Question

-Could culture and political economy be combined in the study of our current society?

-Do Marx and Durkheim agree or disagree on the division of labor?

-Durkheim’s idea of “social divisions of labor” compared to Ibn Khaldun and Adam Smith theory of DoL?

-Difference between “organic” and “mechanical” solidarity and the types of economy/market and state that correspond to each type of solidarity?

-Revise Smith’s theory of self-interest and how you’d criticize it using cultural practices?

-Revise the elements of “Protestant ethics” and how they reflect today’s capitalist economy?

Answer 1

1.The global political economy is inescapably cultural. Whether we talk about the economic dimensions of the "war on terror", the sub-prime crisis and its aftermath, or the ways in which new information technology has altered practices of production and consumption, it has become increasingly clear that these processes cannot be fully captured by the hyper-rational analysis of economists or the slogans of class conflict. This book argues that culture is a concept that can be used to develop more subtle and fruitful analyses of the dynamics and problems of the global political economy. Rediscovering the unacknowledged role of culture in the writings of classical political economists, the contributors to this volume reveal its central place in the historical evolution of post-war capitalism, exploring its continued role in contemporary economic processes that range from the commercialization of security practices to the development of ethical tourism. The book shows that culture plays a role in both constituting different forms of economic life and in shaping the diverse ways that capitalism has developed historically – from its earliest moments to its most recent challenges. Providing valuable insights to a wide range of disciplines, this volume will be of vital interest to students and scholars of International Political Economy, Cultural and Economic Geography and Sociology, and International Relations.

The Division of Labour in Society is the doctoral dissertation of the French sociologist argued that moral regulation was needed, as well as economic regulation, to maintain order (or organic solidarity) in society.

Adam Smith foresaw the essence of industrialism by determining that division of labour represents a substantial increase in productivity. Like du Monceau, his example was the making of pins.Unlike Plato, Smith famously argued that the difference between a street porter and a philosopher was as much a consequence of the division of labour as its cause.

Marx too considers division of labour in manufacture a feature of industrial society. But unlike Durkheim, he does not see it as a means of cooperation and coexistence. Rather, he views it as a process forced upon workers in order that the capitalist might extract profit.

Mechanical solidarity is the social integration of members of a society who have common values and beliefs. ... In contrast to mechanical solidarity, organic solidarity is social integration that arises out of the need of individuals for one another's services.

Self-interest refers to actions that elicit personal benefit. Adam Smith, the father of modern economics, explains that the best economic benefit for all can usually be accomplished when individuals act in their self-interest.

Protestant ethic, in sociological theory, the value attached to hard work, thrift, and efficiency in one's worldly calling, which, especially in the Calvinist view, were deemed signs of an individual's election, or eternal salvation