are these maintained?
-Parsons. The idea that society functions like a body, with various institutions like the organs. They all need to work for the body to function properly.
-Society needs the right balance of social cohesion and social control to function not too little or too much.
-Social cohesion is maintained through a value consensus and people learn these shared norms and values through the process of socialisation.
Explain the difference between primary and secondary socialisation.
Who coined the AGIL schema? What is it?
-Primary socialisation(learning the particular values of your family/local community) happens primarily through the family. Secondary socialisation(learning the universal values of wider society) happens through education, media and other institutions.
-Parsons identifies four basic needs for society to function, summarised as AGIL:
1. Adaptation- of enviornment to meet material needs.
2.Goal attainment- set goals and resources to achieve.
3.Integration-System integrated together through social institutions.
4.Latency- Belonging through ‘kinship’ ties etc.
According to Durkheim what was traditional society based on? What bounded members of society together? How is this different to modern society?
-Durkheim argued traditional society was based on mechanical solidarity with little division of labour. A strong collective conscience bound them tightly together.
-Modern society has a complex division of labour, which promotes differences between groups and weakens solidarity.
Who is recognised for being the internal critique of functionalism?
What three assumptions does he criticise made by Parsons? Detail them.
What else did he make a distinction between? Why is this useful? (Hopi Dance)
-Merton.
-Indispensability-may be ‘functional alternatives’, Functional unity-some institutions may have ‘functional autonomy’,
Universal functionalism-Not everything is functional for everyone.’Poverty is dysfunctional for the poor.
-Merton also made a distinction between ‘manifest’ (intended) and ‘latent’(unintended) functions.
It reveals the hidden connections between social phenomena that the actors themselves may be unaware of.
-(Hopi Indian dance to create rain manifest function, but latent created solidarity.)
What two approaches does the New Right combine?
How do they differ from functionalists?
What state is society in? Why?
Key sociologists/politicians?
-Neo-liberal economics(free markets and minimal gov’t intervention) with more traditional conservatie views on social issues(including taking a traditional view on family life, school discipline and laws).
-Unlike functionalists they argue in the late 20th century in the UK society became dysfunctional: the necessary consensus broke down.
-The New Right argument is that a range of gov’t policies, most notably those associated with the welfare state, undermined the key institutions that create the value consensus and ensure social solidarity.
-Melanie Phillips, Charles Murray, Reagan, Thatcher.
Why are consensus theories criticised? Marxists and feminists? Postmodernists?
-Marxists and feminists both argue that society is not built on consensus but is instead characterised by fundamental conflicts.
-Some argue functionalism is a ruling class ideology which is designed to maintain the status quo.
-Some argue functionalism is too optimistic and idealistic; it ignores the idea that institutions can have a negative impact on individuals.
-Some criticise the New Right as simply being a political project, rather than a sociological perspective.
-Postmodernists would criticise these theories for being meta narratives which try over simplify a complex world.
What three structures/levels did Althusser recognise maintains capitalism?
How are these 3 structures maintained?
What form of Marxist is Althusser?
How does his views differ from humanist marxists?
-Critical of Marx’s base structure Althusser recognised a; economic level, political level, ideological level.
-These structures are maintained by RSA’s and ISA’s.
-Althusser was a structuralist marxist.
-For Althusser unlike humanist marxists socialism will not come about because of a change in consciousness but because of a crisis of capitalims resulting from over-determination(contradicitions within the three structures).
Who was Gramsci? According to him how does the ruling class maintain it’s control?
What does poverty and exploitation allow for the proletariat to gain?
What must the proletariat construct to win leadership of society?
-A humanist Marxist.
-Through coercion or consent(hegemony).
-A dual consciousness.
-A counter-hegemonic bloc.
According to Marx what are capitalist societies characterised by? How are the proletariat exploited?
How is revolution prevented? What does bourgeoisie ideology create among the working class?
What 3 class societies did Marx identify? Detail them?
-Class conflict between the bourgeoisie who own means of production and the proletariat.
-The bourgeoisie pay the proletariat less than their work is worth.
-Revolution is prevented from state control and ideology.
-Bourgeoisie ideology creates a false class consciousness.
-Ancient society, based on the exploitation of slaves legally tied to their owners.
Feudal society, based on the exploitation of serfs legally to the land.
Capitalist society, based on the exploitation of free wage labourers.
What liberal feminist distinguished between sex and gender? Subsequently, how can patriarchy be overcome?
What do liberal feminists focus on?
Where have they found achievements? What areas still have much work?
-Oakley. Argued that sex is biological but gender is socially constructed.
-Therefore, through reforming this construct women can achieve equality.
-Liberal feminists focus on legal equality between sexes. Since women got the vote, Equal Pay Act, Sex Discrimination Act etc their battle is largely won.
-However, concern remains regarding pay gap,’glass ceiling’ and attitudes.
Who argues that the origins of patriarchy lie in women’s biological ability to bear and raise children?
What do radical feminists view as the fundamental conflict in society?
Who argued that women are forced into ‘compulsory heterosexuality’?
Subsequently who developed the idea of ‘separatism’ as a solution?
-Firestone. (patriarchy is based on biology)
-Patriarchy is fundamental conflict.
-Rich and others of the ‘political lesbianism’ movement argue women are forced into compulsory heterosexualtiy.
-Germain Greer argued that relationships between men and women can never be equal so separatism and matrifocal households must be the solution.
According to Marxist feminists who are women oppressed by? What is equally important?
Which marx-feminst said women are ‘taker’s of the shit’?
What do difference feminists argue? Who coined the term ‘intersectionality’?
What do postmodern feminists argue?
-Marxist feminists believe women are oppressed by patriarchy and capitalism. Gender and class are equally important.
-Ansley said women are ‘takers of the shit’.
-Believe women are oppressed by patriarchy, capitalism and racism.
-Kimberely Crenshaw argued some women suffer from ‘intersectionality’.
-Postmodern feminists see femininity as an identity choice which can be celebrated, rather rejected.
Why are conflict theories criticised? Neo-Marxists?
-Neo-Marxists share Marx’s analysis but differ in various ways (e.g. focus on culture rather than economics, disagree about revolution.)
-Some suggest conflict theories are too gloomy and pessimistic: yes there are problems in the world but society is not just about conflict.
-Many problems that Marxists suggest are caused by captialism, were actually present in communist societies.
-Some say feminism ignores (or contributes) to a crisis of masculinity.
