The Questions of Economic Inequality and Class Division

1695 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Income and wealth inequality sociology

Introduction The questions of economic inequality and class division are imposing themselves in the developing countries around the world. Karl Marx is notable for his extensive works on this questions, and his theories have been an informative source for many researchers to understand the process of social stratification and class conflicts. However, Marx does not specify what is economic power that is manipulated by the upper hand “the bourgeoisies”. Bourdieu and Weber stated that the power is not merely the manipulation of the mode of production and the working class, but it is a different instrument (George, 2001). This instrument is arguably given by different institutions to people, but this notion is contested among social theorists. Bourdieu holds that the economic instruments are given to people through the government and the government’s collaborators, and political economy is the precedent force in a spatial sense based on the theory of Habitués (Bourdieu, 1986). This essay is a preliminary attempt on an investigation of one dimension of how these instruments are the society’s manifestation of their economic identity strength against the others by using these tools. This paper focuses on the nature of these instruments in the context of the Emirati society, and the function of such instruments in shaping the beholder’s identities, in view of the close and intricate connection between such instruments and the society. The Theories of stratification Bourdieu’s approach to class embodies his agitatedly relational conception of social life. Other theorist for example Marx believes the reality of social life is based on heterogeneity and inequality relations between the upper class and the middle class in a broad... ... middle of paper ... ...egregation between the national and non national and could be a tool to expand and express the national economic powers and emphasis Emirates economic status (Al Mury,2010). Conclusively Since UAE is a great layout to apply some of the stratification such as Bourdieu’s theory of Habitués and Weber’s the theory of Typology of classes, and Marx’s theory of class division based on economy, the productive system is significant and the deterministic to all other aspects in the society (Chan & Goldthorpe, 2007). I will use UAE citizens as a case study to see whether the economic powers are given and created to the UAE Citizen to expresses their economic powers through the economic opportunities (the instruments) or if the UAE citizens have a cultural influence into creating their economic identity segmentation as the way to distinguish themselves from the others.

Show More
Related

  • Karl Marx’s Theory of the Capitalist Economic System

    924 Words  | 2 Pages

    The film Class Dismissed is about a documentary video focusing on the various marginalized groups in the media. This film demonstrates how the working class are in their everyday lives and explore their cultural attitudes in the eyes of society. It generates the target towards African Americas, gay groups and women to be portrayed negatively or in a stereotypical perspective. The class system is well organized in terms of Marx’s theory which is displayed in characters in the media, as independent individuals but at the same time media has added their own perspective of the class of having difficulty fitting in with society and their own personality. According to Karl Marx’s theory of the class system, there are three stages of class (Brym, 2014). The first class consists of the Capitalist/Bourgeoisie who control the means of production; all things you need to produce. This class tends to have the most power and control the working class; they usually invest the money into a company for its machinery, land and raw materials. The second class are the Petite Bourgeoisie who maintains the system by producing ideology (2014). There people rely on the sales of their labour produced material for survival, their major sales are to the higher class of the Bou...

    Read More

  • Marx versus Reich

    1259 Words  | 3 Pages

    The rapid development of global economy with the opening of new markets worldwide gave way to the development of new means of production and also to the change of ideologies across the world. Alongside with that, the division between different groups or classes within societies became more apparent as some people got richer and other poorer. These two phenomena, the worldwide development of industries and consequent class struggles, have been analyzed by two major thinkers of their times, Karl Marx and Robert Reich. Their essays have been influential and are similar in sense that they analyze existing conditions of societies and give projections on future fates of people, or more specifically, fates of classes. In this paper, the main focus will be on the fate of the wealthiest people; these are the bourgeois for Marx and symbolic analysts for Reich. More specifically, it will be argued that the rich people will be in the worst position according to Marx and this position will cover two aspects: material aspect, which is how well the rich will eventually manage their properties, and the inherent antagonism of classes and its consequences for the wealthy.

    Read More

  • Summary Of Karl Marx's The Communist Manifesto

    1000 Words  | 2 Pages

    They were able to take advantage of the growing technology and exploration to advance out of the middle class and become extremely rich. Through their wealth, the bourgeois were able to gain an enormous amount of influence in society. For example, they have “exclusive political sway” (Marx 18). In other words, the state exists entirely to serve the needs of the bourgeois. However, even more importantly so, their existence is bringing about a gradual disintegration of sentiment and true relations. People are now measured by the amount of material goods they own. Therefore, doctors, lawyers, and other originally honest occupations have become based entirely on wages and familial relationships no longer exist. They have instead been replaced by purely money relations. The bourgeois are also constantly exploiting the lower classes, otherwise known as the proletarians. (Marx

    Read More

  • Marx And Weber's Theory Of Social Mistutiation

    1576 Words  | 4 Pages

    Clark and Lipset (1991) explain that looking at class theories that has been a lot of change in class and it has altered the concept of class toward the fragmentation of stratification. Clark and Lipset (1991) further explains that changes have occurred since Marx and Weber write their view on social stratification and it went into high gear since 1970s. Clark and Lipset (1991) acknowledge a change for the theories of stratification is that traditional hierarchies is declining and economic and family hierarchies is less than generation or two ago. Clark and Lipset (1991) explains that class conflict declines, there would be less conflict or organized lines, for instance gender. However, not all hierarchies are generating counter-reactions and there is an acceptance of democratic process to allow the opposition to surface. According Clark and Lipset (1991), “the key trends could be described as one of fragmentation of stratification: the weakening of class stratification, especially as shown in distinct class-differentiated lifestyle, the decline of economic determinism, and the increased importance of social and cultural factors, politics is less organized by class and more by other loyalties, the slimming of the family and social mobility is less family-determined, more ability and education

    Read More

  • Marx and Durkheim’s View on the Benefits and Dangers of Modern Capitalism

    1978 Words  | 4 Pages

    Karl Marx (1818-1883) and Émile Durkheim (1858-1917) were sociologists who both existed throughout similar time periods of the 19th and early 20th centuries, resulting in both Marx, and Durkheim to be concerned about similar effects and impacts among society (Appelrouth and Edles: 20, 77). Marx’s main focus was on class distinctions among the bourgeoisie and proletariat, forces and relations of production, capital, surplus value, alienation, labour theory of value, exploitation and class consciousness (Appelrouth and Edles: 20). Whereas Durkheim’s main focus was on social facts, social solidarity – mechanical solidarity and organic solidarity, anomie, collective conscience, ritual, symbol, and collective representations (Appelrouth and Edles: 77). For the purpose of this essay, we will be focusing on the concerns that arised among Karl Marx and Émile Durkheim towards the benefits and dangers of modern capitalism. Marx and Durkheim’s concepts are comparable in the sense that Marx focuses on alienation and classes, which is similar to Durkheim’s concepts of anomie and the division of labour. The beginning of the Industrial Revolution and technological advances can be seen as a key factor that gave emergence to modern capitalism, as the economic system was based on private ownership, mass production, and increased profits, resulting in people to be separated based on class and the division of labour, later giving rise to alienation and anomie. In this essay, I will explore Karl Marx’s and Émile Durkheim’s evaluation of the benefits and dangers that came about with the rise of modern capitalism. Through these two theorists and sociologists, we can analyze, discuss, compare, critique, and come to understand how modern cap...

    Read More

  • The Bast Theory Of Class Conflict In Karl Marx

    1041 Words  | 3 Pages

    Yet, the brilliance of Marx's analysis of capitalism and its effects on workers, on capitalists themselves, and on entire sociocultural systems can’t be denied. Marx grasped its origin, structure, and workings. He then predicted with an astonishing degree of accuracy its immediate evolutionary path. Today, we see instances of this ‘class struggle’ manifesting itself across countries. Statics show that the income disparity grows every year. Society has been perceived as split between the “99%” (the regular people) and the “1%” (the connected and privileged superrich getting richer every day).

    Read More

  • Marx's Theories

    1564 Words  | 4 Pages

    While Marxist ideology dismisses the individual’s role in society and contends that the economic superstructure governs everything, Weber and Simmel each present a more nuanced interpretation of the social world. The work of these two theorists acknowledges individual agency and examines forces outside of the economy that impact individuals. In the following paper, I discuss how the social forces described by Weber and Simmel complicate Marx’s conception of the class structure. Moreover, I contend that the theories of Weber and Simmel illustrate how distinctions and divisions can arise within Marx’s broadly defined social classes. Ultimately, these divides within the proletariat impede the development of class consciousness and prevent the overthrow of capitalism.

    Read More

  • Inequality In The Middle Class

    426 Words  | 1 Pages

    Thesis: We were all born into a place with income inequality, but we have the power to make sure our children aren't.

    Read More

  • Exponential Inequality: The Destabilizing American Economy

    756 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ever since agriculture replaced hunting and gathering, the division of labor led to the creation of social classes and the division of land and unequal distribution of food surplus allowing inequality to flourish. Unfortunately, this has not only remained, but inequality has exponentially grown, making the difference between each social class quite noticeable. This distressing factor makes American economy highly unstable, and there is little to be done in order to fix this grave issue. It is only a matter of time before America’s economy comes crashing down. American economic inequality has been around for a long time, and it has become a monumental issue.

    Read More

  • Income Inequality

    939 Words  | 2 Pages

    Income inequality has affected American citizens ever since the American Dream came to existence. The American Dream is centered around the concept of working hard and earning enough money to support a family, own a home, send children to college, and invest for retirement. Economic gains in income are one of the only possible ways to achieve enough wealth to fulfill the dream. Unfortunately, many people cannot achieve this dream due to low income. Income inequality refers to the uneven distribution of income and wealth between the social classes of American citizens. The United States has often experienced a rise in inequality as the rich become richer and the poor become poorer, increasing the unstable gap between the two classes. The income gap in America has been increasing steadily since the late 1970’s, and has now reached historic highs not seen since the 1920’s (Desilver). UC Berkeley economics professor, Emmanuel Saez conducted extensive research on past and present income inequality statistics and published them in his report “Striking it Richer.” Saez claims that changes in technology, tax policies, labor unions, corporate benefits, and social norms have caused income inequality. He stands to advocate a change in American economic policies that will help close this inequality gap and considers institutional and tax reforms that should be developed to counter it. Although Saez’s provides legitimate causes of income inequality, I highly disagree with the thought of making changes to end income inequality. In any diverse economic environment, income inequality will exist due to the rise of some economically successful people and the further development of factors that push people into poverty. I believe income inequality e...

    Read More

  • Inequality And Economic Inequality

    847 Words  | 2 Pages

    Inequality today is one of the most significant problems that America faces. According to Inequality.org in 2015 Household income of the top 0.1% of the population gained $6,747,439 while bottom 90% of the population got $34,074 (Inequality.org). The gap between incomes only continues to grow every year, which requires a change in social and economic policies of the country. However, it should be remembered that economic indicators can tell about working conditions, living conditions, nutrition, education of representatives of various groups of the population, but they can not show a picture of the realizability and opportunities to be successful in life for different groups of the population. That is why at the end

    Read More

  • Women of the Middle East

    771 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Women of the Middle East have played substantial roles for their corresponding countries since the advent of colonialism in the region. Middle Eastern women have worked in all types of fields including medicine, education, agriculture, government, private sector, and even defense. They have kept roofs over their family’s heads while their husbands were away in wars, or even in foreign countries to work in jobs that they could not find in their own countries. The roles of women in the countries of Yemen and Oman are no exception, but while they still find ways to contribute to their country, they care constantly stereotyped, discriminated, and ridiculed by men who are known and unknown to them. This paper will discuss the individual contributions of the women living in Yemen and Oman, and will discuss in further state laws and cultural norms that are affecting the women living in these countries today.

    Read More

  • Structure and Agency

    1549 Words  | 4 Pages

    Structure and agency are two theoretical terms used to explain the capacity at which we as people are able to be individuals, and to what extent those influences limit our individuality. Structure refers to the ways in which a society is organized. Agency refers to the behaviors and actions of the individuals within the social structure. Agency is limited by the structure due to cultural barriers and inequalities within the structure. In this essay, I will present an overview of why critical theorists are concerned with those inequalities, and I will further identify the problems within the system contributing to the unequal access to the public sphere, relating specifically to class and gender inequalities.

    Read More

  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

    1590 Words  | 4 Pages

    The man of focus in this paper is Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a fascinating man who has managed to accomplish so much in so little time. Not only is Sheikh Mohammed the ruler of Dubai, he is also the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, a small but powerful nation in the Middle East. Even though the Sheikh is 64 years old, he did not assume office until 2006 after his brother Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum died. I lived in Dubai for a few years growing up and I always found this man to be a great leader and a hero to his people. Just like in the U.S. where Presidents have roads named after them, Dubai has major highways named after Sheikh Mohammed. Every morning driving to school in Dubai I saw a huge portrait of the Sheikh on the side of the road, but it’s not until now that I’ve been given the chance to find out why he is such a loved leader through this profile. While considered one of the richest families in the world, the Maktoum family is very active in all sorts of charities around the world. The goal of the Sheikh is not only to expand Dubai into a prosperous emirate, but also to find peace outside of the UAE. As a businessman, he has helped Dubai evolve past being an unimportant state in the Middle East into a world hub.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Article: Globalization Progress Or Profiteering?

    825 Words  | 2 Pages

    article, globalization is very good. It gives them an opportunity to expand in their terms of

    Read More

More about The Questions of Economic Inequality and Class Division

Open Document