Sociology: Marx, Weber, Parsons, and Functionalism vs. Conflict Theory

Marxist framing of social class
- Social class is determined by relation to the means of production (capital ownership).
- Bourgeoisie own means of production; proletariat sells labor.
- Capitalists are motivated by profit; proletariat by survival.
- Alienation arises when workers don't feel connection to products of their labor (e.g., factory work vs. cottage industry).
Status quo, power, and dialectics
- Status quo = existing power relations.
- Dialectic process: thesis
  {\to} antithesis
  {\to} synthesis
  {\to} new thesis, continuing ad infinitum.
- Marx applies this to economic power: social change is driven by class conflict, leading to ongoing change.

Marx: Change is internally initiated via class conflict; inevitable as long as inequality exists.
Structural functionalism (Parsons): Rapid change is dysfunctional; society seeks equilibrium; change is often externally initiated (shocks).
Key takeaway: Conflict theory sees change as continuous and internally driven by inequality; functionalism emphasizes stability and external drivers.

Max Weber's critique of Marx: Marx's analysis is unidimensional (economic class).
Weber's three dimensions of social inequality:
- Material inequality (economic resources, wealth, property).
- Prestige (social regard, esteem).
- Political influence (power in decision-making).
Socioeconomic status (SES): Composite measure of education, occupation, and income, reflecting Weber’s multidimensional view.
Illustrative examples:
- Michael Jordan: High material wealth, high prestige, low political influence.
- Oprah Winfrey: Very high material wealth, very high prestige, notable political influence.
- George W. Bush: High material wealth, moderate prestige, political influence varied with presidency.

Weber analyzed bureaucracies as structured organizations.
Bureaucracies tend toward self-perpetuation as individuals within them want to preserve their status, office, and resources.

Talcott Parsons: Assembled functionalism into a coherent paradigm (early 20th century).
- Emphasized positivism, institutional analysis, and the organic analogy (society as a system).
- Conservative thinker; functionalists often apologists for the status quo.
Parsons’ two key articles on youth and youth culture:
- Youth rebellion: Functional for separating from family of orientation to form family of procreation.
  - Family of orientation: socializes you.
  - Family of procreation: where you become the parent.
- Maintaining youth: Pathways include college, graduate school, and becoming a university professor, offering extended autonomy.

Robert K. Merton: Introduced manifest vs. latent functions and dysfunctions.
- Manifest functions: Openly stated, intended outcomes.
- Latent functions: Less obvious, unintended outcomes that contribute to social order.
- Example (Elementary school):
  - Manifest function: Teach basic academics (reading, writing, arithmetic).
  - Latent functions: Socialization into citizenship, punctuality, respect for authority, cooperation (e.g., Pledge of Allegiance).

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