Sociological implications of economy

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Economical sociology studies on the effects of economic phenomenon and their social cause. Sociology defines work as the implementation of task that includes costs of physical and mental efforts, and its aim is to make goods and services to accommodate human beings needs. Economic system consists of institutions that provides for distribution and production of goods and services. The various institutions vary with culture of modern and traditional societies. Economy influences the society and hence social reproduction. Work is directly intertwined by social processes, social structures, and particularly social inequality.

Sociological theorists include Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx and Max Weber. They consider the contemporary work breakdown to be the major ground of sociology. For instance, Marx examines factories working conditions which focus on the transition from working independently to working for a boss which results to deckling and alienation. On the other hand, Durkheim is concerned with how a society can achieves stability through traditions, customs and norms traditions as industry and work changes in the industrial revolution. Weber focuses on progress variety of authority that is emerging in current bureaucratic organizations. Sociologists in macro level are interested in learning how changes in technology can bring about changes in demographics. On the other hand of micro level they check on the demands that the occupations place and workplace as well as on workers’ sense of self identity and the power of work on families (Anderson& Taylor, 2009) .Symbolic interaction analysis

This perspective is a chief frame work of sociological theory that relies on the symbolic implication that people build up and rely on during social process even though it traces its origin from Weber’s declaration that people act according to their analysis of the implications in the world. The symbolic interaction studies the society through tackling the subjective implications that people entail on events, behavior and things. Subjective implications are given since people behave regarding on what they believe and not what is true. People tend to interpret each other’s behavior forming social bond that define the situation. A symbolic implication overrides actual facts. Symbolic interactions tend to neglect macro level of social analysis thus it may miss the superior issues of society. In cases of gender and race this perspective does not account for social forces such as gender discrimination and symmetric racism which strongly controls what one believes race and gender mean.

Conflict theory analysis

This perspective emphasis on the role of power and coercion in producing social order and it is derived from the works of Karl Marx, who sees the society as uneven in groups that struggle for economic and social resources. Social order is sustained by power, with authority in the hands of those with the utmost economic, social and political resources. Conflict perspective originates from Karl Marx’s writings regarding class struggles. It presents society in a diverse light than the symbolic interaction and functionalist perspectives. While these two latter perspectives center on the positive aspects of society that bring about stability, conflict perspective centers on the conflicted, negative and ever‐changing nature of society. Unlike functionalists who protect the position quo, evade social change, and think people collaborate to achieve social order, conflict theorists confronts the position quo, support social change and consider powerful and rich people power social order on the weak and the poor.

In modern day, conflict theorists get social conflict among any groups in which the possibility for disparity exists: gender, racial, political, religious and economic. Conflict theorists recognize that unequal groups normally have conflicting agendas and values, which cause them to compete against each other. This stable competition between groups forms the foundation for the ever‐changing nature of society. The theory eventually points out compassionate humanity, hard work, social equality and civil rights (Anderson& Taylor, 2009).

The functionalist perspective

The functionalist analysis is one of the main theoretical perspectives in sociology that believes the society is brought together by cohesion and social consensus. It originates from Emile Durkheim works which specializes in how social order is achievable as well as how society the remains moderately stable. According to functionalism, every feature of society is mutually dependent and give in to society’s functioning as a whole. The state grants education for a family’s the children, which consecutively pays taxes on which the government depends on to keep itself running. Thus the family depends on the school to assist children to grow up and secure good jobs in order to support and raise their own families. Within the process, these children abide to law by being taxpaying citizens, to support the state and enhance productivity and stability. Emile Durkheim states there are two forms of social consensus, they include:

Mechanical solidarity which is a form of social structure that arises when people in a society maintain similar beliefs and values as well as engage in similar types of work. Mechanical cohesion normally takes place in traditional, plain societies. Amish society demonstrates mechanical solidarity; Organic solidarity is a form of social structure that arises when the people in a society are mutually dependent, but hold onto changeable values and beliefs and employ in unreliable types of work. Organic cohesion usually takes place in multifaceted and industrialized societies. Functionalism perspective validates the status quo and satisfaction on the part of society’s members. It discourages people from taking active roles in changing their social environment, even when the change may beneficial to them. Functionalism views active social change as unpleasant since the various parts of society will reimburse logically for any problems that may crop up (Giddens, 1991).

Change in technology in the workplace?

The changes on working pattern employed at workplace fall into the following domains: Cognitive competence which states that Cognitive workers are anticipated to be more functionally and cognitively flowing as well as able to work across different kinds of situations and tasks; Social and interactive competence emphasizes on the importance of interactive and relational aspects of work; The new “psychological contract” between employees psychological contract” states on what each person expects of the other thus the focuses on proficiency development, constant training, and work/life balance: finally on employers as well as Changes in process and place (Giddens, 1991).

References

Anderson, M.L. &Taylor, H.F. (2009). Sociology: The Essentials. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.

Giddens,A. (1991)Introduction to sociology. New York, NY: W. W. Norton Company.

The Support Economy by S. Zuboff & J. Maxmin. New York: Penguin Group, Viking Press, 2002.