Page 63 - DSOC202_SOCIAL_STRATIFICATION_ENGLISH

Social Stratification

Notes In my own study of six villages in Rajasthan, both structural and cultural perspectives were
applied to analyse the multidimensional nature of social stratification, mobility and change. Caste,
class, caste and class consciousness, power structure, value orientations were taken as focal points
to examine the relevance of “caste model” of Indian society. Andre Beteille, following Weber’s
theory of “class, status and party”, makes a distinction between caste, class and power in his
study of a village in Tamil Nadu. He observes a perceptible “differentiation of institutional
structures” and an absence of “summation of statuses” could be found due to the factors and
forces which were noticed in the village. In the same vein, Anil Bhatt states that a study of caste,
class and politics provides a comparative analysis of social stratification. P.C. Aggarwal’s study of
caste, religion and power also falls in the category of multidimensional and comparative framework.
Weber’s theory of social stratification cannot be taken away from Weber’s overall approach to
society, economy, state, religion, etc. Weber tried to synthesize rationalism, subjectivity and
objectification in his method of understanding (verstehen). Individual, organization and group
occupied their respective space in Weber’s study of human society. Weber meticulously linked
theory, method and data, which the Indian followers of Weber have not been able to do as
scientifically as he did.

4.4 Structural-Functional Theory

Both Marxian and Weberian theories of social stratification are generally deterministic as Marx
considers “economic” factor solely responsible for class structure, and Weber puts emphasis on
“power” as a key factor in social relations. As such, Marx and Weber undermine the relative
significance of a plurality of factors in society. Talcott Parsons observes that a social system should
meet essential prerequisites of long-term persistence from within its own resources. Personality
systems and social systems must exist in harmony through the mediation of cultural systems
(values and norms). Change in social system must have its functional relevance.
Multidimensional Nature
In Parsonian framework, there is an interesting parallel between the distinction between economic
and political power on the one hand, and approval and esteem rewards, on the other. Approval –
rewards imply universalistic – achievement values, and are functionally significant. Esteem goes
with political power, hence, a hierarchical ordering in terms of esteem. Parsons writes : “The
hierarchical ordering we may call prestige, which is the relative esteem in which an individual is
held in an ordered total system, system of differentiated evaluation.” Further, he observes : “There is,
therefore, a sense in which all the elements of the relational reward system come to be integrated
in terms of a ranking system in terms of esteem, just as the control of facilities is ordered in a
political power system. This ranking system in terms of esteem is what we may call the system of
stratification of the society.”
Stratification is a comprehensive phenomenon as it includes caste, race, ethnicity, class, occupation,
etc. W. Lloyd Warner observes that the behaviour examined and the parts of the society studied
range from social class systems, castes, occupations, occupational and social mobility, age and sex
divisions, political, economic, educational and ecclesiastical and other institutional hierarchies to
the relations of these institutions to the general social structure. Certainly, this is a multidimensional
approach to the study of social stratification in contrast to the Marxist “deterministic” or “mono-
dimensional” approach. The structural-functional theory falls in the category of multidimensional
approach despite the fact that its key concern is with “integration” of society as a whole.
According to the advocates of the structural-functional theory, functional differentiation is an
inevitable phenomenon. The logic is that a given person cannot perform all or most of the functions
in a society. For different functions, persons of different intent and ability are required. The
persons are rewarded according to the value attached to the functions they perform. This differential
reward pattern gives rise to stratification and hierarchy.

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