Weberian Explanations of Ethnic Inequality

Outline and assess Weberian explanations of ethnic inequality (40 marks)

Classic sociologist Max Weber was strongly influenced by Marx's ideas, but rejected the possibility of effective communism, arguing that it would require an even greater level of detrimental social control and bureaucratization than capitalist society. Weber developed the three-component theory of stratification and the concept of life chances. Weber supposed there were more class divisions than Marx suggested, taking different concepts from both functionalist and Marxist theories to create his own system. Weber claimed there are four main classes: the upper class, the white-collar workers, the petite bourgeoisie, and the manual working class. Weber's theory more closely resembles theories of modern Western class structures embraced by sociologists, although economic status does not seem to depend strictly on earnings in the way Weber envisioned.
Weberian theorists Rex and Tomlinson(1979), who argue that ethnic minority experience of both class and status inequality can lead to poverty, which is made more serve by racism. They believe that a Black underclass has been created of people who feel marginalized, alienated and frustrated. Another aspect of status inequality is that some young blacks may feel both socially excluded from the standard of living most other members of society take for granted and experience policing as harassment. These feelings may occasionally erupt in the form of inner city riots. However, there is considerable overlap between the White and Black population in terms of poverty and unemployment, although the constant threat of racism does suggest that some members of the White working class do not recognise the common economic situation they share with the Black and Asian workers. The concept of status inequality may therefore help to explain the apparent divisions between the White and ethnic minority working class and the outbreaks of racial conflict between White and Asian people in some northern towns in 2001.
Working half a century later than Marx, Weber derived many of his key concepts on social stratification by examining the social structure of Germany. Weber examined how many members of the aristocracy lacked economic wealth, yet had strong political power. He noted that, contrary to Marx's theories, stratification was based on more than ownership of capital. Many wealthy families lacked prestige and power, for example, because they were Jewish. Weber introduced three independent factors that form his theory of stratification hierarchy: class, status, and power. He treated these as separate but related sources of power, each with different effects on social action.
Status and power are in the hands of the majority-ethnic group thereby making it difficult for ethnic minority groups to compete equally for jobs, housing ect. Ethnic minorities who do manual jobs are technically part of the working class, but they do not share the same status as the White working class. This is because they are likely to face prejudice and discrimination from the White working class who see them as in competition for the same scarce resources, e.g jobs.Ethnic minorities therefore suffer from status inequality as well as class inequality. Even middle-class Asians doing professional jobs may experience status inequality in the form of prejudicial attitudes help by members of both the White middle and working class.

The post modernist perceptive such as Modood(1992) reject the Weberian and Marxist explanations that seek to generalize and offer blanket explanations for ethnic groups as whole. Post modernists argue that ethnic-minority groups in the UK are characterized by difference and diversity. They point out that the experience of racism is not the same: different groups may have different experiences. For example, police stop and search tactics focus on African-Caribbeans rather than other ethnic-minority groups. Post modernists point out that there are also different ethnic minority cultural responses to racism. However, post modernists tend to focus on culture and identity issues rather than racial inequalities. They suggest for both White and ethnic minority identities are being eroded by globalization and consumption, and so members of such groups are less likely to have their own identity shaped by membership of their ethnic group.
Webber believes that ethnic inequality is a result of status inequalities and the position help within society. Foreign workers get discriminated at work for reasons such as white working class thinking that they are in competition with foreign workers a because they are willing to work in poor conditions for little money. Although the post modern view disagrees with this because they believe that, racism is characterized by difference and diversity and not every ethnic group has the same experience with racism, end to focus on culture and identity issues rather than racial inequalities. And finally Marxists see racism within ethnic groups, as a result of the exploitation of the working class which ethnic groups often find themselves in. They believe that ethnic minorities are a back up for when the country has an economic boom but are not valuable enough to keep on when the workforce faces a recession.