The connection of Conflict and Functional Theory One of the main reasons Weber has been important is that many sociologists felt that he provided ways of integrating functional and conflict theory. Today we shall 1. Look at his religious analysis of Protestantism, which has often been interpreted functionally. 2. Anticipate Feagin by looking at racism some more. 3. Look at a feedback representation of some of the dynamics.

The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism Became the focus of the functionalist interpretation of Weber. seen as “outflanking Marx” by showing the essential role of religious values in generating capitalism. and therefore implying that the interpretation of basic norms and values is the basis of any adequate analysis of social structures.

The popular (vulgar) Protestant Ethic thesis: Protestantism arose prior to capitalism. It motivated people to accumulate capital more effectively than Catholicism by the search for signs of salvation, to ally salvation anxiety resulting from the idea that “There is nothing whatever you can do about it.”

Somewhat more sophisticated (and accurate) Though those arguments appear in Weber they are combined with others. One set is in his book-length essay on “The Protestant Sects” 1. Sect structures exert more controls. 2. Predestination can justify poverty. 3. And class membership in the sects was capitalist

Weber’s Religious sociology But his 5,000 pp., multi-volume study of world religions actual stressed the role of “inner- worldly asceticism on the general process rationalization. Extension of corporate, bureaucratic structures into law, the economy, etc. always runs into powerful resistance of kinship and tradition. Religious structures can play a powerful role in breaking down that resistance. But only if they close off two main ways that religion can fail to change the world:

Two aspects of all religious ethics A mystic tries to be the container of a sacred feeling; the ascetic tries to systematically carry out God’s instructions. Mysticism can accommodate to the world. A worldly (or inner-worldly) religion is concerned with action in worldly structures (family, jobs, politics). An other-worldly religion call people to abandon those structures for God. Inner-worldly asceticism is most effective at breaking down premodern elements of kinship and law.

Weber’s typology of World Religions The different world religions had different amounts of inner-worldly asceticism. Christianity had more; Protestantism had most. Inner- worldly Other- worldly AsceticChistianityIndia MysticChina

Limitations of Weber’s Interpretive sociology Culture always reinforces and is reinforced by social structure in many ways. Weber’s actual studies recognized this. The amount of causal impact is hard to judge, and it may be more useful to integrate functional and conflict theory in terms of feedbacks.

Feedbacks: the 21 st c. sociology (according to Knapp) “What goes around comes around.” As the effects of any change proliferate, logically, they must have one of three consequences: 1) they ultimately reinforce the original change: positive feedback. 2) they ultimately undermine the original change: negative feedback. 3) they have inconsistent effects.

Positive feedbacks (review) Positive feedbacks generate an amplifying, self- reinforcing dynamic. Because they are self-reinforcing, they create alienated dynamics that tend to “take on a life of their own.” Such systems are often unstable or chaotic. Structures of inequality, such as the marginalization of Native Americans or the game of Monopoly, illustrate such dynamics.

Negative feedbacks (control systems) Negative feedback results when a change produces consequences that reduce the original change. Such systems are often called “homeostatic” For example, in the body, and increase in temperature, blood sugar, arousal, etc. triggers processes that tend to restore the original level.

The classic example: a thermostat A thermostat operates to cut off the furnace when the temperature rises. Thus a rise in temperature triggers a process that causes a fall in the temperature, and a fall in the temperature triggers a process that causes a rise. temperature + Cut off of furnace -

A sociological example: norms Durkheim argued that norms are maintained by the response to their violation. Negative sanctions (punishment) of those who violate norms, reinforces the norms for everyone else.

A representation of Negative feedback: Norm violation Negative sanctions + --

Social systems as control systems Talcott Parsons argued that all social behavior is guided by norms and values. Thus the social system is a self-maintaining control system. He called this analysis of social structures as performing functions guided by norms “structural functionalism” It was dominant in US sociology from 1945 to 1965.

Problems of the analysis of feedback systems Where there are no feedbacks, it is possible to estimate the causal influence of one variable on another by seeing how closely they are associated. Feedbacks require a different and more difficult analysis. There are many forms of systems theory, and many of them are not empirical. Parsons analysis was usually not empirical.

Advantages Nevertheless, many of the most important dynamic processes in sociology involve feedbacks. In general, conflict theories are based on positive feedback systems Functionalists stress negative feedback systems. Empirical analysis of such systems is one of the main tasks of 21st c sociology.

An example: An American Dilemma (1944) Gunnar Myrdal had developed various economic feedback models in the 1930’s. His massive and influential analysis of US race relations, An American Dilemma, was based on the concept of “cumulative causation” or positive feedbacks. He developed the analysis in the 1950’s and 60’s to deal with Third World development, And in 1978 he received the Nobel Prize.

1st Positive feedback: the vicious cycle of minority deprivation He argued that low income, low wealth, poor health, low educational attainment, high unemployment, family disorganization, high crime rate, and political marginalization were mutually reinforcing. The advantages of an advantaged group cumulate, and the disadvantages of a disadvantaged group cumulate.

2nd Positive feedback: racism and minority deprivation Myrdal also argued that the poverty, unemployment, crime or other disadvantages of a disadvantaged group tend to generate or reinforce stereotyping, prejudice, segregation and political marginalization by the majority group. And conversely, they are reinforced by them Minority deprivation leads to racism. Racism leads to minority deprivation

A Representation of these positive feedbacks

Consequences of Positive feedbacks Myrdal argued that the cumulative consequences of these feedbacks was a cascade that appeared “natural” but that was socially produced, highly unstable, and amenable to social policy in the long run.

Negative feedback in An American Dilemma Myrdal argued that the main control system was the value system he called “the American Creed.” It calls for all persons and groups to have equal opportunity, equal treatment by the law, and equal life chances. The operation of cumulative causation violates the American Creed, generating pressure for reforms.

“Positive” and “negative” Warning: the evaluation of the consequences of a feedback is different from the nature of the feedback. The consequences of positive feedbacks are often negative. The consequences of negative feedbacks are often positive.

Joe Feagin We will pursue these ideas in terms of Feagin’s talk Come to the talk (CEER 7:00 PM 2/18) And come and chat with him 2/19 in the sociology conference room.