...Evaluate Ulrich Beck’s social theory of risk society with reference to globalization and cosmopolitarianism Ulrich Beck’s thesis on ‘risk society’ has created a foundation for many sociological debates on the social theory of late modern society and its endemic production of potential risk. Beck’s thesis speaks about the condition of modern times which has been acknowledged by many writers to provide theoretical and rigorous critique of late modern society degradation, his idea speaks to both social theorists and environmentalists and at once echoes an explanation to help explain the growing ecological awareness and concern. Unlike previous social theorist in the likes of Durkheim, and Marx- those who attempted to understand the broader forces of society by examining the different junctures for its collapse, political capture, economic recessions and radical transformations, Becks is most fascinated by the success of modernity and how the changes has transformed all mannerism of human thinking, from the ways we communicate, to our social activities. Therefore to understand Beck’s thesis is to understand the nature of industrial modernity and its mysteries over nature. According to Beck, modernity is a world that introduces global risk which previous generations have not had to face. Placing the answer to the fact that modern societies have failed to control the risk they have created e.g ecological crises, global warming, health issues. (AIDS). In addition, Becks also distinguishes...
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...* One effect of this rapid social change is to make life less predictable Individualism thesis * Giddens and Beck: * Argue that class gender and family are losing importance * Traditional roles prevented choice in life courses * Post modern society – no longer any fixed roles to follow – ‘disembedded’ from traditional family life * Beck (1992): ‘do it yourself biography’ * Giddens (1992) greater choice and equality 1. Contraception-sex and intimacy-replaced reproduction as reason for relationships 2. Women are independent – greater opportunities and feminism * Basis of marriage and family has changed, external factors no longer keep people together * ‘the pure relationship’ * no longer based on laws norms values or tradition – relationships now based on choice * exists to satisfy each partners needs * same sex partners: Siddens idea that s/s couples are able to redefine the family * the negotiated family: * Ulrich Beck (1992) * Beck argues we now live in a ‘risk society’ – people more choice * Nuclear patriarchal family undermined. As a result of two reason: greater equality and greater individualism - Therefore, there is a new type of family * Beck and Beck-Oernshiem (1995) – negotiated family = people negotiate roles * The zombie family: * The family is now dead * Beck sees the family as no longer able to provide security. It...
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...Family Diversity New Right- views * Like functionalists the New Right hols the view that there is only one correct normal family type. Is the traditional or conventional patriarchal nuclear family. * They see lone-parent families, as both unnatural and harmful, especially to children. They argue that lone mothers cannot discipline their children properly, they are a burden on the welfare state and they leave boys without an adult male role model, resulting in higher rates threatening social stability. * They disappear of mother going out to work because they believe women should make caring for their family their first priority. * New Right oppose many of the recent trends in family life on economic and political grounds. As conservatives, they are strongly opposed to high levels of taxation and government spending. Increase in numbers of lone-parent families had led to more spending on welfare benefits. As this has to be paid for out of public funds, places a bigger tax burden on working population. Feminist Ann Oakley (1997) argues that the New Right wrongly assumes that husbands and wives’ roles are fixed by biology. Oakley believes that the New Right view of the family is a negative reaction against the feminist campaign for women’s equality. * Feminist argues that traditional nuclear family favoured by the New Right is based on the patriarchal oppression of women and is a fundamental cause of gender, inequality. Financially. dependent on men, and...
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...differences in security and risk. Joshua Williams POL192 Perspectives on Security and Terrorism Murdoch University Semester 1, 2014 Utilizing the concepts of risk and security, critically explain the similarities and differences between terrorist strategies and tactics on one hand, and counter-terrorism measures, on the other, since 2001. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States marked a turning point in the understanding of terrorism within the international society (Beck 2002, 39). Although the motives behind terrorism and counter-terrorism are opposite, their effects in terms of security and risk are similar. The similarities and differences between these two activities will be discussed in terms of risk and security within the international society. Central to the issues of security and risk, is the concept of an international society. An international society ‘exists when a group of states, conscious of certain common interests and common values, form a society in the sense that they conceive themselves to be bound by a common set of rules in their relations with one anther, and share in the working of common institutions’ (Bull and Watson 1984, 1). These rules, norms and institutions which make up international society is the central focus of security and risk when discussing terrorism and...
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...Explain how theories of masculinity have transformed the sociology of the family? Finbarr Lawton, University College Cork, Department of Sociology. Student Number: 111310236, Module title/code: Sociology of Family, SC2026, Module Coordinator: Linda Connolly Submission Date: 14/1/13 Throughout my essay I will attempt to look at different theories of masculinity and try to show how these theories have transformed the sociology of family in recent decades. I will start by looking at the sociology of family, giving a brief insight into the main theory’s and how it helps us to understand what the sociology of family is essentially about. Following on from this I will look at masculinity giving the main ideas of it and how it has changed and shifted roles in past decades. Before going into detail about masculinity and how it has changed by looking at theories of fatherhood, work, and unemployment and Hegemonic masculinity. Finally I will finish by looking at the main advantages and disadvantages of this change in masculinity in recent decades looking also at how it has changed the sociology of family. When looking at the sociology of family we see that it is an extremely broad field of study and can really be split into four main theories of which to look at the sociology of family, these being: 1. “Functionalist theory: Looks at the essential tasks provided by the family e.g. Socialisation: Regulation of sexual activity. Social placement: Material and emotional...
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...Society has now entered a new postmodern age and we need new theories to understand it, assess this view (33 marks) Most meta-narrative theories such as Functionalism and Marxism can be described as 'modernist' theories in that they explain the workings of 'modern society'. Modern society first emerged in Western Europe from about the late 18th century following the industrial revolution and the mass industrialisation of the western world. Modern can be distinguished from previous traditional societies in a number of ways. Firstly, the nation-state is the key political unit in modern society, we tend to think of the modern world as made up of a series of separate societies, each with its own state. In contrast to the small traditional feudal society where one had to look after themselves, modern nation states have created large administrative bureaucracies and educational, welfare and legal institutions to regulate their citizens lives. The nation state is also an important source of identity for citizens, who identify with its symbols such as the flag. Modern societies run off a capitalist economy. Capitalism brought about the industrialisation of modern society and with it the massive wealth modern nation-states now possess. However the wealth distribution within modern societies is unequal, resulting in class conflict according to the Marxist theology. The nation-state is important in regulating capitalism resulting in something Lash and Urry call 'organised...
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...neo-conventional family and finally the rapoports have identified five different types of diversity. The post-modernist include life course analyse, family practices and include sociologists such as Giddens, Beck, Stacey and Weeks. Postmodernism rejects the structural views of society and believe individuals have more choice in their relationships and family practices. The functionalist view on society as fixed and predictable structure. They see the nuclear family as the best family type and helping to maintain structure by preforming vital functions. Talcott Parsons believes there is a ‘functional fit’ with the nuclear family and society, and Parsons sees the nuclear family as suited to meeting modern societies needs for a geographically and socially mobile workforce. He also believes the nuclear family as preforming two ‘irreducible functions’ which are the primary socialisation of children and the stabilisation of adult personalities. As a result of this in the functional view, because of the nuclear families ability to perform these functions, the functionalists see all other family types as abnormal as they are not as able to perform these functions. The new right have similar views to the functionalists but have a more conservative and anti-feminist view on society. The new right believe there is only one normal family type which is the patriarchal...
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...The Reflection on Whether Gender Influences Cultural Work Introduction The term culture industry was first put forward by Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno (1944), the philosophers of Frankfurt School. In the book Dialectic of Enlightenment (1944: 94-95), Horkheimer and Adorno argued that the mass culture in capitalist society can be treated as an ideology factory which producing the standardized cultural products, such as magazines, radios, films and so on. Under this assumption, Horkheimer and Adorno supposed that the mass society can be manipulated by these homogenous cultural goods and services, and became more docile and passive (1944: 94-95). About 20 years later, since the 1960s, the business activities and employments in cultural industries – art, music, fashion, graphic design, film, radio, television, advertising, gaming, software production and leisure – have been showing a strong trend of expansion. According to Hesmondhalgh, ‘the cultural industries have moved closer to the centre of the economic action’ (2007:1). Western governments expect that the cultural industries can become a solution of deindustrialization, in order to deal with the systemic crises (Smith, 1998; Seltzer and Bentley, 1999; DCMS 2001; DCITA, 2005). As a consequence, cultural industries arouse concerns from the academic world. However, the definition of cultural industries was still fuzzy until 2007, Mark Banks defined it as: ‘those involved in the production of ‘aesthetic’ or ‘symbolic’ goods...
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...CHAPTER 16: Globalization in a Changing World MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. How does the textbook define social change? a. the transformation of the physical world b. as an entirely positive act c. the transformation of social institutions and culture of a society over time d. a change in class status ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy REF: Page 468 OBJ: How Globalization Affects Social Change (I) NOT: Factual 2. Transformation of the social institutions and culture of a society over time is called: a. social change c. radical change b. social continuation d. evolution ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy REF: Page 468 OBJ: How Globalization Affects Social Change (I) NOT: Factual 3. Which of the following factors has NOT consistently influenced social change over time? a. the physical environment c. cultural factors b. political organization d. the invention of the automobile ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy REF: Page 468 OBJ: How Globalization Affects Social Change (I) NOT: Factual 4. Who among the following would most likely lament the movement toward globalization? a. the president of a transnational corporation b. a computer engineer c. the head of a small-town historical society d. a university dean ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy REF: Page 468 OBJ: How Globalization Affects Social Change (I) NOT: Applied 5. A collective attempt to further a common interest or to secure a common goal through action outside the sphere of established institutions is a: a. social movement...
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...The Cosmopolitan Society and its Enemies Ulrich Beck I N THIS article I want to discuss three questions: (1) What is a cosmopolitan sociology? (2) What is a cosmopolitan society? (3) Who are the enemies of cosmopolitan societies? What is a Cosmopolitan Sociology? Let me start by attempting to nail a pudding to the wall, that is, defining the key terms ‘globalization’ and ‘cosmopolitanization’. At the beginning of the 21st century the conditio humana cannot be understood nationally or locally but only globally. ‘Globalization’ is a non-linear, dialectic process in which the global and the local do not exist as cultural polarities but as combined and mutually implicating principles. These processes involve not only interconnections across boundaries, but transform the quality of the social and the political inside nation-state societies. This is what I define as ‘cosmopolitanization’: cosmopolitanization means internal globalization, globalization from within the national societies. This transforms everyday consciousness and identities significantly. Issues of global concern are becoming part of the everyday local experiences and the ‘moral life-worlds’ of the people. They introduce significant conflicts all over the world. To treat these profound ontological changes simply as myth relies on a superficial and unhistorical understanding of ‘globalization’, the misunderstandings of neoliberal globalism. The study of globalization and globality, cosmopolitanization and cosmopolitanism...
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...Family diversity is the idea that there are a range of different family types, rather than a single dominant one like the nuclear family. It is associated with the post-modernists idea that in today’s society increasing choice about relationships is creating greater family diversity. The modernist view sees society as having a fairly fixed, predictable structure. The modernists see the nuclear family as being the best as it performs certain essential functions. Talcott Parsons saw that the nuclear family as uniquely suited to meet the needs of modern society for a geographical and socially mobile work force. Also Parsons saw that the family performed two ‘irreducible functions’- the primary socialisation of the young and the stabilisation of adult personalities. These functions contribute to the overall stability and effectiveness of society. The New Right has an anti-feminist and conservative view on the family; they are firmly opposed to diversity within family life. The New Right sociologists hold the view that there is only one normal family type; this is the traditional patriarchal nuclear family consisting of a married couple and their dependent children. The New Right sees this family type as being natural based upon the fundamental biological differences between men and women. These sociologists would argue that family diversity is the cause of many social problems, such as education failure and high crime rates. The New Right believes that lone-parent families...
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...Environmental Sociology: Capitalism, Sustainability and Social Justice Paper to Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science, ‘History of Postwar Social Science’ Lecture Series Peter Dickens[1] Society and Nature: a Developing Sociological Agenda There is a paradox to environmental sociology. On the one hand it is a discipline that has often used the natural and physical sciences as its model. Auguste Comte, usually recognised as the founder of sociology, referred to the discipline as ‘social physics.’ ‘Physics envy’ continued to be a feature of sociology and other social sciences such as economics; such admiration being in part an attempt to give credibility to the new and still-emergent social sciences. Durkheim’s and Spencer’s analyses of social development from relatively simple towards more complex forms were, in part at least, modelled on a Darwinian idea of evolution in the natural world - from more ‘simple’ organisms such as amoeba to more ‘complex’ organisms such as ‘man.’ The positivist agenda for testing and developing theories were also in part also based on ideas regarding the testing of theories in the natural and physical sciences. Yet, as Dunlap and Catton (1994) have pointed out, making these new social science disciplines resulted in the disconnection of the social and its natural its ecological conditions. This disconnection may seem surprising but it is perhaps understandable if seen as these disciplines trying to form themselves...
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...Using material from Item B and elsewhere, assess the view that the process of globalisation has led to changes in both the amount of crime and the types of crime committed Globalisation refers to the increasing interconnectedness of societies so that what happens in one locality is shaped by distant events in another and vice versa. For example, the availability of illegal drugs in any UK city and the amount of crime which occurs in order to sustain people’s drug habits depends on how effectively farmers in Columbia and Bolivia can grow illegal crops such as the coca plant and also how effectively global drugs trade gangs can traffic illegal drugs into UK towns and cities. Globalisation has many causes, such as by the spread of new information and media technologies especially the internet and satellite television, mass migration, mass tourism, cheap international air travel, cheaper transportation of goods across borders, containerisation and the increase in transnational organisations that produce and market their goods and brands in a global marketplace. The expansion of free trade (meaning that companies can manufacture and sell their goods in increasing numbers of countries without trade barriers) has led to the establishment of transnational corporations. Marxists such as Taylor (1999) argue that globalisation has led to an increase in crime rates in some UK towns and cities because transnational corporations (huge companies that do business in several countries)...
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...Using material from Item B and elsewhere, assess the view that the process of globalisation has led to changes in both the amount of crime and the types of crime committed Globalisation refers to the increasing interconnectedness of societies so that what happens in one locality is shaped by distant events in another and vice versa. For example, the availability of illegal drugs in any UK city and the amount of crime which occurs in order to sustain people’s drug habits depends on how effectively farmers in Columbia and Bolivia can grow illegal crops such as the coca plant and also how effectively global drugs trade gangs can traffic illegal drugs into UK towns and cities. Globalisation is caused by the spread of new information and media technologies especially the internet and satellite tv, mass migration, mass tourism, cheap international air travel, cheaper transportation of goods across borders, containerisation and the increase in transnational organisations that produce and market their goods and brands in a global marketplace. The expansion of free trade (meaning that companies can manufacture and sell their goods in increasing numbers of countries without trade barriers) has led to the establishment of transnational corporations. There is some debate in the sociology of crime and deviance as to the extent to which globalisation has led to changes in the amount of crime and the types of crime committed. Some Marxists such as Taylor (1999) argue that globalisation...
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...Broj 2 / Književnost i kultura / Tania Lewis - The Ethical Turn in Commodity Culture: Consumption, Care and the Other Tania Lewis - The Ethical Turn in Commodity Culture: Consumption, Care and the Other In a small courty ard at the Univ ersity of Melbourne, there is an unprepossessing, somewhat makeshift looking outdoor café called KereKere. The coffee on offer is organic, Fair Trade, Rainforest alliance-branded and sustainable: a list of options we'v e increasingly come to ex pect ev en in corporate café chains such as Starbucks. But at this café, customers are also asked to decide how the profits from that sale are distributed ev ery time they buy a coffee. As customers are handed their order, they are also presented with play ing cards that allow them to choose from a list of causes where the café's profits will go. The café thus operates in the spirit of ‘kerekere', a Fijian custom in which a relativ e or neighbour can request something that is needed and it must be willingly giv en with no ex pectation of repay ment. The café's y oung ethically minded owner sees this process as fostering ‘a culture that promotes community wellbeing'. At this café, the traditional economic ex change associated with the purchase of a cup of coffee has been subtly mov ed into other territories through the introduction of questions of gift giv ing, and of responsibility , care and ev en lov e (as we see here, the café's logo is a coffee cup with a series of hearts rising from...
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