UNIT 2: THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON CAPITALISM

Overview

The complex interplay of forces that propelled the industrialization process left virtually no sphere of life untouched. The "great transformation", described in Unit 1, not only involved the growth of factories. Equally important were changes in the class structure, political systems, social relationships, living conditions -- indeed, the whole fabric of society. The often rapid pace and broad sweep of industrialization prompted social theorists to seek explanations for these changes. Unit 2 explores how Marx, Weber and Durkheim, (all "founding figures" in the discipline of sociology) attempted to make sense of the many ways in which capitalism was fundamentally altering society. This Unit examines their divergent theories in order to illuminate the impact of capitalist industrialization on work. Further, we trace how the issues that captivated the classical theorists -- the division of labour, class inequalities, social conflict, bureaucracy, technology -- set the tone for contemporary research and debates. Have we advanced beyond capitalism to a "post-industrial society"? What are the implications for individual workers and for society of free trade, the microelectronics revolution, economic globalization, industrial restructuring, flexible specialization production systems, and non-standard work forms?

Unit Objectives

After completing this unit, students should be able to:

    Compare and contrast the different theoretical perspectives of Marx, Durkheim and Weber on capitalist industrialization.
    Discuss major twentieth-century theories on technology, industrialism, and the managerial revolution.
    Critically assess contrasting theoretical positions on the rise of a post-industrial society.
    Outline key emerging trends, such as new technologies, the service economy, industrial restructuring, economic globalization, and flexible employment strategies.
    Identify the major theoretical debates and public policy challenges generated by these emerging forces of late-twentieth century industrialization.

Readings (70 pages)

Krahn and Lowe, Work, Industry and Canadian Society:
Chapter 2, "Industrial capitalism, post-industrial society and social theory."

Lowe and Krahn (eds.), Work in Canada: Readings in the Sociology of Work and Industry:

Section 1: Marx, Durkheim and Weber on the Social Impact of Capitalism

Thought Questions

As you read, keep the following questions in mind:

    What were the major social concerns that prompted Marx, Weber, and Durkheim to develop their theories?
    What is the relevance of the theoretical questions posed by Marx, Weber, and Durkheim for Canada, or for other industrial societies with which you may be familiar?

Reading Assignments

Krahn and Lowe, Work, Industry and Canadian Society:

Key Concepts

To review key concepts encountered through the reading, prepare your own explanations of each of the following. Sometimes it is useful to compare related terms, as indicated.

Study Questions

When you have completed the assigned reading, test your understanding of the material by answering the following study questions.

    Explain how Marx saw social classes playing a major role in social change.
    Outline Marx's view on the major consequences of capitalist production relations for workers.
    Assess how Marx present a "conflict" perspective, while Durkheim presents a "consensus" perspective on society.
    Describe Smith's and Babbage's analysis of the main economic benefits of a specialized division of labour.
    Assess Durkheim's argument about the positive impact of a specialized occupational division of labour on society.
    Define the key features of a bureaucracy, according to Weber, and explain why he saw bureaucratic organizations as indispensable for the development of capitalism.

Practice Exercise

Look around your workplace, your community, Canadian society, or other societies you know about for any convincing evidence that can either support or refute the basic theories of Marx, Durkheim, and Weber. On the whole, which of these theories has best stood the test of time in your opinion? Try to apply your own creativity by thinking of ways in which aspects of these theories could be revised to account for contemporary capitalism and its impact on society.

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Section 2: Technology, Industrialism, and Managers

Thought Question

As you read, keep the following question in mind:

    What are the basic issues addressed in the theories outlined in this section, and how do they reflect the concerns of Marx. Weber, and Durkheim?

Reading Assignments

Krahn and Lowe, Work, Industry and Canadian Society:

Key Concepts

To review key concepts encountered through the reading, prepare your own explanations of each of the following.

Study Questions

When you have completed the assigned reading, test your understanding of the material by answering the following study questions.

    Outline how Lenski links industrial technology to the degree of inequality in society.
    Describe the "logic of industrialism" thesis's prediction of a convergence among nations.
    Assess the major weaknesses in the logic of industrialism thesis.
    Compare and contrast the emphasis that Lenski and the advocates of the logic of industrialism thesis place on education.
    Explain the basis for the managerial revolution thesis's prediction of reduced conflict in the workplace.

Practice Exercise

Education, technology, and new organizational structures are three major themes in the theories examined in this Unit. Based on your own observations and experiences, try to assess how these factors influence inequality and conflict in today's society. In drawing your own conclusions, note if there any parallels with the theories of Lenski, the logic of industrialism thesis, or the managerial revolution thesis.

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Section 3: A Post-Industrial Society?

Thought Questions

As you read, keep the following questions in mind:

    In what respects do the key social and economic changes of the past two decades indicate that Canada has entered a new "era" of capitalism?
    Which recent trends in the service economy have major implications for public policy? Why?

Reading Assignments

Krahn and Lowe, Work, Industry and Canadian Society:


    Chapter 2, "Industrial capitalism, post-industrial society and social theory," pages 41-44.

Lowe and Krahn (eds.), Work in Canada: Readings in the Sociology of Work and Industry:

Key Concepts

To review key concepts encountered through the reading, prepare your own explanations of each of the following.

Study Questions

When you have completed the assigned readings, test your understanding of the material by answering the following study questions.

    Describe a "post-industrial society".
    Explain why highly-educated workers play such an important role in a post-industrial society.
    Outline Braverman's thesis that 20th century capitalist development is linked with the degradation and deskilling of work?
    Compare and contrast the different interpretations of recent trends in work and society offered by Bell and Naisbitt, on one hand, and Braverman on the other hand.
    Describe John Myles's analysis of the main trends contributing to growing labour market polarization and income inequality.
    Assess the issues raised by John Myles's question, "what kind of service economy do we want in Canada?"

Practice Exercise

You have just been invited by the federal government to participate in a "citizen's forum" on future economic strategy. Based on the readings in this Section, what kind of government policies would you propose? What social, labour market and workplace trends form the basis for your "policy" position?

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Section 4: Canada in A High-Tech, Global Economy

Thought Questions

As you read, keep the following questions in mind:

    What are the major forces that are likely to shape the kind of work Canadians perform heading into the 21st century?
    What accounts for the differing perspectives of workers, and their unions, and management on productivity, technological change, and other issues related to economic restructuring?

Reading Assignments

Krahn and Lowe, Work, Industry and Canadian Society:

Lowe and Krahn (eds.), Work in Canada: Readings in the Sociology of Work and Industry:

Key Concepts

To review key concepts encountered through the reading, prepare your own explanations of each of the following. Sometimes it is useful to compare related terms, as indicated.

Study Questions

When you have completed the assigned readings, test your understanding of the material by answering the following study questions.

    Discuss why Canadian workers have grounds for concern over the negative impact of micro-electronics technology.
    List some of the most visible effects of industrial restructuring in Canada.
    Describe how flexible production systems improve the quality of working life.
    Illustrate the major strategies used by employers to create "flexible firms".
    Document the main reasons provided by Shirley Carr gives, in her article in Work in Canada, for unions' resistance to the concept of "productivity".
    Assess the prospects for unions - management cooperation to improve productivity by comparing the arguments presented by Shirely Carr and Thomas d'Aquino, in their articles in Work in Canada.

Practice Exercise

Choose a workplace with which you are familiar. Try to document how the issues discussed in this Section have affected this workplace. Who mainly benefited -- workers, management, or both -- from these changes? Can you think of reasons that explain this outcome?

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Section 5: The Role of the State in Economic Life

Thought Questions

As you read, keep the following questions in mind:

    What role has the Canadian state (government) played, through various policies, in industrial and labour market restructuring?
    What kinds of state policies would be required to encourage the development of good quality employment opportunities in Canada?

Reading Assignments

Krahn and Lowe, Work, Industry and Canadian Society:

Lowe and Krahn (eds.), Work in Canada: Readings in the Sociology of Work and Industry:

Key Concepts

To review key concepts encountered through the reading, prepare your own explanations of each of the following.

Study Questions

When you have completed the assigned readings, test your understanding of the material by answering the following study questions.

    Document how the role of the Canadian state in regulating employment and labour markets evolved historically. Why is the term "welfare state" appropriate for describing these developments.
    Outline some of the main changes associated with neo-conservative governments and their "free market" orientation.
    Assess the importance of the issue of "jobs" in the debate over free trade with the United States ( and now Mexico).
    Outline the Canadian Labour Congress's analysis in Work in Canada, of the impact of the FTA.
    Outline John Crispo's argument, in his article in Work in Canada, that NAFTA will ultimately benefit Canadian workers.
    Assess the need to put more effort into job-related education and training.

Practice Exercise

The impact of free trade (the FTA and NAFTA) is hotly contested. Because the FTA is relatively recent (and NAFTA , at the time of writing, has yet to be implemented) judging the effects on employment is an on-going process. In the time since the articles by the Canadian Labour Congress and John Crispo, and the section on free trade in the textbook, were written, what have been the developments in your experience? Would you conclude that, on balance, free trade with the United States has been positive or negative for Canadian workers? Base your analysis on you own observations, experiences, and any information you may have read or have handy on free trade.

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