Sociological Imagination and Political Life

Lecture 2

 Sociology helps us to have a better understanding of the social world in which we live Factors contributing to the development of this world The way the world changes over time Goes beyond world taken for granted Allows us to study society and discover patterns of development Peter Berger Invitation to Sociology seeing the general in the particular Challenges common sense by revealing that human behaviour is not as individualistic as we may think Sociology provides insights: into the importance of socialization in the moulding of individual identity The features of culture in the social context By studying sociology we might realise that our views about the society may not reflect the reality Understand that cultures are relative Sociology helps us gain a better understanding of ourselves and our social world.

Perspectives in Sociology

Functionalism Conflict theory Symbolic interactionism

What is a Theory What is a Perspective? THEORY explains events. It tells how facts and events are related. High risk of suicide stems from a low level of integration. Men , protestants, the wealthy and unmarried have higher suicide rates. Women, Catholics and Jews and the married have lower rates Theoretical Perspective is a basic image that guides thinking and research We use theories in our daily lives to assist us in interpreting how the world works. Sociologists use social theory to understand social systems and societies and explain how they operate. Theories tested but not proven. Theories explain the world, Used to explain events or empirical situation. Empirical= explained by the senses 3 (visual ,touching, hearing)

Social theories provide frameworks for understanding events. Sociology often goes against our common sense understanding of an event Perspectives are a set of guiding principles Perspectives are frameworks to help us interpret the world. Sociological imagination is a perspective Sociological imagination: the idea that people's thoughts and actions are influenced by the social realities and groups in which they belong. Dominant Perspectives in Sociology 1) Functionalism The structural-functionalist perspective is a macro level perspective. This means that the perspective examines social systems Society as a system Parts support the system Changes in one part changes in other part of societies. Family, education Parts contribute to the survival of the whole Main characteristic of society is order and stability conservative Widespread social change can be destructive for social systems

 industrial revolution in Western countries urbanization and demographic movements led to high crime levels, increased suicide, and changing social relationships based on relations between strangers. Face to face relations are replaced by contractual relations. With written rules and regulations. Functionalism emerged through the work of Comte, Durkheim, and Spencer. Experienced the social changes in the 1800 The changes (urbanization, industrialization, and democracy) had profound influences on human behaviour and organization. Sociology emerged as a science to try to explain these changes. . Functionalist interested in negative changes in the social order. Social change brought about disorganisation. Anomie and normlessness characterise urban life Anomie = lack of guiding principle Chaotic city life in early industrialisation : London , Manchester Functionalists attempt understand how to preserve a stable social order
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It gives priority to the maintenance of social order. Believes that all institutions play a significant role in society, it is functional for society. Talcott Parsons, Robert Merton Society as a harmonious whole. Does not explain inequalities, class, race, ethnicity, gender 2) The Conflict Perspective takes as given that conflict, social inequality, and power/powerlessness are all key aspects of society. Ralf Dahrendorf Originates form Karl Marx conflict approach assume that some groups within society exploit other groups within society. Marx observed working class living in miserable conditions. Awful work place conditions little access to resources or possessions, and had little power to shape their lives Great movement into cities by peasants Factory system replacing artisanal workshops Massive labour force. Labour struggle is a key idea for conflict theorists.
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Conflict perspective assume that some groups benefit more than others from social arrangements. Unlike functionalist who believe that society is based on order and consensus, conflict theorists argue that the driving force of society is conflict over scarce resources and power arrangements. macro level perspective exploitation occurs on a large scale level between groups Dominant groups control many forms of resources : wealth, money, social status, access to social institutions (health care or education), or the mass media. Mass media gives the ability to define and construct situations. This in turn gives the powerful the ability to shape how the world works. Establish hegemony (Antonio Gramsci) means of production (land, tools, technology) which produces goods and services. In an information society the ability to control technology has become a main source of power and wealth. Dominant groups try to control the media . Turkish example?
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Today, where is the proletariat? The proletariat are third world workers who provide labour that makes our products cheaper. The clothes you wear. The electronics you use. The car you drive all are affordable because of the far reaches of capitalism. Summary: conflict theorists use the ideas of exploitation, power and powerlessness, and conflict between groups to explain the social world. Glosses over how social values and interdependence generate unity among members of society 3) Symbolic Interactionism symbolic interactionism focus on the individual and the creation of the mind, self, and individual behaviour. A key idea is social interaction Social Interaction is a key concept. Two or more people respond to each other and create symbols and act upon these symbols
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Margaret Mead: Humans rely on shared symbols and understanding in their interactions with each other.
Pays attention to details of interpersonal interaction. This detail is used to make sense of what others say and do. Symbolic interaction stresses the importance e of face to face relations in creations of societies and institutions. Tries to show how individuals attempt to change the reality perceived by others Criticised for ignoring larger issues of power and structure within society and how they serve to constrain individual actor. 4) Global Perspective Takes the world as a unit of analysis . Tries to explain the interconnectedness of the world. The topics covered include: TNCs Development of global media Emergence of global cultures International governance

TYPES OF SOCIETY
Disappearing pre-modern Societies
Half a million year of known existence of human beings Fixed settlements for only 12 thousand years Civilisation only 6 thousand years Rapid transformation of societies since the industrial revolution Hunting Gathering societies 50.000 BCE to the present almost disappeared Nomadic Settled in small villages Hunting, fishing, collecting edible plants. Limited technological capability and tools. Religious ceremonies and rituals Africa, Brazil, New Guinea More or less equal individuals. Differentiation by age and gender Agrarian Societies 1200 BCE to the present- in the process of dissolution. Part of larger political entities
agriculture as the main source of livelihood Subsistence agriculture and hunting and gathering More inequalities Ruled by chiefs

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Pastoral Societies 12000 BCE to the present Mostly part of larger societies. Loosing their identities Small and large communities. Domesticated animals as a source of livelihood. Ruled by chiefs and warrior kings. Africa, Middle East, Central Asia Mainly nomadic. Some became horticulturalist by goring some seeds. Distinct inequalities Traditional Societies 6000 BCE to the 19th Century All traditional states have disappeared Up one million people Some cities trade and manufacture Largely agricultural societies Existence of different classes and thus inequalities Flourishing arts and science, thus called civilisations. Earliest civilisations emerged in the Middle East fertile river areas Chinese empire originated 2000 CE Aztecs of Mexico and Mayas of Yucatan Peninsula and Incas of Peru King or emperor controls the state
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Industrialise societies of the modern world Machine production requiring little human force Large numbers are employed in industry and services Majority live in urban areas. Largest cities are extremely big. London, New York, Mexico City, Istanbul Business corporations, government organisations influence life. More developed political system than traditional societies Nations states. Clear boundaries. Powerful governments Production for war and peace. Superior economic power. Spread of western ways of life GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT Colonialism 17th c to 20th c . The west occupied many areas . Economic exploitation Settler colonialism North America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa. Hunters gatherers were de-populated. The US became a major world economic and military power after the FWW. Some countries manage to become industrialised later. Developing world China, India, Brazil, Nigeria, Algeria etc. Some of colonies became independent after the SWW. They are sometime called the Third world
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Giddens categorisation is highly problematic. First world: Industrialised Europe, US, Canada etc. Second world: Soviet Union, Eastern Europe Third World (developing countries) ex colonial countries These categorisations are constantly changing and they are highly subjective. BRICs Brazil, India, and China?

Globalisation is not just a technological phenomenon. It includes economic, political, cultural and social transformations. Globalisation both unites and divides the world Interconnectedness occurs but some countries and their companies dominate the nature of this interconnectedness. Ethnic , religious and regional divisions occur. Dismantling of the Soviet union Conflict in the Arab world
We shall be looking at some of these transformations and the factors behind them.

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