Since the beginning of time, there has always been some form of hierarchy amongst people. Be it upfront or subliminal, there has always been some type of order to how society operates. Social differences are what have separated the world and people within this world for thousands of years and contribute to most if not all social unrest. I would credit Max Weber for providing us with an explanation of how and why social differences exist. His analysis on how class, status, and party all play a part in social stratification still proves relevant in today society. In this journal blog, I will provide examples of how it is till prevalent in today’s society in a negative and positive light and how each creates power in its own sector. I will start with earlier periods in history and transition into the 21st century.
Weber describes how class, status, and party play a crucial role in social stratification. Social stratification is a hierarchy of positions with regard to economic production which influences the social rewards to those in the positions (Sociology Guide 2014). This position are categorized into three concepts; class, status, and party. Each of these ideal types plays a different role in this system. Weber describes each in its entirety and says how each is not to be confused.
Class, as described by Weber, refers to any group of people found in the same class situation. It goes on to say that it is indeed not a community, but merely a group of people in the same economic or market situation (Weber 1921). Class is believed to exist in the economic order, affects life chances, and is created on the basis of unequal access to resources. On could use this to explain how the tactics of Klu Klux Klan operated. Originally, the first of the three Klan’s were white citizens that were privileged based on their history in this country. Once the civil war was over the whites of the south used their class status to organize and terrorize the freed African Americans. Their class power and newly written laws that gave African Americans unequal access to resources gave them the upper hand in many situations and the highest authority. This is also seen in the way politics play in congress. The upper class of America is usually the representative in congress. Therefore, they have better representation when it comes to rationing of resources.
Status refers to communities. Weber goes on to describe it as every typical component of the life of men that is determined by a specific positive or negative social estimation or honor (Weber 1921). This is based in your life style. Your status is determined or led by many factors such as wealth and attainment. For example, the status of many Klansmen varied across the board. We are also aware of the status of most freedmen during this time. Because there are thee eras of the KKK, you have to take into consideration the next ideal type, party, to understand how this plays into power.
Party can be classified as order. Weber describes parties as structures that are struggling for domination (Gerth and Mills 1958). This is the most organized part of the stratification system. Parties don't necessarily share class or status. Their main goal is to attain power and authority. During the period of the 2nd reconstruction (Period after Jim Crow) and civil rights movement when blacks begin to form their own classes, attain their own statuses, and create their own parties. Klansman had seen this as a threat and It brought unity amongst different class and status groups. The main goal crossed the board became to make the African Americans become inferior by terrorizing their well-being. Klansmen ranged from store clerks to police officers to politicians to judges. This didn't stop the unity of the whites from achieving their goal of power
What is then understood by power is the ability to control things around you and make others participate regardless of situation. With the history, laws, and these ideal types that existed during the periods I described, it was hard for African Americans to rebel against the whites thus forcing them to succumb to the terms up until the civil rights era. This whole idea of domination and discipline by any means necessary aided and assisted in the efforts to restore this order to stratification that the whites and other Klansman felt they were entitled to be on top of.
Weber describes how class, status, and party play a crucial role in social stratification. Social stratification is a hierarchy of positions with regard to economic production which influences the social rewards to those in the positions (Sociology Guide 2014). This position are categorized into three concepts; class, status, and party. Each of these ideal types plays a different role in this system. Weber describes each in its entirety and says how each is not to be confused.
Class, as described by Weber, refers to any group of people found in the same class situation. It goes on to say that it is indeed not a community, but merely a group of people in the same economic or market situation (Weber 1921). Class is believed to exist in the economic order, affects life chances, and is created on the basis of unequal access to resources. On could use this to explain how the tactics of Klu Klux Klan operated. Originally, the first of the three Klan’s were white citizens that were privileged based on their history in this country. Once the civil war was over the whites of the south used their class status to organize and terrorize the freed African Americans. Their class power and newly written laws that gave African Americans unequal access to resources gave them the upper hand in many situations and the highest authority. This is also seen in the way politics play in congress. The upper class of America is usually the representative in congress. Therefore, they have better representation when it comes to rationing of resources.
Status refers to communities. Weber goes on to describe it as every typical component of the life of men that is determined by a specific positive or negative social estimation or honor (Weber 1921). This is based in your life style. Your status is determined or led by many factors such as wealth and attainment. For example, the status of many Klansmen varied across the board. We are also aware of the status of most freedmen during this time. Because there are thee eras of the KKK, you have to take into consideration the next ideal type, party, to understand how this plays into power.
Party can be classified as order. Weber describes parties as structures that are struggling for domination (Gerth and Mills 1958). This is the most organized part of the stratification system. Parties don't necessarily share class or status. Their main goal is to attain power and authority. During the period of the 2nd reconstruction (Period after Jim Crow) and civil rights movement when blacks begin to form their own classes, attain their own statuses, and create their own parties. Klansman had seen this as a threat and It brought unity amongst different class and status groups. The main goal crossed the board became to make the African Americans become inferior by terrorizing their well-being. Klansmen ranged from store clerks to police officers to politicians to judges. This didn't stop the unity of the whites from achieving their goal of power
What is then understood by power is the ability to control things around you and make others participate regardless of situation. With the history, laws, and these ideal types that existed during the periods I described, it was hard for African Americans to rebel against the whites thus forcing them to succumb to the terms up until the civil rights era. This whole idea of domination and discipline by any means necessary aided and assisted in the efforts to restore this order to stratification that the whites and other Klansman felt they were entitled to be on top of.