Towards a conceptual synthesis
John Scott *
Abstract
This paper argues for the need for a conceptual synthesis and clarification of concepts in the study of stratification and domination. Max Weber’s ideas are taken as the foundation for developing elementary concepts of power and their articulation into larger structures of domination and stratification. It is argued that elites are formed in and through structures of domination and that they can most usefully be investigated in relation to patterns of social stratification. Social stratification itself is analysed as involving class and status situations — as causal determinants of life chances — and social classes. Elite research must investigate the social background and recruitment of elites from different social classes and class situations. It is concluded that a wider investigation of power must also be concerned with the counteraction of dominated groups and the possibility of social change through a circulation of elites.
Key-words class, elite, power, stratification.
Resumo
Poder, dominação e estratificação: construindo uma síntese conceptual
]]> Este artigo discute a necessidade de uma síntese conceptual e de uma clarificação de conceitos no estudo da estratificação e da dominação. As ideias de Max Weber são consideradas como a base para o desenvolvimento de conceitos elementares de poder e da sua articulação com estruturas mais alargadas de dominação e estratificação. Defende que as elites são formadas através de estruturas de dominação e devem ser investigadas em relação a padrões de estratificação social. A estratificação social é ela própria analisada como integrando situações de classe e de status — enquanto determinantes causais das oportunidades de vida — e classes sociais. A pesquisa sobre elites deve investigar o contexto social e o recrutamento de elites provenientes de diferentes classes sociais e situações de classe. Conclui-se que uma investigação mais ampla sobre o poder deve também relacionar-se com a oposição de grupos dominados e a possibilidade de mudança social através da circulação das elites.Palavras-chave classes, elite, poder, estratificação.
Résumé
Pouvoir, domination et stratification: construction d’une synthèse conceptuelle
Cet article porte sur la nécessité d’une synthèse conceptuelle et d’une clarification de concepts dans l’étude de la stratification et de la domination. Les idées de Max Weber sont considérées comme la base du développement de concepts élémentaires de pouvoir et de leur articulation avec des structures plus élargies de domination et de stratification. Il soutient que les élites sont formées à travers des structures de domination et qu’elles doivent être étudiées par rapport à des standards de stratification sociale. La stratification sociale est elle-même analysée en ce qu’elle intègre des situations de classe et de statut — en tant que déterminantes causales des opportunités de vie — et des classes sociales. La recherche sur les élites doit étudier le contexte social et le recrutement d’élites provenant de différentes classes sociales et situations de classe. Il conclut qu’une recherche plus vaste sur le pouvoir doit aussi aborder l’opposition des groupes dominés et la possibilité de changement social grâce à la circulation des élites.
Mots-clés classes, élites, pouvoir, stratification.
Resumen
Poder, dominación y estratificación: construyendo una síntesis conceptual
]]> Este artículo discute la necesidad de una síntesis conceptual y de un esclarecimiento de conceptos en el estudio de la estratificación y de la dominación. Las ideas de Max Weber son consideradas como la base para lo desarrollo de conceptos elementales de poder y de su articulación con estructuras más amplias de dominación y estratificación. Defiende que las elites son formadas a través de estructuras de dominación y deben ser investigadas en relación a parámetros de estratificación social. La estratificación social es analisada como integrando situaciones de clase y de status — como determinantes casuales de las oportunidades de vida — y clases sociales. La búsqueda sobre elites debe investigar el contexto social y el reclutamiento de elites provenientes de diferentes clases sociales y situaciones de clase. Se concluye que una investigación más amplia sobre el poder debe también relacionarse con la oposición de grupos dominados y la posibilidad de cambio social a través de la circulación de las elites.Palabras-llave clases, elite, poder, estratificación.
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* University of Essex. E-mail: scottj@essex.ac.uk
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