social stratification of society is a hierarchical organization and stratification of society into several layers (strata), a set of social institutions and the relationships between them.Strata are numerous groups of people who differ in the structure of society in the best position.
According to scientists, social stratification based on social and natural inequality of people.This criteria emerged inequality are interpreted by different authors in different ways.
Thus, according to Marx, the fundamental factor is the level of income and property ownership.Weber added to these provisions of the social prestige and belonging to the individual power politics.According to the theory of social stratification P. Sorokin, lies at the basis of separation of inequality in the distribution of rights and privileges, duties and responsibilities in society.According to him, the public space and has other criteria of differentiation.Thus, the separation can be carried out by occupation, nationality, religion, nationality and so on.
Historically, social stratification is formed with the birth of society.With the emergence of the first states tightened the bundle, but later, on the background of social development, gradually softened.
Sociology distinguishes four main types of the division of society: caste, slavery, class, class.The first three species are characteristic of closed societies, and the latter refers to the kind of open society.
Social stratification was first manifested itself in ancient times, during the occurrence of slavery.There are two forms of inequality: classical (a slave does not have any rights, and is the property of the owner) and patriarchal (slave confer rights youngest member of the family).Slavery was based on the use of direct violence.Groups of people were divided on the absence or presence of their rights.
The second system of separation should be classified as the caste system.Caste is a social group in which membership is transferred by birth.In life, move from one group to another is not possible.For this to be born again.This social stratification prevalent in India.In this state, the society is divided into four main castes:
- priests (Brahmins);
- merchants (vaisyas);
- warriors (Kshatriyas);
- workers, artisans, peasants (Sudras).
There are "untouchable."They do not belong to any caste and are at a lower position in society.
to the third stratification structure should be classified as class.Estates are defined as groups with fixed laws or customs duties and rights inherited.As a rule, there is a public non-privileged and privileged class.For example, in Western European society in the second category are the clergy and nobility.Until 1917, Russia was isolated, except for disadvantaged farmers and privileged clergy and nobility, poluprivilegirovannuyu category (Cossacks, for example).
for another society is a system of separation of class inequality.By definition, Lenin classes - is different in the situation of a certain structure of social production of numerous groups.Separation is carried out in relation to the means of production (mostly decorated and enshrined in law) for her role in the organization of labor in society, therefore, on the preparation and the volume fraction of the public good.
In modern society, in the broad sense experts distinguish three levels of stratification: the lower, upper and middle.In developed economies dominated by the average level of giving to community stability.
