Untitled Flashcards Set

Core ideas of structural functionalism: 

• Inequality is functional for society

• Society made of structures, and they all contain certain functions

Reframing structural functionalism (merton)

• Offered several critiques of underlying postulates of structural functionalism (while still using this paradigmatic lens)

  • Not all structures in society are necessarily functional or integrated

  • Not all social structured and cultural forms are beneficial for society

  • Not all social systems and structured are to society 

Manifest and latent function (merton)

• Manifest functions: intended or obvious consequences of a particular structure

• Latent functions: unintended or unrecognized consequences

• dysfunctions:harmful or negative functions

• nonfunctions: consequences that are irrelevant to the system 

Conflict perspectives

Remember marx?

• Stratification is based on different relationships ot the means of production 

• One class controls production (bourgeoise) which allows them to extract labor form workers (proletariat)

• Prediction: as capitalism progress, inequality will get worse until the proletariat unite and force an end to capitalism 

Conflict paradigm

• Society is a competition for resources, status and power

• 3 underlying assumptions

  • Humans are rational beings who will act to maximize their self interest

  • Resources are limited 

  • This makes conflict normal and inevitable 

• First two  “consensus theories” (structural functionalism)_ would agree with the first two 

Conflict can be functional 

• Social order is maintained by power and domination 

• Social and economic institutions are used to maintaining inequality

• Conflict can lead to 

Conflict cycle:

• Society is made of controlling and oppressed groups- always at odds:

• Controlling group oppressed another group, they are largely blind to this

• The oppressed group biomes frustrated and conflict arises

• A solution of some kind is reached and a new control order/oppressed group emerges

• Repeat steps 1-3 

Philosophical influence: Hegel's dialectic

• Current status quo

• Contradiction or negation (conflict)

• A new viewpoint that resolved problems of the theise 

Wednesday march 12th:

Authority and conflict (Dahrendorf)

• Structural functionalism

  • The social system is held together by voluntary cooperation or consensus

• Conflict

  • The social system is held together enforced constraint

• Dahrendorf: systematic social conflicts are always caused by the differential distribution of authority 

Authority and conflict

• Positions in society have different amounts of vested authority

  • Dichotomous: superordination and subordination 

  • Legitimate: can expect commands/decisions will be obeyed 

  • Sanctions: non compliance ro deviance carries consequences

  • Positional:not personal 

  • Not constant: authority in one contact does not necessarily travel to other context

Interests and conflict:

• Society is composed of imperatively coordinated associations: interconnected groups or organizations where some people hold positions of authority and others are subject to that authority

• Groups on the top and the bottom are defined by their common interests:

  • superordinate groups: maintain status quo

  • Subordinate groups:create change 

• These interests don't have to be conscious

  • Quasi groups: common interests are latent (unconscious)

  • Interest groups: common interests have become manifest (conscious) and structure/goals have emerged

  • Conflict groups: actively engage in conflict

Case study: 

In 2014 in flint michigan made a cost saving decision to switch their water source, this resulted in lead and bacterial contamination that killed at least 12 people and sickened dozens more

• Key demographics

  • Roughy 100,000 residents

  • Nearly half live below the poverty line

  • ⅔ residents of color, predominantly black

Applying conflict theory

• How many interest groups can you identify

  • Political groups, govt. agencies, researchers, residents living in the conditions, new reporters, 

  • So many interest groups that can come from this

  • Superordinate or subordinate

  • What are their interests? Are they latent or manifest

• What are the sources of conflict?

  • What are groups competing over (resources power status etc)

  • How do latent groups eventually become conflict groups

• Analyze the outcome

  • Was it inevitable

  • What are the negative consequences

  • are tehre any positive consequences as a result