Question

Could a state society exist without stratification and without violence? (Include evidence!)

Answer 1

Capitalists are the ones who own the production methods and use others to work for them. Workers are the ones who do not own the means of production, do not employ others, and are therefore forced to work for the capitalists. Small capitalists are the ones who own the means of production but do not use others. These include self-employed people, such as physicians, attorneys, and traders. The small capitalists, according to Marx, are only a transitional, minor class, eventually destined to become proletarian leaders.

Wealth applies to property and income-producing items owned by individuals: real estate, savings accounts, shares, bonds and mutual funds. Income refers to the money people earn, including salaries and wages, over a certain period of time. Current social statistics show that the poorest 20% of Americans earn less than 5% of the total national income, while the richest 20% earn nearly 50% of the total. In contrast, the poorest 20 percent own much less than 1 percent of the total national wealth, while the wealthiest 20 percent own more than 75 percent of the total.

The second reason for social stratification is energy, or the ability to influence individuals and events to gain wealth and reputation. That is, gaining control is positively correlated with being affluent, as demonstrated in high-ranking governmental positions by the dominance of wealthy males. As a way of ensuring their continued power and wealth, wealthy Americans are also more likely to be politically active. Because of their sense of powerlessness to control the system, poorer Americans are less likely to be politically active. Since wealth is unequally distributed, energy is obviously the same.

Conflict theorists contend that the vast majority of influence in the United States is owned by only a tiny number of Americans the capitalists. We may not actually hold political office, but for their own gain and to protect their interests, we influence politics and government policies. An example is the large corporation which tries to limit the amount of fees that it is required to pay by political contributions that eventually put some people into office and then influence policy decisions.

A final pillar of social stratification is the unequal distribution of rank, or the status of a person among his peers and in society. Although property and energy are empirical, reputation is subjective because it relies on the opinions and attitudes of other people. And while reputation is not as tangible as money and influence, many Americans want to lift their rank and respect as others see it. Social status based on race, sex, and age must be applied to occupation. While being a professor is highly ranked, being a racial minority and a female can also have a negative impact on reputation. As a consequence, people experiencing such a difference in status can suffer from severe anxiety, depression, and resentment.