Social stratification and inequality : class conflict in historical, comparative, and global perspective

Harold Kerbo continues to provide a comprehensive, up-to-date exploration of the economic and social divisions in human societies. While the book is grounded in the nature of social stratification in the United States, this edition maintains a commitment to keeping a global perspective. Extensive comparative information, as well as an overview of how, historically, social stratification has changed and evolved, gives readers a global perspective on class conflict. Praised for its thorough research and scholarship, Social Stratification and Inequality includes current statistics and the latest trends in the field.

PART ONE: INTRODUCTION Chapter 1: Perspectives and Concepts in the Study of Social Stratification MichaelDavidDefinitions and ConceptsSocial Stratification and InequalityClass Divisions and Social MobilitySocial Stratification in the Modern World SystemThe Organization of ChaptersSummaryChapter 2: Dimensions of Inequality in the United States Income and Wealth InequalityIncome InequalityWealth InequalityInequality in Basic NecessitiesHealth InequalitiesUnequal Political OutputsTaxesGovernment ServicesDimensions of Inequality: A ConclusionSummaryNoteChapter 3: Social Stratification in Human Societies: The History of InequalityVarieties of Human Stratification SystemsPrimitive Communal SocietiesSlaveryCasteEstateClassThe Emergence of Inequality and Social StratificationEarly Human GroupsThe Neolithic RevolutionEarly Agrarian EmpiresLate Agrarian SocietiesThe Fall of Feudalism and the Rise of Industrial SocietiesThe Reduction of Inequality with Industrial and Post-Industrial SocietiesConclusion: The History of InequalitySummaryNotesPART TWO: EXPLANATIONS OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION: STRATIFICATION THEORIES Chapter 4: Social Stratification Theory: Early Statements Competing Paradigms in the Study of Social StratificationThe Marxian Heritage in Social Stratification: The Development of a Critical-Conflict ParadigmOn Understanding MarxBasic Foundations of Marxian TheoryConcluding NotesMax Weber: An Alternative Conflict ParadigmWeber's Paradigm AssumptionsMultidimensional View of StratificationThe Rise of Bureaucratic DominanceAn Uncritical-Order Paradigm Matures: The Functional Theory of Emile DurkheimThe Division of Labor and Organic SolidarityThe Place of Class and Class Conflict in Durkheim's PerspectiveThe Classical Period of Sociological Theory: A SummarySummaryNotesChapter 5: Modern Theories of Social Stratification Views of Social Stratification in America: Early YearsFunctional Theories of Social StratificationThe Davis and Moore TheoryParsons' Functional Theory of Social StratificationStudies of Occupational PrestigeConflict Theories of Social StratificationModern Marxian TheoryPower Conflict TheoriesModern World System TheoryThe Bases of Class Stratification and Class LocationOccupational StructureThe Convergence of Occupation, Power, and Property on Class StratificationA Note on SociobiologyTheories of Social Stratification: A ConclusionSummaryNotesPART THREE: THE AMERICAN CLASS STRUCTUREChapter 6: The Upper Class Locating the Upper ClassUpper-Class Dominance Today?The Upper Class as a Governing ClassUpper-Class Economic PowerUpper-Class Political PowerThe Upper-Class: A ConclusionSummaryNotesChapter 7: The Corporate ClassThe Upper Class as Ruling Class: A Critique The Structure of Corporate Concentration: Foundation for a Corporate ClassCorporate Size and ConcentrationConcentration of Stock ControlInterlocking Directorates and Economic ConcentrationThe Globalization of Corporate PowerThe Inner Group of the Corporate ClassThe Concentration of Economic and Political Power: So What?Functional Elite TheoryCritical Elite TheoryThe Pluralist ResponseThe Corporate Class: ConclusionSummaryChapter 8: The Middle and Working Classes The Middle and Working Classes in the System of Social StratificationThe Middle Class and Working Class: Recent Historical ChangesThe New Middle Class Stability and Change in the Working ClassThe Changing Occupation Structure: The Shrinking MiddleSome Consequences of Class PositionIncome Distribution by ClassConditions of WorkClass Subcultures and LifestylesMiddle-Class and Working-Class Positions in the Structures of Economic and Political PowerLabor UnionsMiddle-Class and Working-Class Political InfluenceSummaryChapter 9: Poverty and the Political Economy of WelfareA Brief History of Poverty in AmericaCounting the PoorThe Extent of Poverty in the United StatesChanges in the Rate of PovertyMovement Into and Out of PovertyThe Distribution of PovertyThe New Poverty After the Economic BoomTheories of PovertyBlaming the PoorFour Categories of Poverty TheoriesBlaming the Poor: Social DarwinismA Culture of Poverty?The Situational View of PovertyA Structural View of PovertyClass Conflict and the Welfare State Welfare in the United StatesA Cross-National Perspective on WelfareThe Welfare State as Conflict Management and the Lower Class in the Power StructureClass Conflict and the Welfare State: A ConclusionSummaryChapter 10: Gender Stratification and Inequalities:The Persistence of AscriptionSex and GenderGender InequalitiesGender and WorkLabor Force Participation and Income Inequalities by GenderOccupational Segregation and IncomePolitical AuthorityEducational Attainment and GenderGender Inequality in Global PerspectiveLabor Force Participation and Occupational DistributionWomen in the Global FactoryGender and Education in Global PerspectiveWomen and PoliticsA History of Gender StratificationTheories of Gender StratificationStructural Functional TheoriesConflict TheoriesClass Effects on Gender Income InequalityChapter 11: Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity:The Persistence of AscriptionRace and Ethnicity: Some DefinitionsThe Inequalities of Race and EthnicityRace and Ethnic Income InequalitiesEducational InequalitiesA History of Race and Ethnic StratificationRace and Ethnic Inequalities in American HistoryGlobal Immigration:A Comparative View of the New Dimensions of Global Race and Ethnic ConflictsTheoretical Explanations of Race and Ethnic InequalitiesClass Effects on Race and Ethnic Income InequalitySummaryPART FOUR: THE PROCESS OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATIONChapter 12: Social Mobility: Class Ascription and AchievementSocial MobilitySocial Mobility in the United StatesSocial Mobility: Historical and ComparativeSocial Mobility: A ConclusionThe Attainment ProcessStatus Attainment ModelsEducation as Mediating StructureThe Conflict perspective: A Critique and Reinterpretation of Status Attainment ResearchThe Conflict View of Attainment: A ConclusionSummaryChapter 13: The Process of LegitimationThe Microprocess of LegitimationNorms of Distributive JusticeThe Socialization Process and Self-EvaluationThe Effects of Individualism and Equality of OpportunityThe Basis of Legitimation: A SummaryThe Macroprocess of Legitimation: Building Support for Specific Forms of InequalityThe Legitimation Function of EducationThe Legitimation Function of the Mass MediaOpinion-Influencing OrganizationsThe Macro Legitimation ProcessSummaryPART FIVE: SOCIAL STRATIFICATION BEYOND THE UNITED STATESChapter 14: The World Stratification System:Dominance and Competition Among Core NationsCharacteristics of the World Stratification SystemDevelopment of the Modern World SystemA Brief History of Core Conflict and HegemonyAmerican Inequality and the Future of Core ConflictCapitalist Models and Core Competition in the 21st CenturyThe Global Corporate ClassSummaryChapter 15: Social Stratification in JapanRanking in Japan: Some Introductory ObservationsA History of Social Stratification in JapanOccupation Reforms and the Rise of Modern JapanThe Structural Bases of Social Stratification in JapanOccupational StructureBureaucratic Authority StructuresProperty StructureJapan's Power EliteThe Bureaucratic EliteThe Political EliteJapanese Elite UnityMass SocietyAchievement and Ascription in Modern JapanRace, Ethnic, and Sex Discrimination in JapanSocial Mobility and Status Attainment in JapanInequality and Status Ranking in JapanClass, Status, and Power in JapanIncome Inequality in Japan: Some CausesCore Competition in the 21st Century: Whither JapanSummaryNotesChapter 16: Social Stratification in GermanyA Brief History of the German Political EconomyThe Rise of NationalismPostwar ReconstructionReduced InequalitySocial Stratification in Germany: Some Basic Similarities, and a Few DifferencesStructures of Social Stratification: Occupation, Authority, and PropertySocial Mobility and Status AttainmentEducation and ClassGender InequalitiesRace and Ethnic ConflictsPovertyCorporate and Bureaucratic ElitesGerman Corporate StructureThe Bureaucratic and Political EliteElite UnityGerman Workers and Codetermination LawsA History of German Labor LawsLabor Power and the Benefits of the Codetermination LawsConclusionSummaryNotesChapter 17: World Stratification and Globalization: The Poor of This EarthThe Extent of World PovertyPoverty in World RegionsThe World System and Economic Development in Periphery Nations:Why Some of the World's Poor Remain PoorBarriers to Economic Development and Poverty ReductionGlobal Corporations Can Do Harm:Some EvidenceMethodological ConsiderationsWorld System Effects on Noncore Stratification SystemsThe Characteristics of East and Southeast Asian Nations: The Exceptions behind the Asian Economic MiraclesAsian Traditions and Forms of Social Organization:Some CommonalitiesThe Case of ThailandThe World Class Stratification System:A Conclusion and Perspective on the FutureSummary