Intro to Sociology - Test 4 Outlines and Essay Questions

Capitalism and Work

- According to a conservative like Friedman, why is capitalism superior to feudalism?

- What is the key mechanism behind the smooth operation of the capitalist system? What

hinders the operation of the capitalist system?

- According to Marx, what are the key problems with capitalism?

- What do contemporary conflict theorists regard as the key problems with the global capitalist system?

- What is meant by the term externalities?

- What does Durkheim mean by the terms mechanical and organic solidarity?

- What does Weber envision as the future of work?

- According to Weber, what are the benefits and drawbacks of increased bureaucratization and

rationalization of the workplace? What did he mean when he talked about an “iron cage of

rationality”?

- According to Marx, what happens to the workers with the advent of capitalism?

- What are the two key aspects of Taylorism?

- What kind of agreement between labor and capital characterizes the period between WWII and the mid 1970s?

- According to conflict theorists, what are the reasons for the decline in the percentage of unionized

workers over the last 30-40 years?

- According to Lardner’s article, what are the main problems faced by contemporary workers?

- Over the last 25 years, what types of jobs have become more prevalent?

- According to Hochschild, what are the negative effects of excessive emotional labor on workers?

Outline: Government & Health Care

- What are basic beliefs of pluralists about the government and political power in the U.S?

- What are the central arguments of Domhoff’s power elite theory?

- According to Domhoff, what are the 3 key institutional activities dominated by the upper

class?

- What are the main arguments of structuralists?

- What two broad types of programs characterize the U.S. welfare state? What is the difference between means-tested programs and social insurance programs?

- What are conservatives’ key criticisms of the U.S. social welfare state?

- What is meant by the term “false consciousness”?

- Approximately how many people in the U.S. currently lack health insurance?

- Approximately how much money is spent on health care in the U.S. each year?

- What are generally cited as the reasons for the high cost of health care in the U.S?

- According to Klein, what are the central flaws with the American health care system?

- According to Angell, what are the reasons for the high profit rates of drug companies?

- What is the conflict perspective on legal drug use in contemporary American society?

ESSAY QUESTIONS FOR 4TH TEST

1. Compare and contrast the views of pluralists, Domhoff (specifically his power elite theory), and structuralists on the distribution of power in American society. In your opinion, which perspective most accurately describes the U.S. political system in the year 2009? What do conservatives regard as the main problems with the social welfare state? Do you believe the U.S. government should have bailed out banks and other financial institutions? Similarly, do you think that we should be spending 800 billion dollars on the stimulus plan? Defend your answer.

2. In Angell’s view, what are the reasons for the high profit rates of pharmaceutical companies? As discussed in class, what are the reasons for the high level of overall health care costs in the U.S.? In particular, what does Klein regard as the central flaws with the American health care system? Do you believe that the United States should adopt an universal health care system? Why or why not?

3. Explain the concept of Taylorism. According to Weber, what are the benefits and drawbacks of bureaucratization? Based on your impressions and personal experiences, as well as the movie Office Space, do you think Weber accurately captures the nature of contemporary bureaucratic workplaces? According to Hochschild, what are some of the possible costs individuals face due to the performance of excessive emotional labor? Do you believe that there are any feasible solutions to this problem? In particular, do you think higher unionization rates would help workers deal with emotional labor demands in many service sector jobs? Explain.

Responsible For Following Readings:

Schaefer: Chapter 3 (pages 82-83, 88-93); Chapter 9 (pages 240-249; 252-254);

Chapter 10 (pages 272-275); Lardner (pages 1-11); Domhoff: (pps. 26-29);

Franke-Ruta: (pps. a22-23); Klein (pps. 1-5)