week 3 - state class and bureacracy

Question 1

weber on precapitalism and capitalism

Answer 1

In pre-capitalism social positions are determined on the basis of personal relationships –> while in capitalism social relations are mediated through impersonal operations of the market mechanism

= domination of formal rationality

Question 2

Weber on rationalization

Answer 2

Rationalization lies at the foundation of bureacracy and also capitalism

The change to rationalism brought capitalism

The transformation in peoples thinking and behaviors one that shifts the focus from following time honored ways to being efficient in producing results

• Think/act based on present and future consequences
• Industrial Revolution and capitalism surge in rationality
• Acceptance of technology indicates level of rationality
• Bureaucracy –prime example of rationalization

Question 3

examples of rational thought

Answer 3

• specializaiton of tasks and diviison of labour
• formal system of rules/ proceudes
• written documents kept in files
• clearly defined structure of authority

Question 4

2 dimensions of rationalization

Answer 4

secularizations –> transformation of a society from close identification with religious values and institutions toward non religious values and secular institutuions

disenchantment –> cultural rationalization and devalutaion of mysticism appernet in modern society

Question 5

Rationalization and the effects on society and bureacracy

Answer 5

for a society rationalization is inevitable, causing a growing impersonality in the social relationship, disenchantment of the world

rationalization boosted the project of modernity by enabling the application of the general principles of reason to the human problems –> enabled the fostering ability to respond to unstable environments and to manage the inherent complexity

rational action aimed at controlling uncertainty rational calculation would limit uncertainty in a world that could be controllable

Question 6

feauteres of rationalization

Answer 6

increasing knowledge
growing impersonality
enhanced contorl of social and material life

Question 7

advantages and disadvantages of rationalization

Answer 7

advantage : freeing humans form traditional, restrictive and illogical social guidelines

disadvantage : dehumanizing individuals as cogs in the machine and curtailing their freedom trapping them in the bureaucratic cage of rationality and bureaucracy