Social Classes: A Sociological Analysis

Human societies are an ever-changing, complex system. These societies are used to enforce a standard of behaviour through which their members are governed. Their complexity, therefore, introduces opportunities for critical minds to analyse, evaluate, and criticize the foundations on which they function. Regardless of the type of social system in place, whether it is capitalism, feudalism or slavery; the common denominator in each system is the routine practice of social control. In this essay, we will discuss components of social control by exploring it from a materialistic, moral, and rational perspective. These three perspectives are found in the theories of sociological canons Karl Marx, Émile Durkheim, and Max Weber respectively. …show more content…
It is one component in which all three canons agree on. Marx views social classes as having an essential role in societal dominance and control (Nakhaie 2016: Feb 2). He argues that one group exploits and takes advantage of another group. The design of the product and how it is produced are determined, not by the producers who make it, nor by the consumers of the product, but by the Capitalist class (Nakhaie 2016: Feb 2). Marx (Bratton and Denham 2014: 120) also argued that the dominant class creates a belief of a way of life that, in turn, leads to its domination. Similarly, he claims that the class holding the means of production also controls the intellectual production of people in its society (Bratton and Denham 2014: 121). Further, Marx (Bratton and Denham 2014: 136) states that the dominant class controls the demand of the market in terms of what is being produced as well as how much and, as a result, controls society. Émile Durkheim shared Karl Marx belief on divisions of labour; however, in a different light. Durkheim views divisions of labour as the source of social solidarity (Bratton and Denham 2014: 163). In other words, his thoughts on the division of labour stem from a moral perspective which emphasizes an interaction between people that results in social order (Bratton and Denham 2014: …show more content…
Although he criticized Marx’s perspective on socialism, arguing that bureaucracy is the problem and not capitalism (Bratton and Denham 2014: 280), he agrees with his outlook on social class. Consensus is reached as Weber notices the exploitation of the working class in capitalist societies, as they’re forced to sell their labour power to employers in order to live (Bratton and Denham 2014: 255). Like Marx, he recognizes the fate of the industrial worker in the loss of control and input into their work process (Bratton and Denham 2014: 283). Weber’s views on social control are through a bureaucratic lens of dominance, power, and authority. The three theories of authority that Weber uses for classification are traditional, charismatic and legal-rational (Bratton and Denham 2014: 261). Traditional power is based on age old ideologies of rules and power (Nakhaie 2016: Mar 17). Patriarchy, a concept that gives ruling power to the father, is among the most pure forms of traditional authority (Bratton and Denham 2014: 261). Traditional authority differs from Weber’s explanation of charismatic authority. Charismatic authority refers to an individual who possesses authority equivalent to having supernatural powers (Nakhaie 2016: Mar 17). Religious leaders and dictators are both examples of charismatic authority (Bratton and Denham 2014: 261). Finally, legal-rational authority found in modern times that