The class structure of society refers to. What is the class structure of society? Distinctive features of types of societies

Slavery has evolved historically. There are two forms of it: patriarchal and classical. At the mature stage, slavery turns into slavery. When they talk about slavery as a historical type of stratification, they mean its highest stage. Slavery is the only form of social relations in history when one a person is the property of another and when the lower stratum is deprived of all rights and freedoms.

Castes

Caste system not as ancient as slave ownership, and less widespread. While almost all countries went through slavery, of course, to varying degrees, castes were found only in India and partly in Africa. India is a classic example of a caste society. It arose on the ruins of the slaveholding in the first centuries of the new era.

Caste called a social group (stratum), membership in which a person owes solely to his birth. A person cannot move from his caste to another during his lifetime. To do this, he needs to be born again. The caste position is enshrined in the Hindu religion (it is now clear why castes are not widespread). According to its canons, people live more than one life. Each person falls into the appropriate caste depending on what his behavior was in his previous life. If he is bad, then after his next birth he must fall into a lower caste and vice versa.

In India 4 main castes: Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (merchants), Shudras (workers and peasants). At the same time, there is about 5 thousand non-core caste and semi-caste. Especially worth untouchables. They do not belong to any caste and occupy the lowest position.

During industrialization, castes are replaced by classes. The Indian city is increasingly becoming class-based, while the village, where 7/10 of the population lives, remains caste-based.

Estates precede classes and characterize feudal societies that existed in Europe from the 4th to the 14th centuries.

Estates

Estate — social group with established by custom or legal law and inheritable rights and obligations.

A class system that includes several strata is characterized by hierarchy, expressed in inequality of position and privileges. The classic example of class organization was Europe, where at the turn of the XIV-XV centuries. The structure of society was divided into the upper classes (nobility and clergy) and the unprivileged third class (artisans, merchants, peasants). In the X-XIII centuries. There were three main classes: the clergy, the nobility and the peasantry.

In Russia from the second half of the 17th century. established class division into nobility, clergy, merchants, peasantry and philistinism(middle urban strata). Estates were based on land ownership.

The rights and duties of each class were determined by legal law and sanctified by religious doctrine. Membership in the class was inherited. Social barriers between classes were quite strict, so social mobility existed not so much between classes as within classes.

Each estate included many layers, ranks, levels, professions, ranks. Thus, only nobles could engage in public service. The aristocracy was considered a military class (knighthood).

The higher a class stood in the social hierarchy, the higher its status. In contrast to castes, inter-class marriages were fully permitted. Individual mobility was sometimes allowed. A simple person could become a knight by purchasing a special permit from the ruler. But over time, the term “estate” is replaced by a new concept “class”, expressing the socio-economic status of people who are able to change their status.

Class

Class is understood in two senses: broad and narrow.

IN broad meaning under class understand a large social group of people who own or do not own the means of production, occupying specific place in the system of social division of labor and characterized by a specific way of generating income.

Since private property arises during the birth of the state, it is believed that already at Ancient East and in ancient Greece there were two opposing classes: slaves and slave owners. Feudalism and capitalism are no exception. And here there were antagonistic classes: exploiters and exploited. This is the point of view of K. Marx, which is still adhered to today. Another thing is that with the maturation and complication of the versatility of the social organism, the need arose to isolate not one or two classes, but many social layers, called strata in the West. And correspondingly stratification of society - its stratification (the appearance of many elements in the structure of society).

Social stratification

The term " stratification" comes from the Latin stratum - layer. Thus, the etymology of the word contains the task not only of identifying group diversity, but of defining vertical sequence of the position of social layers, layers in society, their hierarchy. Various authors often replace the concept of “stratum” with other keywords: “class”, “estate”. Using all these terms below, we will put a single content into them and understand by stratum large group people who differ in their position in the social hierarchy of society.

Sociologists are unanimous in their opinion that basis of stratification structures ( social structure society) - natural and social inequality of people. However, the ways in which inequality is organized are different. What are the grounds that would determine the appearance vertical structure of society?

K. Marx introduced the only basis for vertical consideration of the structure of society - possession of property. Therefore, his social structure of society was actually reduced to two levels: owner class(slave owners, feudal lords, bourgeoisie) and Class, deprived of ownership of the means of production(slaves, proletarians) or having very limited rights to property (peasants). Attempts to present intelligentsia, some others social groups as intermediate layers left the impression that the general scheme of the social hierarchy of the population was ill-conceived. The narrowness of this approach became obvious already in late XIX centuries.

That is why M. Weber expands the number of criteria that determine belonging to a particular stratum. In addition to the economic (attitude to property and income level), he introduces criteria such as social prestige and membership in certain political circles (parties). Prestige was understood as the acquisition by an individual from birth or due to personal qualities of such a social status that allowed him to occupy a certain place in the social hierarchy.

The role of status in the hierarchical structure of society determined such important feature social life, How its normative and value regulation. Thanks to the latter, only those whose status corresponds to the ideas rooted in the mass consciousness about the significance of his title, profession, as well as the norms and laws functioning in society.

So, society reproduces and organizes inequality on several grounds: by the level of wealth and income, by the level of social prestige, by the level of political power, by the level of education, and also by some others. It can apparently be argued that these types of hierarchy are significant for society, since they make it possible to regulate the reproduction of social connections, as well as direct the personal aspirations and ambitions of people to acquire statuses that are significant for society.

What are the mechanisms, supporting the hierarchical structure of society? For maintaining social hierarchy In society, a simple solution was initially found: someone born into a slave’s family should remain a slave, while someone born into a noble’s family should remain a representative of the upper class. The entire system of social statuses (law, army, court and church) monitored compliance with the rules of class organization of the hierarchical structure of society.

Sustainability such a hierarchical system could supported only by force: either by force of arms, the possession of which was the exclusive right of the upper strata; or by the power of religion, which had exceptional possibilities of influencing the minds of people; or by force of the appropriate laws, norms, customs, to the observance of which all power was aimed state apparatus.

The hierarchical system of modern society lacks this rigidity. Formally, all citizens have equal rights, including the right to occupy any place in social space, to rise to the highest floors of the social ladder or to be in the lower echelons. The sharply increased social mobility, however, did not lead to the erosion of the hierarchical system. Society still maintains and protects its hierarchy (structure).

It has been observed that the vertical profile of society is not constant. K. Marx at one time suggested that its configuration would gradually change due to concentration of wealth in the hands of a few and significant impoverishment of the bulk population. The result of this trend will be the emergence of serious tension between the upper and lower layers of the social hierarchy, which is inevitable will result in a struggle for the redistribution of national income.

P. Sorokin, rejecting K. Marx’s thesis about the absolute impoverishment of the masses under capitalism, was nevertheless also inclined to believe that the upper part of the social pyramid tends to rise above the rest. But this growth of wealth and power is not unlimited. In his opinion, there is a saturation point beyond which society cannot move without the risk of a major catastrophe. As we approach this point, processes in society begin to contain the harmful trend: either reforms are carried out to redistribute wealth through the taxation system, or deep revolutionary processes begin, in which broad social strata are involved.

Stability of society associated with the profile of social stratification (structure of society). Excessive stretching of the latter is fraught with serious social consequences. cataclysms, uprisings, riots bringing chaos, violence, hindering the development of society, putting it on the brink of collapse. Thickening of the stratification profile primarily due to the truncation of the top of the cone - a phenomenon repeated in the history of all societies. It is important that it is carried out not through uncontrolled spontaneous processes, but through consciously pursued state policy.

The described process also has reverse side, noted by P. Sorokin. There should be no compaction of the stratification profile excessive, nullifying the very principle of social hierarchy. Inequality- not only an objective reality of social life, but also an important source of social development. The equation in income, in relations to property, power deprives individuals important internal incentive to action, self-realization, self-affirmation, and society- the only energy source of development.

The idea expressed by G. Simmel that stability of the hierarchical structure of society depends on t specific gravity and role of the middle layer, or class. Occupying an intermediate position, the middle class plays a kind of connecting role between the two poles of the social hierarchy, reducing their opposition. The larger the middle class, the more chances it has to influence state policy, the process of formation of fundamental values of society, the worldview of citizens, while avoiding the extremes inherent in opposing forces.

Availability thick middle layer in the social hierarchy of many modern countries allows them to remain stable, despite sporadic rising tensions among the poorest. This tension is extinguished not so much by the power of the repressive apparatus, How many neutral position of the majority, generally satisfied with his position, confident in the future, feeling his strength and authority. In all developed countries, despite their cultural and geographical differences, the share middle class approximately the same 55-60%. On the social ladder it is located between the elite (tops) and the workers or social lower classes. The increase in his role in society is explained by completely objective reasons. In developed countries in the 20th century. There is a reduction in manual labor and an expansion of mental labor both in industry and in agriculture. Consequently, the number of workers and peasants is declining; the latter make up only 5% in the United States. But these are not traditional peasants, but independent and prosperous farmers. The list of new professions is being enriched not by low-skilled ones, as before, but by highly qualified, knowledge-intensive specialties associated with advanced technologies. Their representatives automatically fall into the middle class. From 1950 to 2000 income American family doubled. The purchasing power of the population has increased; you have to work less to buy the same thing. Leisure time has expanded, more time remains for entertainment, tourism, and amusements. Labor society is becoming a thing of the past; it is being replaced by a leisure society.

Middle class plays special role in society, figuratively it can be likened to the function spine in the human body, thanks to which it maintains balance and stability. The middle class, as a rule, includes those who have economic independence (that is, are the owner of an enterprise) or a strong professional orientation. And these are precisely those functions that are not only highly valued by society, but also highly rewarded. Scientists, priests, doctors, lawyers, middle managers, bankers and entrepreneurs form the social core of society. Where there is no middle class or where it has not yet formed, society is unstable.

T. I. Zaslavskaya identifies four main features of the middle class:

set of social groups occupied intermediate position in the social structure of society and playing a role mediator between the top and bottom;
economically independent part of society confident in the future and interested in maintaining social order and stability of society;
the most qualified, socially active citizens, contributing to the progressive development of society;
main bearers of public interests, national culture, making up the majority of the population and spreading images of their own culture to other social strata.

All of the above signs (and others) make middle class to a certain extent self-sufficient and relatively independent part of the population.

Social mobility

Mobility(French mobile) - mobility. We are interested in social(public) mobility — process of change by the subject public life your social status, moving him up the career ladder.

The term “social mobility” was introduced into sociology
P. A. Sorokin, who considered social mobility as any change in social status. In modern sociology, the theory of social mobility is widely used to study the social structure of society.

The following types of social mobility are distinguished:

vertical ascending and descending (an individual occupies a higher position, significantly improves his financial situation, wins elections, etc. or loses a prestigious job, his company goes bankrupt, etc.);
horizontal - movement of an individual or group within one social stratum;

Intergenerational mobility involves an increase or decrease in the social status of children in relation to the position occupied by their parents. Previously, this was not possible in all societies. Intergenerational mobility refers to long-term social processes.

Intragenerational social mobility involves a change in the status of the individual himself during his life. The position of his parents is not affected. This process is also called a career (a specialist improves his qualifications and moves to a new, more prestigious position). Sometimes this process is accompanied by a change in the sphere of work from physical to intellectual.

Studying the structure of social mobility, researchers came to the conclusion that it is influenced by factors such as a person’s gender, age, population density, and the birth rate in a particular region. Men are also more mobile;

group - entire social groups, social layers and classes change their social position in the social structure. For example, former peasants move into the category of hired workers; miners of mines liquidated due to unprofitability become workers in other fields;
individual - an individual moves in social space in one direction or another.

In modern in a developing society, vertical movements are not group, A individual character. Certain personalities rise up capable of overcoming the pull of their sociocultural environment. This is not easy, although a worker can, in principle, rise to the rank of minister. (The experience of the USSR is particularly indicative: M. S. Gorbachev, B. N. Yeltsin, V. V. Putin).

There is hardly a society whose strata do not allow individual units into themselves. In modern society, vertical movement is possible. However this transition Always complicated! If mobility were free, then there would be no social strata in society, believed P. A. Sorokin. It would resemble a building without a ceiling or walls.

At the same time, all societies are stratified. They have a certain “sieve” that sifts individuals and allows some to rise to the top, leaving others in the lower layers. The role of the sieve perform social institutions, regulating vertical movement, and the uniqueness of the culture, way of life of each layer, testing each nominee for strength, for compliance with the norms of the stratum to which he is moving.

So, education system provides not only the primary socialization of the individual, but also fulfills the role a kind of elevator, which allows the most capable climb up.

Political parties form the political elite, the institution of property strengthens the owner class, the institution of marriage allows one to rise even in the absence intellectual abilities. However, it is not enough to rise. Necessary gain a foothold in the stratum, i.e., accept its way of life and fit in in her sociocultural Wednesday, adopt norms, principles.

This process difficult, is painful, as it requires a lot of mental stress and is often fraught nervous breakdowns. A person can forever remain an outcast where he strives or ends up by the will of fate.

If social institutions are “social elevators,” then the sociocultural shell that envelops each stratum acts as a filter that exercises a kind of control. The filter may not let through an individual striving to the top, and then the one who escapes from the bottom will be doomed to be an outcast. Having risen to a higher level, he will remain behind the door leading to the stratum itself, which is fraught with neuropsychic breakdowns.

A similar picture can arise when moving down. Having lost the right, secured by capital, to live in upper layers, a person is not capable open door to another stratum with a different socioculture and from here - conflict.

Marginality

Finding a person as if between two structures called in sociology marginality.

Marginal- is an individual lost his former social status and turned out to be incapable adapt to the new sociocultural environment.

Adaptation to new conditions is often associated with a radical restructuring of life orientations. In addition, the new social environment itself has a kind of filters that select their own and reject others. It happens that a person, having lost his sociocultural environment, cannot adapt to a new environment. Then he seems to be stuck between two social layers, between two cultures. For example, a former small entrepreneur who has become rich is trying to get into higher strata of society. He seems to be leaving his old environment, but even for the new social environment he is a stranger - “a tradesman among the nobility.” Another example: a former scientist, forced to earn a living as a cab driver or small business, is burdened by his new position; for him the new environment is alien. Often he becomes the object of ridicule and humiliation on the part of less educated, but more adapted to the conditions of his environment, “colleagues in the shop.”

Marginality is a socio-psychological concept. This is not only a certain intermediate position of the individual in the social structure, but also his own self-perception, self-awareness. If a homeless person feels comfortable in his social environment, then he is not marginalized. A marginalized person is one who believes that his current position is temporary or accidental. People who are forced to change their type of activity, profession, sociocultural environment, place of residence, etc., for example, refugees, experience their marginality especially hard.

It is necessary to distinguish marginality as component natural social mobility and forced marginality that arose in a crisis society, which becomes a tragedy for large social groups. Natural marginality is not widespread and long-term and does not pose a threat to the stable development of society. Forced mass marginality, which takes on a protracted, long-term character, indicates a crisis state of society.

Social structure (stratification) of modern Russian society

Structure Russian society XXI century has changed significantly. Instead of the Soviet three-member structure (working class, peasantry, intelligentsia), several real numerous layers of the population, new strata, appeared, primarily as a result of the economic reforms of the 1990s. During their implementation, the military-industrial complex “sank” and grew rapidly financial sector, private sector. The criterion of property and income acquired a decisive role. Formed social actors, corresponding in their professional and personal qualities to the requirements of a market economy. According to T. I. Zaslavskaya, structure of modern Russian society includes five main social layers: elite, upper, middle, base layer and social bottom (underclass). At the same time, the structure of the working population at the beginning of January 1997 in percentage terms was as follows: the share of elites was no more than 1%; upper layer— 5-6%; average - 66%; lower - 10%. The percentage of representatives of the social bottom was not determined, since this category of citizens, according to T. Zaslavskaya, should hardly be included in the working population.

Among Russian citizens there is a great desire to be no worse than others, even if there are no sufficient reasons for this. Therefore, to the question: “What social class do you consider yourself to be?”, 55% answered middle. Whereas in reality it is only 25-30%.

A feature of the social structure of a perfect Russian society is that it has a large social stratum (approximately 25-30%), whose representatives possess many of the basic characteristics of the middle class. These are doctors, teachers, university professors, lawyers, engineers and technicians, scientists and cultural figures, small entrepreneurs with sufficient social activity and those between 25 and 50 years of age. In any developed country, these social groups occupy the position of the middle class. However, in Russia for various reasons, this category of citizens has a very low material income and cannot self-realize as the middle class.

According to the Institute for Comprehensive social research, in 2008, 46.9% of Russians classified themselves as those who lost as a result of reforms and were unable to adapt to new conditions. These people can be conditionally classified as marginalized. A third of those surveyed remained with their ideas and only 6.8% considered themselves winners.

The income gap between the richest 10% of Russian citizens and the poorest 10% (decile coefficient) is approximately 30-40, i.e. the richest are 30-40 times richer than the poor. For comparison, in the USSR the decile coefficient in different periods fluctuated between 5-7. Poor Russia in 2008 ranked fourth in the world in terms of the number of dollar billionaires.

N. E. Tikhonova identifies four classes in the structure of modern Russian society, including eleven strata.

1. The poor, consisting of:

lumpen lower strata, including predominantly unskilled urban and rural workers (including pensioners who were unskilled workers before retirement), and are divided into the 1st social structure (conventionally called "beggars") and 2nd structure (actually poor);
border 3-th social structure, balancing on the poverty line and conventionally called "people in need", which in terms of living standards is closer to the lower strata than to the median class, but is not yet lumpenized.

2. Median class

including the 4th social structure (conventionally called "low-income" and being median according to the structure of Russian society in general for almost all indicators).

3. Middle layers including:

lower middle class— 5-6th strata;
actually middle class— 7-8th strata.

4. Rich, consisting of:

border 9-th strata(conventionally called "upper middle class");
upper strata, including 10th stratum(actually rich) And 11th stratum(elite and subelite).

As we see, the model of stratification (structure) of Russian society by standard of living has already formed and taken stable forms.

Within this model two lower strata(1st and 2nd) unite about 20% of Russians. These are people who, according to their real standard of living, are below the poverty line, and according to the indicators of the standard of living index, they are characterized by minus values, which clearly indicate deprivation. It is no coincidence that 61% of the group that assessed their ability to satisfy three basic needs (food, clothing and housing) as poor belonged specifically to these strata, and another quarter to 3rd stratum, which unites Russians teetering on the brink of poverty, and then sliding over this line, then slightly rising above it. There are 14% of them today. Unfortunately, a new class of poor people has formed in Russia, sliding into the underclass (lumpen and marginalized), but the worst thing is that young people from this class have no chance of moving beyond the lower class.

Fourth social structure corresponds to the level poverty. It is this standard of living is also the median(middle), and modal(i.e. the most typical) in today's Russia, as its representatives themselves feel. Among them, the assessment of their social status as satisfactory dominates (2006 - 73%), while the rest are almost equally divided into those who assess it as good and bad. The standard of living of this most massive stratum of Russian society, uniting a quarter of all Russians, he also sets consumption standard, which is perceived by Russians as the minimum acceptable living wage, forcing you to live end to end. In the process of the majority of Russians sliding from low-income to poverty in the next 5-10 years, the median class will be divided into a more prosperous part, which will join the lower middle class, and a less prosperous part (pensioners, low-skilled workers), which will join the lower class.

Social structures from 5th to 8th- This middle layers, whose well-being has significant differences among themselves, but which in any case can be considered as relatively prosperous against the all-Russian background ( 35% of Russian society).

9-10th strata unite those who, from the point of view of the overwhelming majority of Russians, can be considered rich. Their distinctive feature is the feeling of being masters of one’s own life. There are 5-7% of them.

Numerically, these classes of society are presented in it as follows (Table 1):

To the above-presented European structure, descending into Russian reality, it is necessary to add some social layers: engineering and technical workers, humanitarian intelligentsia, military personnel, prisoners, refugees, etc.

Structure of the middle class of Russian society (2006)

Defining the main layers of modern Russian society, to middle layers we carried lower middle class, covering the 5th and 6th strata and actually middle class— 7-8th strata (12% of society). It is his standard of living that is perceived by the majority of the Russian population as a certain average standard normal life. At the same time, there has been a tendency for the 5th stratum of the lower middle class to slide towards the median class (4th social structure) and the movement of a third of the representatives of the 6th stratum upward to the 7th stratum. The gap between the 6th and 7th social structures will narrow, and the 6th social structure will join the 7th. Due to which the middle class will be approximately 15% of the population.

Sociological research in 2006 showed that all three pieces of property (apartment, car, dacha) are owned by 10% of representatives of the 5th stratum, 23% of the 6th stratum and 30% of the 7th stratum. There are no criteria for 4% of the 5th stratum and 1% for the 6th. A similar picture is observed in other aspects of life (promotion, education, income, starting your own business, etc.). Even more convincing are the differences in the standard of living of representatives of the lower middle class (5th and 6th strata) and the middle class itself (7th and 8th strata). The latter were more active, enterprising, wealthy, achieved more in life: they purchased expensive goods, used paid educational and medical services, and were optimistic about the future of their children.

In the struggle to increase incomes, the middle classes are increasingly concentrated in the public sector (58% of their representatives), given that work in the public sector provides much greater degree social security, while providing the opportunity to receive relatively high incomes for Russia. This allows us to state that representatives of the middle classes occupy the most attractive production positions today. Among them, the share of government workers is increasing, and the share of agricultural workers is falling.

It is worth adding to this that representatives of the middle classes were better able to “earn” additional income by working part-time or retraining if necessary. They more actively improved their financial situation, using bank loans and other financial transactions, economic rationality, which allows them to plan their resources and receive maximum dividends from their own activity. Being, as it were, at the junction fundamentally different classes poor and rich, the middle classes perform an important integrating function in the structure of society.

Thus, about a third of Russians are either below the poverty line, or on this line with the risk of a final slide into poverty at the slightest deterioration in the macroeconomic situation or some family problems. About a quarter are in poverty. Approximately a third of the population can, although with some degree of convention, be considered Russian analogue of the middle class. And finally top 5-7% are those whom Russians themselves consider rich.

Moreover, the level material security representatives of different strata most often corresponds to other indicators of their social status: the amount of power, level of education and qualifications, characteristics of production positions, prestige, worldview, lifestyle, social circle.

Let us summarize the results obtained when considering middle classes in the structure of Russian society. First, in terms of their economic status, both middle classes differ from lower classes in that they have a certain economic resource(in the form of property or various kinds of savings and investments), as well as enough funds for the emergence of stylistic differences in consumption on a mass scale. Moreover, starting from these classes, the trend of degradation of their property and personal potential, which characterizes the situation of other classes, ceases to be recorded. IN unlike the poor and middle class, they managed to take advantage of those new opportunities, which provided the transition to market economy. Moreover, the features of the strategies they use to improve their financial situation, as well as the features of their economic consciousness and behavior in general, are qualitatively different from the situation in the two lower classes and give reason to assume that these differences will grow quite quickly.

However, at the same time lower middle and middle classes differ markedly How volume available to them economic resources , and the possibilities of style spending. Moreover, the dynamics of their well-being differ among them. These differences are especially evident in the situation in the lower middle class, where, despite the similarity in many parameters of the current situation in its constituent strata, the 5th and 6th strata, differences in trends in changes in their position are recorded between them. This allows us to assume not so much a rapprochement between the lower middle and middle classes in the future, but a further deepening of the differences between the various layers of the lower middle class, as a result of which, apparently, the 6th social structure will largely become part of the middle class itself, which will expand with favorable developments, up to approximately 15% of the population. The rest will join the lower middle class, which will also expand, incorporating part of the representatives of the 6th stratum, the 5th stratum and part of the median class.

In general, it must be said that when working with data characterizing the life of various strata in the structure of Russian society, identified on the “poverty-wealth” scale, one cannot help but be amazed at the energy with which people resist extremely unfavorable circumstances for them, that without exaggeration titanic struggle for life and the right to the future, which year after year lead tens of millions of our fellow citizens. They lead in the most difficult conditions, sometimes with the last of their strength, but still resisting the threat of finding themselves in a pool of deeper and deeper poverty and degradation. And it is no coincidence that the fear of worsening their financial situation turns out to be the main fear not only of the lower, but also of the middle classes - the point here is not the impossibility in this case of buying an extra thing or going to the cinema one more time. The problem is much deeper. Apparently, even the relatively prosperous citizens of our country feel, although perhaps not always realize, which is beyond some very close line for the vast majority of them begins then at first it is smooth, and then everything accelerates sliding into the abyss of poverty and misery, from which it is almost impossible to escape.

Taking into account the analysis and other materials, the above allows us to draw the following conclusions:

1. By 2000, in Russia mainly formed qualitatively new, extremely polarized socially -class structure with poles as bourgeoisie, on the one hand, and semi-declassified hired workers - on the other hand, at very thin and unstable middle class, which would be more accurately called the middle social stratum.

2. Deepest, which has no analogue in modern industrial countries the stratification of society according to property wealth has taken on a character. Mostly destroyed and turned into scattered fragments of private charity and departmental relief government system social protection of Russians, that created all the prerequisites for the lumpenization of the country's population.

3. Polarization is not limited to social, mass and property sections of society, but in a number of directions has passed through the system of relations: authorities - masses, power structures Center - regional power structures, city - village, ethnic group - ethnic groups,” etc. Stratification also takes place within the bourgeois class(national bourgeoisie - comprador bourgeoisie), employees(in connection with one form of ownership or another) and, moreover, splits society into a law-abiding part and a rapidly growing criminality; on the relatively prosperous, with housing and work, and on the rapidly multiplying socially disadvantaged. Because of this, the antagonism of Russian society has taken on a character and is fraught with either its explosive or creeping-quiet disorganization.

Estates are groups formed in society, endowed with rights and responsibilities prescribed by law and passed on by inheritance. The class structure of society implies that a person depends on his belonging to a particular class. This dependence involves a certain range of responsibilities, communication, norms of behavior and even clothing. In this case, a transition in the vertical direction is impossible: a person is born and dies in the same rank, which belongs to his ancestors. The same title is passed on to future generations.

General concept

The class structure of society in Russia began to take shape in the 16th century. The process occurred in parallel with the concentration of land around Moscow.

You should also pay attention to what type of society the class structure of society is inherent in. The type of the latter refers to traditional ones, that is, those that are based on traditional values. It is in such a society that stable groups of people or classes are formed.

The class structure of society included privileged classes and dependent classes. The first of these should include servicemen and the clergy. All the rest were dependent.

Let us take a closer look at what classes existed in former times, and how they differed from each other.

Service people

Servants meant everyone who served the state. They were divided into two groups:

Those who served “in the fatherland” - their service was inherited.
Servicemen “according to the instrument” - all free people could fall into this category.

The class of servicemen “in the homeland” had many gradations within. It was divided into:

Duma ranks. These are boyars, okolnichy and Duma nobles.
Moscow ranks. These are sleeping bags, centurions, attorneys, tenants, Moscow nobles.
The ranks were service elective nobles, as well as boyar children.

The Duma ranks made up the Boyar Duma. Moscow ranks were called “close people,” their names indicated the duties of their owners. The sleepers undress the king, the stewards serve the royal feasts, the solicitors hold the scepter, the residents go with parcels. Moscow nobles received estates under Ivan the Terrible, they were obliged to carry out the royal orders.

The ranks of service policemen are the provincial nobility. Elected nobles carried a difficult military service. were also engaged in public service.

Any free person could fall into the “regular service” category. These included the archers. A special unit consisted of gunners and fighters. Reitars, dragoons, and border Cossacks also belonged to this class. Servicemen "according to the order" were provided with land ownership, however, on a collective basis.

Clergy

The clergy class was divided into black (monasticism) and white (its representatives could have a family). The entire class numbered approximately a million people.

The Russian Church became autocephalous, that is, independent from others. Its first patriarch was Job. His choice belonged to the church council, but in reality the candidacy was determined by the tsar.

In the 17th century in Russian Orthodox Church there were 12 bishops. Bishops were chosen by lot. They had their own courtyards, servants, archers. Bishops paid rent, the amount of which was determined by the wealth of the parish. The Novgorod diocese was considered the most prosperous at that time.

During the described time period, there were about 500 monasteries in Rus'. Some of them were famous for their miraculous icons and ascetics. These include Trinity-Sergiev, Chudov, Sergiev, Novodevichy. They often played a political role, turning into centers of resistance to foreign invaders. Thanks to large land holdings, many monasteries became economic centers.

If we consider the class structure of society in the 17th century, the following groups stood out among the white clergy:

Deacons. They were low-ranking priests.
Priests are ministers of higher-ranking churches.
Archpriests. They were the abbots of the temples. In our time they correspond to archpriests.

So, we looked at the privileged groups of people in the class structure of society. The traditional society of that time also included a dependent population.

Posad people

Speaking about the class structure of Russian society, we should name a group of townspeople. This category was divided as follows:

Moscow townsman ranks - guests, hundreds, black settlements;
Posad policemen are the best, average and young people.

The first group was the merchant elite. This group included various merchants, to whom the king granted the title of "guest". These people had various privileges; they could freely travel outside the Moscow state and acquire estates. But in addition to privileges, there were also responsibilities. Guests were supposed to be kissers, appraisers, and purchase materials for government needs.

The townspeople paid the “sovereign tax” and many other taxes, called taxes. And the population itself was called tax. It was divided into black hundreds and white settlements. The first included simple townspeople engaged in crafts, trade, and crafts.

And they settled in cities, their occupations were the same as those of the Black Hundreds, but they were feudal-dependent on their owner, who was paid taxes. The townspeople staged serious unrest because of their difficult situation, so in 1649 the white settlements were liquidated.

Based on their property, the townspeople were divided into the best, the middle and the youngest.

District people are taxing

on the black sowing people, who had personal freedom, based their farms on state land, which they could pass on by inheritance, lived in communities and paid huge taxes;
proprietary or feudal-dependent.

Among historians, there are two theories about the enslavement of peasants. The first, the decree, says that enslavement began after the decree of Fyodor Ioannovich. The undecided theory claims that there was no such decree, and the process of enslaving the peasants occurred gradually due to debt bondage. Supporters of both theories are still arguing; no consensus has emerged on this issue.

Serfs

for reporting slaves - they usually served as key holders, that is, managers of feudal farms;
combat - performed military service;
enslaved people, who went from free people to service;
backyard - they lived “outside the yard” of the landowner, worked on his land, received food from him;
business people - they ran independent households.

Gradually, serfdom and peasants merged, turning into one class group.

Walking people

This is the most diverse category of people in the class structure of society. They were also called free. This group went beyond class boundaries, and people from any stratum could fall into it. The walking people did not have their own plots. Some of them went to work for taxing people. Such workers were called neighbors, sub-neighbors, backbenchers. Others had neither specific occupation nor place of residence. The state fought against this category of the population, since free people took part in riots.

So, we examined the class social structure of society in Russia in the 17th century and characterized all the classes existing at that time.

Grade 10

1 - option.

TYPE OF COMPANY	CHARACTERISTIC
...	Mass production of to-va-ditch, auto-ma-ti-za-tion and specialization of production.
Informational	Development and mass use of computer technologies.

1) technical progress; 2) social progress; 3) social reform; 4) Neolithic revolution; 5) modernization.

3. Below is a list of terms. All of them, with the exception of two, are social sciences.

1) sociology; 2) economics; 3) political science; 4) ethnography; 5) cultural studies;

6) literary criticism.

Find two terms that “fall out” from the general series and write down the numbers under which they are indicated in your answer.

4. Choose the correct judgments about society and its types and write down the numbers under which they are indicated.

1) Society is the totality of all forms of association and ways of interaction between people, in which their interdependence is expressed.

2) The main factor of production in an industrial society is land.

3) All spheres of public life and social institutions are subject to change.

4) The systemic nature of society is manifested in the presence of social communities and groups connected by social relations.

5) Society is a closed system that does not interact with the external environment.

CHARACTERISTIC

GLOBAL PROBLEMS

A) gradual depletion of oil and metal reserves;

B) intensification of the activities of extremist groups (taking hostages, preparing and carrying out explosions in crowded places);

IN) fast growth population in Asia, Africa and Latin America;

D) increasing the gap in the level of gross national income per capita between groups of countries;

D) an increase in diseases caused by waste from hazardous industries.

1) the threat of global terrorism

2) the threat of an environmental crisis

3) the “North-South” problem

6. The student is working on the re-fe-ra-t “Society of tra-di-tsi-on-type”. What special features of societies from the list below can he consider in his work? (For-write those numbers, under which these special-ben-no-sti indications are indicated).

4) So-ci-al-naya structure-tu-ra with-words-but-cor-po-ra-tiv-na, sta-bil-na.

5) Pre-ob-la-da-et ex-ten-siv-naya technology.

7. Read the text below, in which a number of words are missing.

Select from the list provided the words that need to be inserted in place of the gaps.

“___________ (A) modern scientists call the process of formation of a single humanity. Happening active development of the world economy and the world system ___________(B), common ideas about the optimal socio-political structure are being introduced, ___________(B) is spreading. Globalization is a ___________(D) process that has both positive and Negative influence on the development of modern humanity. On the one hand, the formation of ___________(E) society is taking place, on the other hand, economic disagreements between Western countries and the countries of the “third world” are intensifying, and the problem of ___________(E) is worsening.”

The words in the list are given in the nominative case. Each word can only be used once. Choose one word after another, mentally filling in each gap. Please note that there are more words in the list than you will need to fill in the blanks.

List of terms:

1) dialogue of cultures 2) division of labor 3) society

4) globalization 5) controversial6) mass culture

7) Agriculture 8) informational 9) computer

In the social system, processes occur continuously that can lead to the emergence of both the introduction of new elements and the disappearance of previously existing elements and relations. We are talking about pro-ble-me so-ci-al-nyh from-me-not-niy.

There are two main forms of social change: evolution and revolution. Equal-weight model of so-ci-al-nyh phenomena of evolution. Even sociologist G. Spencer defined evolution as a gradual process of the emergence of increasingly complex social new forms.

Un-equal-weight model of so-ci-al-nyh from-me-not-you-stu-pa-et re-vo-lu-tion. So-ci-al-naya re-vo-lu-tion is such a way of transition to a new quality, with which so-ci-al The -sy-ste-ma finds itself in an unsustainable situation: it proceeds de-sta-bi-li-for- tion, na-ru-sha-et-sya balance of social forces.<...>

Social progress follows, in no way, as one of the forms of development of society, based on such non-developments. these-of-me-not-yahs in it, as a result of some implementations, a transition to a higher mu level of ma-te-ri-al-no-go blah-so-sto-ya-nii and spiritual development of personality.

Progress can be applied both to the system as a whole and to its individual elements. From-no-she-nie to the result-ta-there of so-ci-al-no-go progress in science is not one-size-fits-all. Some scientists believe that hopes for limitless progress were not justified, that social we and pro-ti-vo-re-chi-you, their types and rates are different. It is possible that there will be a stagnant, backward development of society, a movement in a circle. However, “progress” is still used in the characterization of social nope.

To determine the level of progress of a particular society, two criteria were used -ria: the level of production of labor and the degree of individual freedom in society. The more progressive the society, the higher the level of these criteria. In modern social science, both of these criteria are believed to be with me in connection with the - cancer of labor (labor is becoming more and more int-tel-lek-tu-al-nym, which means it is more difficult to quantify accounting) and complicating the so-ci-al-no-go of human-ve-de-niya (fe-no-men of “escape from freedom” , discovered by E. Frommom). In the scientific dis-cuss-si-yah about the “price of pro-gress-sa”, step-by-step-pen-but-on-the-chi-na-it is highlighted and approved three -tiy kri-te-riy - level of morality in society. As you can see, this kri-tery is destined, having developed and taken shape, to become an integral kri-tery, from the most important trends in social relations.

(A. B. Bez-bo-ro-doe, V. P. Fi-la-tov, etc.)

8. Na-zo-vi-te dis-smat-ri-va-e-my a-to-ra-mi forms of so-ci-al-nyh from-me-ne-niy and pri-ve-di-those one by one any ha-rak-te-ri-sti-ke each of them.

9. Using the contents of the text, we explain why the scientists’ attitude towards the concept of “progress” is not one thing. Please provide three explanations.

10. Pro-il-lu-stri-ruy-te-me-ra-mi any three mentioned in the text properties of so-ci-al-no-go progress. For each property, add one example.

11. Relying on the content of the text and knowledge of the society's educational course, with three confirmations the fact that the level of morality is an integral cri-te-ri-em of progress.

Test on the topic: “Society”.

Grade 10

Option 2.

1. Write down the word listed in the table.

IS-TO-RI-CHE-SKY TYPES OF SOCIETIES

TYPE OF COMPANY	HA-RAK-TE-R FEATURES OF PRODUCTION
...	Pre-ob-la-yes ag-rar-production, rural communities play a significant role
In-du-stri-al-noe	Society from-whether you are at the highest level of so-ci-al-noy di-na-mi-ki, pre-about-la-da-yut in-di- vi-du-a-li-sti-che-prices

2. Find a concept that is generalizing for all other concepts in the series below, and write down the number under which it is indicated.

1) reform, 2) revolution, 3) social dynamics, 4) evolution, 5) social regression.

3. Below is a list of terms. All of them, with the exception of two, are associated with the word “progress”.

1) social reform; 2) mod-der-ni-za-tion; 3) stagnation; 4) increase in life expectancy; 5) determination of the level of production; 6) growth in the level of welfare in the village.

Find two terms, “you-pa-da-yu-shih” from the general row, and write back the numbers under which they are indicated to us.

4. You make true judgments about society and write down the numbers under which they are indicated.

1) Society is a part of nature.

2) Pri-ro-da completely determines the development of society.

3) Modern society has a co-word structure.

4) The totality of all the peoples inhabiting our planet constitutes a society.

5) Society can be called a certain stage in the historical development of mankind.

5. Establish a correspondence between examples of manifestation and characteristics of global problems: for each position given in the first column, select the corresponding position from the second column.

CHARACTERISTIC

GLOBAL PROBLEMS

A) Large-scale, necessary migration from developing countries to developed ones.

B) Global climate change.

C) High level of concentration of mass poverty and poverty in countries

Tro-pi-che-skoy Af-ri-ki.

D) Reduction of the bi-o-division of the Earth.

D) Limited availability of natural resources for coal raw materials.

1) eco-lo-gi-che-skie pro-ble-we

2) pro-ble-ma “North-South”

3) energy-ge-ti-che-skaya pro-ble-ma

6 .The student is working on the re-fe-ra-t “Are the distinctive features of an in-du-stri-al-no-go society.” What special features of societies from the list below can he consider in his work? (For-write those numbers, under which these special-ben-no-sti indications are indicated.)

1) Eco-no-mi-ka ha-rak-te-ri-zu-et-sya state-dominated agriculture and pri-mi-tiv-no-go re-mes -la.

2) In the political sphere, the church and the army dominate.

3) The economic base of society is industry.

4) So-ci-al-naya struk-tu-ra is with-words cor-po-ra-tiv-noy, stabil-noy.

5) Pre-ob-la-da-et in-ten-siv-naya technology.

6) In society, law and law rule.

7. About the text below, which contains a number of words. You-take-those words from the pre-la-ga-e-my list that cannot be inserted in place of the blanks.

“Social progress is one of the forms of ______(A) society, associated with the transition to a higher level development of ma-te-ri-al-noy and spiritual culture.

Progress, as a matter of fact, can be applied both to ____(B) as a whole and to its individual elements. From-no-she-nie research-to-va-te-lei to ________(B) so-ci-al-no-go pro-gress-sa is not-one-meaning. In a number of cases, there is a stagnant, backward development of society. You can also talk about ________ (G), movement in a circle.

To determine the level of progress of a particular society, trade-di-tsi-on-but used two____(D) : the level of production of labor and the degree of individual freedom in society. Modern science is advancing another one - the level of __________ (E) in society.”

The words in the list are given in nominative pas-de-zhe. Each word (word) can be used only once.

You-bi-rai-te-follow-to-va-tel-but one word after another, thought-len-but-for-filling-every miss-pass. Pay attention to the fact that there are more words in the list than you need to fill in the blanks.

Spi-juk ter-mi-nov:

1) result 2) modern society 3) change

4) morality 5) cyclical personality 6) revolution

7) so-ci-al-naya si-ste-ma 8) po-li-ti-ka 9) kri-te-riy

The self-development of society and individuals has a certain vector, which is associated with the concepts of progress and regression.

In the history of philosophy, these concepts were most often assessed from polar positions. A number of thinkers were convinced of the existence of progress in society and saw its criterion in the growth of science and reason, in the improvement of morals. Others emphasized the subjective aspects of progress, linking it with the growth of ideals of truth and justice. An opinion has been expressed regarding the falsity of the very idea of progress...

Many associated progress mainly with spiritual factors in the development of society, the growth of faith in every person, the humanization of interhuman relations, and the strengthening of the position of goodness and beauty in the world.

Accordingly, regression arose as a movement in the opposite direction, as the triumph of evil and injustice, the disunity of people and their subordination to some kind of anti-human force.

In ancient times, changes in society were understood as a simple sequence of events or as degradation in comparison with the past “golden age”. In Christianity, for the first time, the idea of the ahistorical goal of society and man, of “a new heaven and a new earth” appears. In the Marxist concept, social progress was associated with the steady development of the productive forces of society, the growth of labor productivity, and liberation from the oppression of natural forces social development and exploitation of man by man. The ultimate goal and criterion of progress was the evolution of man as a harmoniously developed personality. Regression was interpreted by Marxism as a movement of society in the opposite direction, the cause of which is reactionary socio-political forces.

In the 20th century With the emergence of global problems of mankind and increasing instability in the world as a whole, the criteria for social progress begin to change. The concept of progress of society and history is increasingly associated with the development of the physical and spiritual characteristics of the person himself. Thus, criteria such as the level of maternal and child mortality, indicators of physical and mental health, a sense of satisfaction with life, etc. are proposed as integral characteristics of the progressive development of society and people. No type of progress (in economic, socio-political and other spheres of society) can be considered leading if it does not affect the lives of every person on the planet. On the other hand, the share of responsibility of each person for everything that happens in society, for the movement of history in the desired direction, sharply increases.

(V. Kokhanovsky)

8. Has there been a unity of views among thinkers on the criteria of social progress in the history of philosophy? Explain your answer based on the text. What two factors, according to the author, influenced the change in the criteria for progress in the modern world?

9. What three criteria, according to the author, can act as integral characteristics of the progressive development of society in our time? Based on your knowledge of the course and the facts of social life, indicate any criterion not mentioned in the text.

10. The author names such criteria of progress as the growth of science, the growth of labor productivity, and liberation from the exploitation of man by man. Illustrate each of these criteria with an example.

11. The author connects progress with various areas life of society. Do you think there is progress in the spiritual and moral sphere? Formulate your point of view and provide three arguments to support it.

KEY to the test on the topic: “Society”.

Grade 10

№ tasks	1 - option	Option 2
1	industrial	traditional (agrarian)
2	2	3
3	56	35
4	134	45
5	21332	21213
6	1245	356
7	426581	371594
	The correct answer must contain the following elements: 1) forms of social: evolution and revolution lucia; 2) brief ha-rak-te-ri-sti-ki of each form, For example: — evolution: “a gradual process of the emergence of more complex forms”; — re-vo-lu-tion: “une-equal-weight-model of co-tsi-al-nyh from-me-ne-niy”, co-pro-leader-y-y-y-sya de-sta-bi-li-behind the qi-ey so-qi-al-noy system. There may be other ha-rak-te-ri-sti-ki.	1) answer to the first question: A number of thinkers were convinced of the existence of progress in society and saw its criterion in the growth of science and reason, in the improvement of morals. Others emphasized the subjective aspects of progress, linking it with the growth of the ideals of truth and justice.; 2) the answer to the second question: factors that influenced the change in the criteria of progress: the emergence of global problems of humanity; growing instability in the world as a whole.
	There may be the following explanations: 1) hopes for limitless progress did not materialize; 2) social-measures are complex and pro-ti-vo-re-chi-you; 3) types and rates of social differences; 4) possibly stagnant, backward development of society and movement in a circle; 5) the criteria of progress are not one-size-fits-all.	The correct answer may include the following elements: 1) Three integral characteristics of the progressive development of society: - the level of maternal and child mortality; - indicators of physical and mental health; - feeling of satisfaction with life. (Reasons may be indicated in other, similar formulations.) 2) your own criterion, for example: morality (humanistic criterion). Another reason may be given
	The correct answer must be keptproperties of so-ci-al-no-go pro-gress And corresponding examples, to-pu-stim: 1) transition to a higher level of development (for example, from ag-rar-no-go to in-du-stri-al-no- mu-society); 2) applied both to the whole society and to its individual elements (for example, the action of the peasants before-pri-ni-ma-te-ley in the post-no-che-Russia of the 18th century); 3) pro-ti-vo-re-chi-vost result-zul-ta-tov (one of the results-zul-ta-tov pro-ry-va in the field of nuclear physics was creation of an atomic bomb); 4) not the same pace and types of different elements of the system (for example, in Russia on-cha-la XX century eco-no-mi-ka cities actively developed, pro-is-ho-di-la mo-no-li-za-tion, and the village remained in the lu-fe-o-far-noy)	The correct answer must contain the following elements: 1) the growth of science (before the invention of the computer, calculations were carried out mainly by hand); 2) growth in labor productivity (modern industrial technologies make it possible to produce more units of output with less use of worker labor); 3) liberation from exploitation of man by man (Russia abolished serfdom in 1861).
	There may be, for example, such confirmation: 1) morality “very-lo-ve-chi-va-et” of a person, reveals his spiritual ten-tsi-al; 2) in the moral you are the most fully manifested person; 3) only a person with a high moral culture can give technical progress a gu-ma-ni- sti-che-sky ha-rak-ter, mi-ni-mi-zi-ro-vat raz-ru-shi-tel-nye for human re-zul-ta-you tech-ni- wtf	1) My own point of view: Progress in the spiritual sphere is happening. The following arguments can be given: - progress in the spiritual sphere is manifested in the rejection of harsh customs (the custom of blood feud); - progress in the spiritual sphere is manifested in the spread of secondary education for all; - progress in the spiritual sphere is manifested in the accessibility of scientific knowledge to the general public. Other explanations may be given. Arguments can also be given to justify the opposite position: progress in the spiritual sphere does not occur.

In the previous topic, society was considered as a system. However, each system is not only a collection of elements, but also a certain way of their interaction and organization. Such certain order connections between system elements got the name structures. Elements of social structure can be social statuses, roles, groups and communities. However, any social structure is characterized primarily inequality positions occupied by its elements.

Social structure is one of the most important aspects of sociological theory and is considered as the main theoretical and methodological basis in the study of society, its functioning, development and decay. Without knowledge of the social structure, it is impossible to understand either society, its development, or the position of a particular person in society.

To describe and analyze the system of inequality in a particular society, today the concept of “social structure” is widely used in sociology. If the “structure of society” includes components that sometimes do not include people, then the concept of “social structure” means precisely the system of social stratification of society into hierarchically ranked groups with unequal statuses. Social structure speaks not simply of the different positions of individuals and groups in society, but rather of their unequal position relative to each other. Consequently, the concept of social structure focuses on the identification of hierarchically formed groups. Thus, SOCIAL STRUCTURE– This is a set of social groups and strata located in a vertical order with an unequal distribution of social benefits and the results of social labor. The most important distinctive feature of social structure is that it is identical to systemic (emergent) properties complex its constituent elements, but not at all to the properties of its individual elements.

Any social structure has several common features , the most significant of which are as follows:

1) in the process of social structuring, people are differentiated into higher and lower layers, strata, classes;

2) stratification divides people into a privileged minority (the nobility, the rich) and a majority disadvantaged in some way (the poor, those without access to power, etc.);

3) social inequality leads to the emergence of a desire among the lower and disadvantaged strata to advance into wealthier, more privileged strata, which inevitably gives rise not only to careerism, but also to social contradictions and conflicts.

Since the way inequality is organized and its criteria (foundations) can be different, it is necessary to highlight in history and analyze the various types of social structure encountered in the course of social development. Type of social structure – this is the historically determined nature of the organization of social stratification and the way it is established and reproduced in their unity . The English sociologist E. Giddens identifies five main types of social structure: slave, caste, estate, class and modern (stratification).

Each type of social structure presupposes its own special way of determining and reproducing social inequality. In reality, any given society consists of one or another combination various types social structures and many transitional forms. Now we will try to analyze the types of social structure as ideal types, i.e. V pure form, outside of specific historical specifics.

There are five main types in total.

I. Slavery (slave structure) – this is a system of social stratification based on direct violence and ownership of man by man .

Signs slave structure:

· inequality is determined by two interrelated criteria: a) the presence of civil rights and b) the right of ownership of a person;

· the lower layer (slaves) is deprived of all rights, including the right to be human: a slave is a “talking instrument”;

· slave status could be inherited (but not necessarily);

· high level polarization of the population: the entire social structure was reduced practically to the confrontation between slaves and slave owners;

· unstable and confrontational nature of the social structure;

· exclusively non-economic, i.e. military and legal coercion to work; That's why

· extremely low labor productivity. The slave is completely devoid of positive incentives to work and works only under pressure, and from here -

· There is practically no technical progress.

Types of slavery:

1. patriarchal slavery - characteristic of societies at the pre-state stage of development, is of a family nature;

2. traditional (ancient) slavery - due to conquest;

3. servility in Kievan Rus is debt, bonded slavery;

4. plantation slavery (existed in the southern United States until the Civil War of 1861 - 1865) - based on race.

II. Caste structure – This a system of social stratification based on ethno-tribal differences, which were consolidated by the division of labor and supported religious rituals and group cultural and moral norms .

Each caste is a maximally closed (endogamous) group with a clearly localized place in the social hierarchy. This place appeared as a result of the isolation of functions in the system of division of labor and was hereditarily assigned to all representatives of a given tribe or ethnic group.

Signs of caste structure:

ü isolation of castes, their absolute closedness: a person is almost completely deprived of the opportunity to move from one caste to another;

ü caste status is lifelong and hereditary, it is inherited;

ü social career only within one’s caste;

ü strict regulation of the behavior of any person by caste norms.

There were castes in India and Africa. The clan system characteristic of the states of Central Asia is very reminiscent of the caste structure, only there was not such a strict connection between profession and ethno-tribal division. In India there were 4 main castes: Brahmans, Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (merchants) and Shudras (artisans and peasants), as well as more than 5 thousand minor castes.

In 1950, the caste system in India was abolished by law. But in reality it exists today – in the village where 70% of the country’s population lives.

III. Class structure – This a system of social stratification in which social groups are distinguished by legally established benefits and privileges associated with their rights and responsibilities to the state.

This type of social structure dominated in Western Europe from the 4th to the 15th centuries, and in Russia from the 18th century. to 1917. Let's say, the upper class - the nobles did not pay taxes and carried out public service, and the peasants bore the "tax", i.e. taxes and duties.

Signs of class structure:

ü class status was for life and was inherited;

ü class status did not depend on property, nationality, profession, or even income;

ü inequality of social status was expressed through benefits and privileges, which were secured legally;

ü privileges and the entire system of social inequality directly depended on the state, on the position of the individual in the state, in the structure of power;

ü rigid barriers between classes, therefore social mobility (career) is mainly within classes, because each class included many ranks and levels;

ü transition from class to class was, in principle, possible, but extremely rare and individually - for special services to the state;

ü Inter-class marriages were allowed.

IV. Class structure – is a system of social stratification in which social groups differ in the nature and extent of ownership of the means of production and the product produced, as well as in the level of income received and personal material well-being.

It was not K. Marx and F. Engels who first identified classes, but the French bourgeois historians F. Guizot and A. Thierry. Marxism made this concept central to its social theory. However, neither K. Marx nor F. Engels has a clear definition of this category. In their interpretation, economic, political and philosophical aspects were often intertwined. As follows from the context of K. Marx’s works, he considered the most important feature of a class to be its place in the system public relations, in social production, and called the exploitation of one class by another an essential manifestation of class relations.

Signs of class structure:

ü unlike other types of social inequality, class membership is not regulated by power and religion, is not established by law and is not inherited ( property and capital are transferred, and not the status itself);

ü class status is not assigned, but achieved;

ü social division is predominantly economic in nature;

ü belonging to a certain class is objective and does not depend on the opinions and assessments of people, including self-assessments;

ü citizens are free in political and legal relations.

Note : what caste, estate and class social structures have in common is that assignment to a certain social stratum (social positioning) was accompanied by more or less strict social regulation of the activities and behavior of people in a given society.

Advantages of class analysis:

1. class analysis is objective in nature, it is largely free from subjectivity and bias;

2. the class approach is intended to analyze the social structure of society as a whole, because it allows us to study the most general and significant aspects of social relations;

3. The class approach allows us to identify general, strategic trends in social stratification and social processes.

Disadvantages and weaknesses of the class approach:

1. the class approach is too general and abstract for a strictly scientific and systematic study of the entire set of social relations;

2. simplification of the social structure: the class approach actually reduces it to two levels - the class of owners and the class of the poor. Of course, such a division exists in reality, but it does not exhaust the entire variety of social connections and relationships;

3. The Marxist approach confuses the division into classes (in general) and the division into classes of exploiters and exploited, because it introduces “exploitation” among the class-forming characteristics (See: Lenin V.I.). But it is not always and not everywhere that inter-class relations can be reduced to exploitation;

4. The class approach focuses all efforts on studying the structure of social class positions - to the detriment of the analysis of the distribution of individuals across these positions. The study of social mobility with a class approach fades into the background;

5. the class approach actually ignores other really existing grounds (criteria) of social division and inequality;

6. due to its abstraction and simplicity, the class approach is poorly suited for studying and explaining many specific political events and processes: wars, rebellions, unrest, changes of dynasties and coups d'état.

To solve all these problems social analysis, M. Weber expanded the number of criteria that determine membership in a particular social group. To designate a complex system of social inequality, Weber introduces the concept of “social stratification.” Later P.A. Sorokin significantly refined and systematized the theory of social stratification. And today this approach is the main one when analyzing the social structure of modern society.

V. Social stratification – This a system of social hierarchical stratification of social groups based on property, power and prestige .

Social stratification does not just mean different position in society of individual individuals and groups, but it is precisely the unequal position relative to each other that makes it possible to distinguish hierarchically formed groups, i.e. higher and lower strata. Moreover, if classes are distinguished by their relation to the means of production and by methods of access to social benefits, then strata are distinguished by the social distribution of the results of labor - social benefits.

Signs of social stratification structure:

ü This is a multidimensional system, based on several heterogeneous signs of social differentiation. There are actually 5 criteria used here:

1. income level;

2. attitude towards property;

3. social prestige;

4. level of qualifications and education;

5. attitude to power;

ü the stratification criteria combine objective factors (income level, property) and subjective-evaluative factors - prestige ;

Among all the bases for stratification, social prestige plays a key role. This is determined by two circumstances: a) the integral nature of this criterion; b) the most important role in social life is played by normative and value regulation. Therefore, only those people whose status corresponds to mass ideas about social significance rise to the upper levels of the social ladder;

ü stratification status is not hereditary and hereditary, it is not fixed for life;

ü stratification status (as well as class status) is not assigned, but achieved;

ü strata are not closed social groups;

ü stratification status does not depend on national-ethnic, religious and demographic affiliation;

ü in the stratification system, inequality between statuses can be measured quantitatively:

1. income measured in monetary units of a given society, which an individual (or family) receives for a certain period of time, most often a year;

2. qualifications and education measured by the number of years of study at school, university, various courses, etc.;

4. power measured by the number of people affected by the decision you make.

Social stratification arises not only under the influence of property relations, but also as a result of the social division of labor, the nature of the functions performed and the uneven distribution of social rewards and incentives, the prevailing system of values and cultural standards in society that determine the significance of a particular activity and legitimize social inequality. This point of view was most deeply developed in the functional theory created in the early 40s. XX century American sociologists T. Parsons, R. Merton, D. Davis, W. Moore and others.

Social stratification is the result not only of objective social inequality, social differentiation, but also of social assessment. Moreover, the very mechanism of this assessment is connected with the prevailing system of values and cultural standards in society. Based on the historically established system of value ideas in society and assessment of the significance of the functions performed by individuals, various social groups are ranked according to social prestige. Prestige – This the assessment that society gives to status or position . Prestige is, as it were, built into social position, into status: by occupying it, the individual along with it receives the prestige corresponding to this status.

In society, social stratification acts as a special way of redistributing social energy and cultural capital and performs the most important functions of organizing and coordinating various types of social activities and human interaction. Thanks to all this, the stratification structure serves as a powerful adaptive mechanism that helps society successfully adapt to dynamically changing conditions (external and internal) at each new stage of development. At the same time, this structure itself has certain prerequisites and patterns of its internal transformation, which must be taken into account in the course of sociological analysis.