IntroductiontoSociology3e-Ch10 2025-02-25 04_59_26

Introduction to Sociology

• Overview of key concepts related to sociology and global stratification.

Global Inequality

• Definition: Concentration of resources in core nations and among a wealthy minority.

• Global Stratification: Unequal resource distribution between countries.

• GINI Coefficient: Measures income inequality on a 100-point scale.

• Gross National Income (GNI): Includes GDP plus overseas income.

• Human Development Index (HDI): Measures health, education, and income to assess economic opportunities.

Human Development Index

• Developed to focus on people rather than just economic metrics.

• Considers three dimensions: health, knowledge, and living standards.

• Averages individual values for the final HDI value.

Economic Classifications

Global Inequality Data

• Examples of income levels in selected countries (e.g., Colombia, Sierra Leone, Ukraine, Vietnam).

Cold War Terms

• First World: Industrialized capitalist democracies.

• Second World: Moderate economies.

• Third World: Poor, unindustrialized countries.

• Fourth World: Marginalized groups without representation.

Modern Classifications

• Core Nations: Dominant capitalist countries.

• Peripheral Nations: Economically dependent with lower industrialization.

• Semi-Peripheral Nations: Intermediate nations influencing global market.

Economic Growth & Changes

High-Income Nations

• Defined by a GNI of at least $12,536 per capita.

• Capital Flight: Movement of capital to other nations.

• Deindustrialization: Loss of industrial production to lower-cost nations.

Middle-Income Nations

• Classification: Lower middle and upper middle income based on GNI.

• Debt Accumulation: Countries borrowing money for expansion.

Low-Income Nations

• Defined with a GNI of $1,035 per capita or less.

• Impact on women disproportionately affected by poverty.

Social Mobility

• Economic classifications change due to social/political conditions.

• Examples of nations moving up or down classifications (e.g., Nepal, Sudan).

Poverty Classifications

Types of Poverty

• Relative Poverty: Inability to meet societal living standards.

• Extreme Poverty: Struggling to afford basic necessities.

• Subjective Poverty: Based on personal expectations versus actual income.

Feminization of Poverty

• Women disproportionately affected by poverty due to structural inequalities.

• Potential Causes: Rising woman-headed households and neoliberal policies impact on rights and economic opportunities.

Labor Issues

Sweatshop Practices

• Highlighting poor working conditions and exploitation in clothing manufacturing.

• Activism against labor exploitation and demand for better practices.

Hunger and Malnutrition

• Relation of poverty to hunger exacerbated by environmental issues like drought.

Forms of Slavery

Types of Slavery

• Chattel Slavery: One person owning another

• Debt Bondage: Servitude to repay debts.

• Modern Slavery: Includes human trafficking and forced labor.

Theories of Economic Development

Modernization Theory

• Theory that suggests industrialization can improve economies of low-income countries.

Dependency Theory

• Explains global inequity as exploitation by core nations of peripheral and semi-peripheral nations.