Social Stratification and Inequality : Class Conflict in Historical, Comparative, and Global Perspective

by Kerbo, Harold R.

• ISBN13: 9780072997699
• ISBN10: 0072997699
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-06-28
• Publisher: MCG

Summary

Harold Kerbo continues to provide a comprehensive, up-to-date exploration of the economic and social divisions in human societies. While the book is grounded in the nature of social stratification in the United States, this edition maintains a commitment to keeping a global perspective. Extensive comparative information, as well as an overview of how, historically, social stratification has changed and evolved, gives readers a global perspective on class conflict. Praised for its thorough research and scholarship, Social Stratification and Inequality includes current statistics and the latest trends in the field.

Table of Contents

Preface	vi
PART I Introduction	1	(78)
CHAPTER 1 Perspectives and Concepts in the Study of Social Stratification	1	(17)
Michael	3	(2)
David	5	(4)
Definitions and Concepts	9	(3)
Social Stratification in the Modern World System	12	(3)
The Organization of Chapters	15	(2)
Summary	17	(1)
CHAPTER 2 Dimensions of Inequality in the United States	18	(30)
Income and Wealth Inequality	20	(16)
Inequality in Basic Necessities	36	(1)
Health Inequalities	37	(3)
Unequal Political Outputs	40	(5)
Dimensions of Inequality: A Conclusion	45	(2)
Summary	47	(1)
Note	47	(1)
CHAPTER 3 Social Stratification in Human Societies: The History of Inequality	48	(31)
Varieties of Human Stratification Systems	50	(9)
The Emergence of Inequality and Social Stratification	59	(13)
The Reduction of Inequality with Industrial and Postindustrial Societies	72	(3)
Conclusion: The History of Inequality	75	(1)
Summary	76	(1)
Notes	77	(2)
PART II Explanations of Social Stratification: Stratification Theories	79	(64)
CHAPTER 4 Social Stratification Theory: Early Statements	79	(32)
Competing Paradigms in the Study of Social Stratification	81	(5)
The Marxian Heritage in Social Stratification: The Development of a Critical-Conflict Paradigm	86	(9)
Max Weber: An Alternative Conflict Paradigm	95	(8)
An Uncritical-Order Paradigm Matures: The Functional Theory of Émile Durkheim	103	(3)
The Classical Period of Sociological Theory: A Summary	106	(2)
Summary	108	(1)
Notes	108	(3)
CHAPTER 5 Modern Theories of Social Stratification	111	(32)
Views of Social Stratification in America: Early Years	112	(2)
Functional Theories of Social Stratification	114	(11)
Conflict Theories of Social Stratification	125	(10)
The Bases of Class Stratification and Class Location	135	(6)
Theories of Social Stratification: A Conclusion	141	(1)
Summary	142	(1)
Note	142	(1)
PART III The American Class Structure	143	(224)
CHAPTER 6 The Upper Class	143	(31)
Locating the Upper Class	144	(7)
Upper-Class Dominance Today?	151	(22)
The Upper Class: A Conclusion	173	(1)
Summary	173	(1)
CHAPTER 7 The Corporate Class	174	(30)
The Upper Class as Ruling Class: A Critique	176	(2)
The Structure of Corporate Concentration: Foundation for a Corporate Class	178	(17)
The Concentration of Economic and Political Power: So What?	195	(7)
The Corporate Class: Conclusion	202	(1)
Summary	203	(1)
CHAPTER 8 The Middle and Working Classes	204	(33)
The Middle and Working Classes in the System of Social Stratification	207	(2)
The Middle Class and Working Class: Recent Historical Changes	209	(6)
Some Consequences of Class Position	215	(11)
Middle-Class and Working-Class Positions in the Structures of Economic and Political Power	226	(10)
Summary	236	(1)
CHAPTER 9 Poverty and the Political Economy of Welfare	237	(51)
A Brief History of Poverty in America	240	(3)
Counting the Poor	243	(5)
The Extent of Poverty in the United States	248	(6)
Theories of Poverty	254	(19)
Class Conflict and the Welfare State	273	(14)
Summary	287	(1)
CHAPTER 10 Gender Stratification and Inequalities: The Persistence of Ascription:	288	(37)
Sex and Gender	291	(2)
Gender Inequalities	293	(7)
Educational Attainment and Gender	300	(6)
Gender Inequality in Global Perspective	306	(7)
A History of Gender Stratification	313	(3)
Theories of Gender Stratification	316	(4)
Class Effects on Gender Income Inequality	320	(4)
Summary	324	(1)
CHAPTER 11 Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity: The Persistence of Ascription	325	(42)
Race and Ethnicity: Some Definitions	328	(1)
The Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity	329	(14)
A History of Race and Ethnic Stratification	343	(6)
Global Immigration: A Comparative View of the New Dimensions of Global Race and Ethnic Conflicts	349	(10)
Theoretical Explanations of Race and Ethnic Inequalities	359	(6)
Summary	365	(2)
PART IV The Process of Social Stratification	367	(74)
CHAPTER 12 Social Mobility: Class Ascription and Achievement	367	(44)
Social Mobility	370	(23)
The Attainment Process	393	(17)
Summary	410	(1)
CHAPTER 13 The Process of Legitimation	411	(30)
The Microprocess of Legitimation	415	(11)
The Macroprocess of Legitimation: Building Support for Specific Forms of Inequality	426	(14)
Summary	440	(1)
PART V Social Stratification Beyond the United States	441
CHAPTER 14 The World Stratification System: Dominance and Competition Among Core Nations	441	(28)
Characteristics of the World Stratification System	446	(4)
Development of the Modern World System	450	(1)
A Brief History of Core Conflict and Hegemony	451	(6)
American Inequality and the Future of Core Conflict	457	(4)
Capitalist Models and Core Competition in the 21st Century	461	(2)
The Global Corporate Class	463	(5)
Summary	468	(1)
CHAPTER 15 Social Stratification in Japan	469	(44)
Ranking in Japan: Some Introductory Observations	471	(2)
A History of Social Stratification in Japan	473	(5)
The Structural Bases of Social Stratification in Japan	478	(8)
Japan's Power Elite	486	(9)
Achievement and Ascription in Modern Japan	495	(8)
Inequality and Status Ranking in Japan	503	(5)
Core Competition in the 21st Century: Whither Japan	508	(2)
Summary	510	(1)
Notes	510	(3)
CHAPTER 16 Social Stratification in Germany	513	(33)
A Brief History of the German Political Economy	517	(7)
Social Stratification in Germany: Some Basic Similarities-and a Few Differences	524	(9)
Corporate and Bureaucratic Elites	533	(5)
German Workers and Codetermination Laws	538	(5)
Conclusion	543	(1)
Summary	544	(1)
Notes	544	(2)
CHAPTER 17 World Stratification and Globalization: The Poor of this Earth	546
The Extent of World Poverty	548	(12)
The World System and Economic Development in Periphery Nations: Why Some of the World's Poor Remain Poor	560	(5)
Global Corporations Can Do Harm: Some Evidence	565	(3)
World System Effects on Noncore Stratification Systems	568	(7)
The Characteristics of East and Southeast Asian Nations: The Exceptions Behind the Asian Economic Miracles	575	(1)
Asian Traditions and Forms of Social Organization: Some Commonalities	576	(5)
The Case of Thailand	581	(7)
The World Stratification System: A Conclusion and Perspective on the Future	588	(2)
Summary	590
Glossary	G-1
References	R-1
Name Index	I-1
Subject Index	I-15