Weberianism

Question 1

Why did Weber critique Marx?

Answer 1

He criticised Marx’s idea of revolution and suggested that communism would be just as oppressive as capitalism.

Question 2

What are the three dimensions of class struggle?

Answer 2

• Social class
• Status
• Party

Question 3

Definition of social class according to Weber

Answer 3

A group who share a similar economic situation.

Question 4

Weber’s 4 social classes

Answer 4

• The propertied upper class - wealthy owners of big businesses.
• The property- less white collar workers- teachers, accounts etc.
• The petty bourgeoisie - Small business owners.
• The manual working class - no wealth or valuable education - retail or hospitality.

Question 5

Definition of status according to Weber

Answer 5

• Refers to the distribution of social honour - how much respect a person receives from others.
• It may be linked to a person’s economic or class position but may also come from ethnicity, class or religion.

Question 6

Definition of party according to Weber

Answer 6

• Groups who were concerned with excercising power or influencing decision making.
• Broader than political parties.

Question 7

Examples of parties

Answer 7

• Trade union groups
• Pressure groups - Greenpeace
• May represent specific status groups - Stonewall

Question 8

Evaluation BITCHESSSSSS

Marx critque weber

Answer 8

• Marxists argue that focusing on different dimensions of the 2 main social classes obscures the fundamental importance of class divisions.

Question 9

Importance of Weber

3 things he influenced

Answer 9

• Notes that it is not always the capitalist class that is responsible for inequalities.
• Major influence on feminism as he influenced the role of gender in shaping inequality and conflict.
• Influenced the NS - SEC (National Statistics Socio-economic Classification)

Question 10

Weberian Theory Evaluation 2

What are the 3 ideas that have had considerable influence on modern sociologists.

Answer 10

• Multi-class model
• Social mobility and life chances
• New social movements

Question 11

Weberian Theory Evaluation 2

One of the 3 ideas that have had considerable influence on modern sociologists.

(Multi-class model)

Answer 11

Most sociologists interested in social class today adopt a multi-class model rather than Marx’s two class model.

Eg the Hope-Goldthrope classification and the NSEC classification are largerly based on Weber’s idea of distinguishing class by their market situation.

Question 12

Weberian Theory Evaluation 2

What are the ideas that have had considerable influence on modern sociologists.

(Social mobility and life chances)

Answer 12

Weber’s research that social class affects:

• life chances has influenced a whole variety of research link between social class
• educational achievements
• health inequalities
• opportunities for social mobility.

Question 13

Weberian Theory Evaluation 2

What are the ideas that have had considerable influence on modern sociologists.

(New social movements)

Answer 13

Sociologists argue social class has become less important in politics. New social moments have arisen that supports weber’s view that parties and political conflicts will not always be based on class struggle as claimed by Marx.

Question 14

Indian Caste system - Contemporary evidence

Answer 14

How different groups of people have been arranged into hierarchical systems in society. With the Brahmins right at the top and the Dalits right at the bottom.