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Unit 4: Theories of Social Stratification-II

What factors affect differential reward or functional importance and scarcity of personnel ? Response Notes
to this question would determine the nature of stratification and difference between two or more
stratification systems.
Positions important in one society may not be important in another, because their conditions or
their degree of internal development may be different. The same applies to scarcity of personnel
or the necessity of certain kinds of skill or talent.
The major societal functions of stratification are :
1. Religion
2. Government
3. Wealth, property and labour
4. Technical knowledge
Religion

Religion is necessary in human society because its members have unity by sharing certain ultimate
values and ends in common. The values and ends may be subjective, but they influence behaviour
of the people to unite them as members of a system. Values and ends evolve as a part of culture
by communication and moral pressure. Religious beliefs and rituals seem to be apparently real.
Beliefs and rituals are connected with the common ends and values which are further connected
with an imaginary world of symbols and concrete sacred objects. Such a symbolic system is
related in a meaningful way to the facts and trials of an individual’s life. The sacred objects are
worshipped as they symbolize certain given things in social life. Super-natural prescriptions as
codes of behaviour are at work in practice of religion. Thus, religion creates an institutional
structure conforming to the ultimate ends and values.
The particular persons, who guide such a religious system, enjoy greater rewards than the ordinary
members. The highest, religious functionaries enjoy special rewards and privileges. Such persons
are keepers of sacred tradition, they are skilled performers of rituals and interpreters of lore and
myth. They are God’s representatives, hence enjoy sacredness.
Religious functionaries have generally been associated with the highest positions of power.
However, they do not get entire control over the societies, because religious duties do not require
high level of technical competence. Religious ritual is often elaborate and religious lore abstruse,
hence require tact more than intelligence. The criteria for genuine contact with the supernatural
are never strictly clear. Priestly acclaim is normally free from competition. Such a set of criteria do
not stand valid in the fields of law, administration, science and other profane activities.
In modern societies, priesthood tends to loose status because it does not stand that test of scientific
validation. Brahmin as a priest is loosing his status in Indian society due to socio-political awakening
and scientific thinking among the people, particularly those who were at the receiving end of the
Brahmin-dominated Indian society. But, no society has become completely secularized, including
India. Transcendentalism and supernaturalism persist partly for integration of the ultimate values,
and partly for emotional adjustments in situations of crises caused by natural calamities, chronic
illnesses, death, etc.
Government
The government organizes society in terms of law and authority. Unlike religion, it orients the
society to the actual rather than the unseen world. Internally, the government enforces norms,
arbiters conflicting claims and interests, and provides planning and directions to society. Externally,
it handles war and diplomacy. The government acts as the agent of the entire people to carry out
these functions. It enjoys a monopoly of force and controls all individuals within its territory.
Authority (official) and citizens have command-compliance relationships, hence stratification based
on political relationships. Political inequality becomes at times an all-encompassing inequality.

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