Webernism

• Which are the 5 Weberian studies around social inequalities?

  1. Status Groups --> Weber
  2. Fragmentation --> Savage (& Roberts)
  3. Market Situation --> Weber
  4. Types of Power --> Weber
  5. Social Closure --> Crompton
• Which weberian saw saw society based on conflict between status groups?

  Weber
• Weber claims that social conflict occurs between status groups. What is a status group?

  A status group refers to any group that tries to benefit its members through organised activity eg student unions.
• Weber claims that social groups are in conflict between one another, but for what reason?

  Competition over wealth, power and status
• Weber claims that the key source of class conflict are the competition/ differences in wealth status and power.
• Weberians agree with Marxists on the idea of a class conflict, but disagree on the cause of class conflict. They instead argue class inequalities are caused by the competition over wealth, status and power.
• Marxist argue that Weber has overcomplicated the cause of class conflict (it is only wealth which causes class conflict) (evaluation)
• Which sociologist claimed that class has fragmented into a number of heterogenous groups?

  Roberts
• Which sociologist found that the middle class is divided into a number of strata and can be seen in terms of “class fractions”?

  Savage
• Savage said that the middle class can is divided into a number of what?

  strata and can be seen in terms of “class fractions”
• Savage and Roberts talk about class fractions and class fragmentation. What do they argue about these heterogenous groups?

  These groups are all quite distinct from each other and have developed their own particular set of values and beliefs that set them apart.
• Weber mentions that the bourgeoise didn't just keep their authority due to their economic position. There are other ways of gaining and keeping power:

  1. Traditional Authority (eg The Royal Family)
  2. Legal Rational Authority (eg Members of Parliament)
  3. Charismatic Authority
• One of the 3 types of authority weber claims helps keep and gain power is Traditional Authority. What does the term "Traditional Authority" refer to?

  People who have power because they hold a position which has always had power in society eg The Royal Family
• 1 of the 3 types of authority weber claims helps keep and gain power is Legal Rational Authority. What does the term "Legal Rational Authority" refer to?

  People who are elected into positions of power eg members of parliament
• 1 of the 3 types of authority weber claims helps keep and gain power is Charismatic Authority. What does the term "Charismatic Authority" refer to?

  People who have influence due to their individual personality which means people want to follow them
• • Weber - the bourgeoise didn't just keep their authority due to their economic position. There are other ways of gaining and keeping power:
  • Traditional Authority
  • Legal rational authority
  • Charismatic authority
• Weber also claims that those who had economic power did not just have it due to owning the means of production but also because of...?

  Market Situation
• What does market situation mean?

  This is when people have economic power because they have a processional jobs which in demand from society eg doctors
• Which sociologist talks about Market Situation being the cause of social inequalities?

  Weber
• Which sociologist suggested that divisions between social groups are maintained through social closure?

  Crompton
• Crompton talks about how social closure maintains divisions between social groups. What is social closure?


  Social closure prevents other classes moving up and down the social hierarchy. Crompton argued that the British ruling class only socialise with those of the same status as themselves eg only marrying other Eton students
• 7% of the population attend private schools yet 52% of students who attended oxford or Cambridge went to private school -- In favour for Social Closure
• Programs such as social mobility foundation aim to prevent social closure.