Conflict vs. consensus views

• Consensus theories are based on agreement and shared values and norms. They argue that society is beneficial for all its members and the institutions in society are working together to maintain social cohesion and stability.
• A sociological perspective that is consensus: functionalism
• Functionalism is a structuralist theory meaning that it looks at how the running of institutions influences society and members. It focuses on how sociology should be concentrated on studying society from the 'top down.' Functionalists argue that society is made of parts which mesh together.
• Two functionalists: Durkheim and Parsons
• Durkheim looked at how social solidarity comes from institutions in society creating connections and allowing people to work together

  *Religion is functional for society as it creates shared values and brings people together with rituals

  *Without norms and values which are consensus, society will fall into anomie meaning normlessness
• Parsons developed Durkheim's ideas

  *He focused on an 'organic analogy'

  *Society is like a body, with different parts which all work together

  *The family provides support for individuals and helps structure society

  *Division of labour in the family means that women help husbands be relieved of stresses caused by society.

  He thought there are two means of maintaining value consesus and social order and that there are four basic needs of society
• Parsons thought there are two ways of maintaining value consensus and order: police (formal) and peers (informal)
• Parsons thought there were 4 basic needs of society:

  *Goal attainment

  *Adaptation - provide for the needs of all its members

  *Integration - harmony

  *Latency - consequences of actions
• A sociologist who criticised Parsons: Merton
• Explain how Merton criticized Parson's theory

  Merton thought that there are three main criticisms of Parsons.

  *Indispensability meaning that not all institutions work.

  *Functional unity meaning that some institutions are quite removed from each other.

  *Universal functionalism referring to the idea that some institutions are dysfunctional.
• Weaknesses of Parson's theory:

  *Conflict perspectives criticize it and say that functionalism supports the status quo which leads to conflict and inequalities

  *Post-modernist thinkers argue that there has been change and more diversity exists now. Society has moved on from when Parson's and Durkheim were talking

  *Its unscientific so it is impossible to falsify or verify the theory

  *Legitimizes the position of the powerful
• Conflict theories revolve around the idea that all societies consist of struggles between different groups such as from lack of resources, oppression and inequalities
• Sociological perspectives that are conflict: Marxism, neo-marxism and feminism
• Marxism is a conflict theory that focuses on the conflict between social classes, it is critical of capitalism, the power of the ruling class and how the fruits of worker's labour are less than the profit that the worker produces
• List the five stages of society that Marx argues for

  *Primitive communism

  *Feudal society

  *Capitalist society

  *Socialism

  *Communism
• Explain the five stages of society that Marx argues for

  *Primitive communism - classless

  *Feudal society - landowners vs peasants

  *Capitalist society - bourgeoisie vs proletariat

  *Socialism - government owners vs workers

  *Communism - classless society
• What are the two main stages of society?

  Capitalism and communist
• What does the Marxist structure of a capitalist society revolve around?

  The Marxist structure of a capitalist society includes:

  *The proletariat being logically free and separated from the means of production

  *Competition between capitalists which leads to the means of production becoming concentrated

  *The proletariat not receiving the value of their own goods that their labor produces

  *Extreme inequalities
• What does the Marxist structure of a communism society revolve around?

  The Marxist structure of a communist society includes:

  *Collective ownership of the means of production

  *Ownership not for profit

  *A classless society

  *The focus on reclaiming control over the workers labour and products they create.
• Name a sociologist who criticised the Marxist theory

  Weber
• Outline Weber's criticism of Marxism

  Weber argues that marxism completely ignores the role of ideas in social change
• Outline the weaknesses of the Marxist theory

  *Over simplified as it solely focuses on class divisions

  *Over focuses on economy and blames everything on this.

  *The revolution that Marx argued would occur has yet to happen and Marx is very vague about the conclusions which would lead to this revolution

  *A number of social institutions have become autonomous from the ruling class
• Outline the neo-marxist theory

  Neo-marxism looks at how the bourgeoisie maintain their dominance in society. Neo-marixists argue we need to look beyond just economic relations.
• What are the two types of neo-marxism?

  Humanistic neo-marxism and subcultural neo-marxism
• Name a humanistic neo-marxist

  Gramsci
• Gramsci looked at consent and coercion and argued that:

  Coercion is police, force is used to maintain dominance.Consent means that the working class are aware of their exploitation and submit to it

  *The working class are persuaded by the ruling class to submit to it and the power

  *Violentarism plays a role which means that we choose to accept ruling class ideology.
• Name a subcultural neo-marxist

  Althusser
• Althusser thought that there is ideological state apparatus which means that structure is still important. There are three levels of structure:

  *Economic level - activities related to producing things, this links to exploitation and alienation

  *Political level - through coercion as all forms of organisations all work to create false class consciousness

  *Ideological level - institutions manipulate people into false class consciousness
• Outline the strengths of the neo-marxist argument

  *Draws attention to how the ruling class maintain their dominance

  *Looks at consent and coercion which is important

  *Does not avoid discussing exploitation

  *Doesn't ignore or over- exaggerate the power of the ruling class and the dominance
• Outline the weaknesses of the neo-marxist argument

  *They want to both agree with Marxism and disagree with Marx at the same time

  *It doesn't involve intersectionality, meaning it ignores interaction between different layers of power in society. It doesn't talk about gender or race.