Power, domination and stratification

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.

 

Texto completo disponível apenas em PDF.

Full text only available in PDF format

 

References

Archer, Margaret S. (1995), Realist Social Theory: The Morphogenetic Approach, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.        [ Links ]

Bachrach, Peter, and Morton S. Baratz (1994 [1962]), “The two faces of power”, in John Scott (ed.), Power: Critical Concepts (volume 2), London, Routledge.

Bachrach, Peter, and Morton S. Baratz (1994 [1963]), “Decisions and nondecisions: an analytical framework”, in J. Scott (ed.), Power: Critical Concepts (volume 2), London, Routledge.

Blau, Peter, and Otis D. Duncan (1967), The American Occupational Structure, New York, Wiley.

Bourdieu, Pierre (1984 [1979]), Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste, London, Routledge.

Chan, Tak Wing, and John H. Goldthorpe (2007), “Class and status: the conceptual distinction and its empirical relevance”, American Sociological Review, 72, pp. 512-32.

Connell, Robert W. (1987), Gender and Power, Cambridge, Polity Press.

Dahl, Robert A. (1994 [1957]), “The concept of power”, in John Scott (ed.), Power, London, Routledge.

Erikson, Robert, and John H. Goldthorpe (1992), The Constant Flux: A Study of Class Mobility in Industrial Societies, Oxford, Clarendon Press.

Etzioni, Amatai (1964), Modern Organizations, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice-Hall.

Foucault, Michel (1994 [1982]), “The subject and power”, in John Scott (ed.), Power: Critical Concepts (volume 1), London, Routledge.

Giddens, Anthony (1979), Central Problems in Social Theory, London, Macmillan.

Goldthorpe, John H., and Keith Hope (eds.) (1974), The Social Grading of Occupations, Oxford, Clarendon Press.

Gouldner, Alvin W. (1954), Patterns of Industrial Bureaucracy, New York, Free Press.

Grusky, David B. (2005), “Foundations of a Neo-Durkheimian class analysis” in Erik Olin Wright (ed.), Approaches to Class Analysis, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Grusky, David B., and Jesper B. Sørensen (1998), “Can class analysis be salvaged?”, American Journal of Sociology, 103 (5), pp. 1187-1234.

Hjellbrekke, Johs, Brigitte Le Roux, Olav Korsnes, Frédéric Lebaron, Lennart Rosenlund, and Henry Rouanet (2007), “The Norwegian field of power, Anno 2000", European Societies, 9 (2), pp. 245-273.

Hope, Keith (ed.) (1972), The Analysis of Social Mobility: Methods and Approaches, Oxford, Clarendon Press.

Laumann, Edward O. (1966), Prestige and Association in an Urban Community, Indianapolis, Bobbs-Merrill.

Lee, David, and Bryan Turner (eds.) (1996), The Debate over Class, Harlow, Longman.

Lockwood, David (1993 [1958]), The Black-Coated Worker, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Lukes, Steven (2004 [1974]), Power: A Radical View (2nd revised edition), London, Palgrave Macmillan.

Meisel, James H. (1958), The Myth of the Ruling Class, Ann Arbor, Michigan University Press.

Mills, C. Wright (1956), The Power Elite, New York, Oxford University Press.

Mintz, Beth, and Michael Schwartz (1985), The Power Structure of American Business, Chicago, Chicago University Press.

Mosca, Gaetano (1939 [1896]), “Elementi di scienza politica”, volume one, in G. Mosca, (ed.), The Ruling Class, Chapters 1- 11 New York, McGraw Hill.

Mouzelis, Nicos (1995), Sociological Theory: What Went Wrong?, London, Routledge.

ONS (2005), Socio-Economic Classification: User Manual, London, Palgrave Macmillan for Office of National Statistics.

Pakulski, Jan, and Malcolm Waters (1996), The Death of Class, London, Sage.

Pareto, Vilfredo (1963 [1916]), A Treatise on General Sociology, New York, Dover.

Pareto, Vilfredo (1968 [1901]), The Rise and Fall of Elites, New York, Bedminster Press.

Parsons, Talcott (1963), “On the concept of political power”, Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, 107, pp. 232-262.

Parsons, Talcott (1969 [1963]), “On the concept of influence”, in Talcott Parsons (ed.), Politics and Social Structure, New York, Free Press.

Scott, John (1996), Stratification and Power: Structures of Class, Status and Command. Cambridge, Polity Press.

Scott, John (1997), Corporate Business and Capitalist Classes, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Scott, John (2001), Power, Cambridge, Polity Press.

Scott, John (2008), “Modes of power and the conceptualisation of elites”, in Michael Savage and Karel Williams (eds.), Bringing Elites Back, Oxford, Blackwell (Sociological Review Monographs).

Smith, Ken (2007), “Operationalizing Max Weber’s probability concept of class situation: the concept of social class”, British Journal of Sociology, 58 (1), pp. 87-104.

Sørensen, Aage B. (2000), “Toward a sounder basis for class analysis”, American Journal of Sociology, 105 (6), pp. 523-58.

Useem, Michael (1984), The Inner Circle, New York, Oxford University Press.

Weber, Max (1968 [1913-4]), “The Economy and the arena of normative and de facto powers” in G. Roth,  and C. Wittich, (eds.) Economy and Society, University of California Press.

Weber, Max (1968 [1920]), “Conceptual exposition”, in G. Roth and C. Wittich (eds.), Economy and Society, University of California Press.

Weeden, Kim A., and David B. Grusky (2005), “The case for a new class map”, American Journal of Sociology, 111 (1), pp. 141-212.

Wright, Erik Olin (1985), Classes, London, Verso.

Wright, Erik Olin (1989 [1988]), “Exploitation, identity and class structure: a reply to My Critics”, in Erik Olin Wright and others (eds.), The Debate on Classes, London, Verso.

Wright, Erik Olin (1997), Class Counts, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Wright, Erik Olin (2005), “Foundations of a neo-marxist class analysis”, in Erik Olin Wright (ed.), Approaches to Class Analysis, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

 

* University of Essex. E-mail: scottj@essex.ac.uk