Table 4-1.

Value and Model Assumptions in Social

Stratification Paradigms (from Kerbo, p. 87)

Value Assumptions
Critical Uncritical
1. Inequality is not inevitable 1. Inequality is inevitable
2. People are good (Optimistic) 2. People are bad (Pessimistic)
3. Ameliorative approach to Society 3. Value free sociology

Model Assumptions
Conflict Order
1. Conflict and Inequality Based Society 1. Consensus Based Society
2. Focus on Societal Parts and Processes 2. Holistic Approach to Society
3. Class or Interest Group Struggles 3. Focus on Social System Needs
Table 4-2. A Typology of Social Stratification Paradigms
(from Kerbo, p. 87)

Value Assumptions
Critical Uncritical

Does Not Exist Functional Theory

Order Among Classics Durkheim
Model of
Society Ruling Class Power-Conflict
Conflict Theory Theory
Marx Weber
Table 4-3. Political Attitudes Defined by Optimism or Pessimism
Regarding Existing Institutions and Common People

Attitude Toward Existing Institutions

optimistic pessimistic

Attitude optimistic Liberal Radical

Toward
Common
People
Pessimistic Conservative Reactionary

Source: Based on Tom Ruth, California Politics Course, Grossmont College, 1970
Figure 4-1. The Dialectical Model

thesis

synthesis

anti-thesis
Figure 4-2. Class Relations in Slave, Estate and Factory
Production Systems

Slave Estate Factory

master lord employer

slave peasant employee

 Table 4-4. Marxist Concepts (with Apologies to Kerbo)

• Historical materialism: History is a dialectic of modes of production, whose

internal contradictions drive change
• Base-Superstructure: cultural and political forms (e.g., Catholicism and
monarchy) reflect the material base of society (mode of production, e.g., feudalism)
• Modes of Production: Historically given set of social and economic relations that
characterize how people “wrest a living from nature” in a particular epoch
• Means of Production: Essential elements (e.g., land, labor, tools) required to
“wrest a living from nature” (produce necessary and desirable goods and services)
• Relations of Production: social relations (e.g., slavery, peonage, tenancy, or
employment) that yield subsistence or surplus in “wresting a living from nature”
• Class: relationship of exploitation/surplus appropriation in production (e.g.,
employment) or parties to such a relationship (e.g., master and slave)
• Exploitation: the appropriation of surplus labor value by non-laboring classes
• Surplus Value: the difference between the labor value represented in its product
and the value of labor’s remuneration (e.g., commodity price minus wage and other
production costs [in employment]; landlord’s share of crop [in tenancy])
Table 4-5. Political Attitudes Defined by Optimism or Pessimism
Regarding Existing Institutions and Common People

Attitude Toward Existing Institutions

optimistic pessimistic

Attitude optimistic Liberal Marx

Toward
Common
People
Pessimistic Durkheim Reactionary

Source: Based on Tom Ruth, California Politics Course, Grossmont College, 1970
Figure 4-3. Durkheim’s Functional Model of the Division of
Labor and Mechanical or Organic Solidarity
-

Division +
Of Labor Solidarity

Increasing
Social Density
Table 4-6. Political Attitudes Defined by Optimism or Pessimism
Regarding Existing Institutions and Common People

Attitude Toward Existing Institutions

optimistic pessimistic

Attitude optimistic Weber Marx

Toward
Common
People
Pessimistic Durkheim Reactionary

Source: Based on Tom Ruth, California Politics Course, Grossmont College, 1970
 Table 4-7. Weber’s Multidimensional Interests

Class: shared life chances or resources one brings into the market (e.g., lawyer)
Status: shared lifestyle that is honored by other members of status community (e.g.,
environmentalist or yuppie)
Party: shared pursuit of authority (ability to make binding decisions) or influence
(ability to affect such decisions)

Party (political) interests sometimes reflect class interests, sometimes status interests,
sometimes both, and sometimes neither
 Table 4-8. Weber’s Types of Social Action and Types of
Legitimate Authority

Types of Social Action Types of Legitimate Authority

Habitual: customary or routine Traditional Authority: based on

(e.g., making breakfast) age old custom or convention

Affectual: feels good; enjoyable Charismatic Authority: based on

Value Rational: end in itself:
morally or aesthetically right
(e.g., going to church)
Instrumental Rational: means
to an end (e.g., doing
exercises)
emotional attachment to
exemplary leader
Legal Rational Authority: based
on written rules that designate
and circumscribe relations and
positions
Figure 4-4. Weber’s Model of the Shift from Traditional to
Rational Authority

Collapse

Social Routinization Legal

Traditional Movement Rational
Authority Authority

Charismatic
Leader
Table 4-9. Distinguishing Marx, Durkheim and Weber by
Perspective, Model, and Focus

Theorist Perspective Model Focus

Marx Radical Dialectical Economic

Durkheim Conservative Functional Cultural

Weber Liberal Interactive Political