1. CLASS:
shared
social
and
economic
position;
shared
life
chances
for
prosperity.
How
are
certain
‘classes’
of
people
created?
Let’s
take
the
example
of
capitalism
and
its
agents
(capitalists)
in
the
West:
Max
Weber,
1905.
“The
Protestant
Ethic
and
the
Spirit
of
Capitalism,”
pp.
499
-­‐
505.
Blackboard.
How
are
the
protestant
ethic
(Calvinism
is
the
sect
of
Protestantism
that
Weber
connects
to
capitalism)
and
the
spirit
of
capitalism
connected?
17th
century
Protestant
ethic
was
key
in
spearheading
capitalism.
Hence,
a
change
in
the
institution
of
religion
created
a
change
in
the
institution
of
economy.
Hence,
Weber
is
arguing
that
before
Calvinism
and
its
partner
work
ethic
(Protestant
ethic)
CAPITALISM
DID
NOT
EXIST
IN
THE
WORLD
!!!
A
change
in
the
institution
of
religion
created
Capitalism.
To
reiterate,
Capitalism
like
all
other
economic
systems
is
socially
constructed.
Weber’s
theory
is
contended
and
we
will
discuss
this
in
the
context
of
‘Globalization’
towards
the
end
of
the
semester.
Synopsis
of
“The
Protestant
Ethic
and
the
Spirit
of
Capitalism”
&
Definitions:
You
will
not
be
tested
on
the
synopsis;
it
is
provided
as
a
useful
contextualization
of
Weber’s
theory.
Weber
begins
with
the
puzzle
of
distinction
between
the
modern
and
traditional
world.
He
writes
that
the
modern
world
operates
on
the
basis
of
rationality,
focused
on
the
most
efficient
means
to
accomplish
an
end.
He
argues
that
Protestantism
was
necessary
for
capitalism
to
take
off.
Weber
conducts
a
case
study
of
Germany,
demonstrating
that
different
rates
of
economic
activity
correlate
with
religious
affiliation,
central
Germany
being
most
protestant
and
highly
economically
active,
and
Northern
Germany
being
mostly
Catholic
and
minimally
politically
active.
Rationalization
(know
the
first
definition
for
the
exam):
Defined
in
2
ways:
1.
Process
of
most
efficient
means
to
accomplish
an
end.
2.
Etymology
(origin
of
term):
reason;
means
by
which
we
cognitively
organize
reality
and
our
universe
for
the
purposes
of
cognitively
structuring
an
environment
that
is

manageable
&
predictable.
Concept
developed
in
the
Middle
Ages
in
Europe
by
means
of
the
Bible
&
Greek
philosophy.
In
1904,
Weber
visits
the
U.S.
on
a
2
month
tour.
He
is
struck
by
industry
and
by
Benjamin
Franklin-­‐
Poor
Richards
Almanac
which
becomes
a
regular
publication
with
wide
readership.
Franklin
proverbs/aphorisms-­‐
“time
is
money”,
“a
penny
saved
is
a
penny
earned”,
“money
begets
money.”

2. Weber
is
confounded
by
the
philosophy
of
avarice;
greed
for
wealth,
that
he
observes.
He
notes
that
Americans
feel
a
patriotic
duty
to
make
money
through
a
profession,
sustaining
a
‘Cult
of
Money’.
After
he
returns
to
Europe
her
writes
“The
Protestant
Ethic
and
the
Spirit
of
Capitalism”
where
he
argues
that
capitalism
has
a
moral
basis.
He
traces
the
ethic
of
working
hard
for
G-­d’s
glory,
and
not
enjoying
the
fruits
of
one’s
labor,
remaining
austere
(plain
without
luxury),
and
avoiding
spending
money
to
the
17th
century
Protestant
sect
of
Calvinism.
Calvinism
emphasized
self-­discipline,
choosing
a
profession
as
your
calling
in
life,
subverting
your
personal
desires,
and
pursuing
desires
for
G-­d’s
glory.
Calvinism
taught
that
we
are
hand
picked
by
G-­d,
we
are
predestinated
for
salvation;
however,
one
does
not
know
if
one
is
predestined
for
salvation,
and
this
leads
to
extreme
worry.
Hence,
to
resolve
this
problem,
Calvinists
reinterpreted
the
scripture
as
the
following:
one’s
lot
in
this
life
is
suggestive
of
predestination,
if
successful,
have
self-­discipline
in
this
life,
then
there
is
a
likely
corollary
in
other
world.
There
is
a
somber
tone
at
end
of
Weber’s
essay;
he
is
critical
of
the
modern
world
which
is
‘rational’
and
justifies
action
on
the
basis
of
efficiency
(know
that
highlighted
in
grey
for
the
exam).
Weber
writes
that
the
world
has
become
de-­‐
mystified,
stripped
of
magic,
by
process
of
rationalization;
quintessential
form
of
the
new
rational
world
is
bureaucracy:
action
on
the
basis
of
rules.
Weber
wrote
that
people
become
titles,
credentials,
and
numbers.
People
fall
into,
are
trapped
into
the
Iron
Cage
(or
Iron
Shell,
depending
on
translation)
of
bureaucracy.
This
is
a
somber
and
sad
assessment-­‐
original
beliefs
falls
to
the
wayside,
become
inconsequential,
now
belief
in
money
has
become
belief
in
itself,
and
we
no
longer
understand
why
we
are
accumulating
money
for
the
sake
of
accumulation
itself.
Iron
Cage
(know
for
exam):
Weber’s
concept
for
being
trapped
in
modern
‘rational’
bureaucracy-­‐
devoid
of
magic
and
mystery,
where
the
environment
is
reduced
to
highly
organized
structure
and
the
person
reduced
to
a
credential
(easily
replaceable).
Weber’s
definition
of
class:
Economic
and
social
status.
Karl
Marx
and
Friedrich
Engels,
1888.
“Manifesto
of
the
Communist
Party.”
Blackboard.
In
Marx’s
conception
of
the
modern
world,
there
are
2
classes
of
people
based
on
ownership
of
capital:
1.
Proletariat
are
composed
of
the
masses
who
DO
NOT
OWN
CAPITAL
AND
ARE
DEPENDENT
ON
WAGE
LABOR;
they
are
dependent
on
those
who
own
capital
to
supply
them
with
work.

3. According
to
Marx’s
definition,
the
following
are
examples
of
Proletariats:
Bill
Gate’s
wife
(unless
she
herself
owns
capital),
most
house
wives,
BU
students,
academics,
factory
workers,
McDonald’s
workers,
pilots,
lawyers,
police
officers,
physicians,
secretaries,
teachers.
2.
Bourgeoisie
are
OWNERS
OF
CAPITAL
and
rule
over
the
P.
According
to
Marx’s
definition,
the
following
are
examples
of
Bourgeoisie:
Taxi
drivers
in
Boston
(required
to
own
their
own
taxi
cab),
factory
owners,
CEOs,
deli
owners,
flower
shop
owners,
Angel
investors
(invest
their
own
capital),
stock
holder
of
Airbnb.
The
Bourgeoisie
and
Proletariat
are
in
conflict.
The
B.
dominate
the
P.
The
P.
are
subservient
or
enslaved
by
the
B.
Marx
writes
that
the
Bourgeoisie
dupe
the
masses
by
inculcating
them
with
a
false
consciousness
(false/perverted
value
system).
For
this
exam,
you
have
to
be
familiar
with
the
false
consciousness
of
commodity
fetishism:
an
obsession
with
consumer
goods
which
leads
to
alienation
(a
sense
of
disconnection,
isolation;
also
translated
as
depression)
from
the
products
of
labor,
process
of
labor,
from
fellow
man,
from
self.
Example
of
commodity
fetishism:
The
‘magic’
‘special’
quality
we
assign
to
designer
shoes,
purses,
etc.
Example
of
alienation
from
fellow
man:
Working
long
hours
and
not
having
time
to
connect
with
others.
Example
of
alienation
from
the
products
of
labor:
A
worker
who
is
‘a
cog
in
the
machine’
is
responsible
for
gluing
the
sole
of
Nike
sneakers
for
16
hours
a
day.
This
is
his
only
role.
He
does
not
have
ownership
of
the
final
product
and
feels
disconnected
from
it.
He
feels
disconnected/alienation
from
the
product
of
partially
his
labor.
Equality
of
opportunity=
fair
game
Equality
of
condition=
level
playing
field
Equality
of
outcome=
equal
rewards
Meritocracy=
rule
by
those
why
have
greatest
effort,
rule
based
on
merit.
Aristocracy=
rule
based
on
inheritance
Democracy=
rule
by
people

4. Shamus
Khan,
Privilege
&
Lauren
Rivera.
2012.
“Hiring
as
Cultural
Matching:
The
Case
of
Elite
Professional
Service
Firms.”
Vol
77
pp.
999-­‐1022.
BU
Library
Online:
Capital:
Resource
Cultural
Capital:
non-­financial
social
asset,
such
as
education,
intellect,
style
of
dress,
speech,
posture,
accent,
aesthetics
(physical
appearance),
extracurricular,
etc.
What
beliefs
and
phenomena
lead
to
cultural
reproduction?
1.
Social
closure:
opportunity
or
resource
hoarding,
excluding
others
from
opportunities
and
resources.
Examples:
1.
High
fee
for
joining
a
country
club;
those
who
cannot
pay
are
not
granted
entry.
2.
High
cost
of
private
university
education;
those
who
cannot
find
the
funds,
do
not
attend.
3.
Cultural
standards
(certain
‘classy’
extra-­‐curriculars)
for
entry
into
elite
law
firms;
those
who
do
not
list
sailing,
are
excluded
from
candidacy,
denied
the
opportunity
to
work
at
referent
firms.
2.
As
Paulie’s
demonstrate,
a
belief
in
meritocracy,
hard
work
leading
to
success
perpetuates
a
certain
culture,
and
with
it
inequalities.
3.
Culturally
omnivorous
-­‐
consuming
both
‘high
brow’
and
‘low
brow’
culture
and
justifying
exclusion
on
the
basis
of
others
being
close-­‐minded.
3.
Habitus:
set
of
dispositions,
tastes,
etc.
that
are
second
nature;
embodied
class;
for
example-­‐
the
posture
and
gait
of
an
athlete,
dancer,
actor,
etc.
4.
Elite
firms
hiring
on
super
elite
college
affiliations
and
on
elite
extracirriculars;
social
closure
via
elite
credentials;
super
elite
graduates
get
jobs;
elites
looking
for
a
cultural
match
when
granting
entry
into
their
institutions.
What
facilitates
social
mobility?
1. Monetary
and
cultural
capital
2. Formal
and
informal
education
(the
unofficial
curriculum
of
St
Paul’s)
3. The
strength
of
weak
ties-­
those
with
larger
social
networks
have
more
people
to
tap
when
climbing
the
status
ladder.
4. Being
a
cultural
match
for
the
institution
you
are
planning
to
enter.
The
Social
Construction
of
Poverty:
What
causes
poverty?
We
covered
racism
and
primary
and
secondary
deviance
in
the
last
study
guide.
The
rest
is
an
addition
and
overlaps
with
the
social
construction
of
deviance.
Post-­‐Industrial
Change

5. • William
Julius
Wilson,
1996.
“When
Work
Disappears:
The
World
of
the
New
Urban
Poor.”
Blackboard.
Synopsis:
Pockets
of
poverty
(Urban
poor;
underclass)
develop
in
urban
settings
following
a
large
transformation
of
cities
in
1970’s.
Middle
class
expands
into
suburbs
in
50’s-­70’s
and
cities
lose
capital.
Driven
by
transformation
in
work,
globalization
of
economy,
erosion
of
manufacturing
base,
plants
(steel,
weapons,
paper,
commodities,
cars)
first
move
to
the
suburbs
and
then
off-­
shore;
factories
become
vacant.
In
their
wake,
disorder,
waste
land
city,
middle
class
whites
disappear-­
WHITE
FLIGHT,
then
black
middle
class
leaves,
less
educated
remain,
low
skills
and
little
work.
Before,
a
$5
a
day
wage
was
a
highly
coveted
job;
for
that
wage
one
could
support
a
house
wife
and
family.
Wilson
is
making
case
for
the
power
of
globalization
and
subsequent
deindustrialization
creating
a
culture
of
segregation.
To
reiterate,
Wilson
argues
that
deindustrialization
and
the
flight
of
manufacturing
jobs
created
city
poverty.