Mainstream Traditions Of Social Stratification Theory (Marx, Weber and Pareto) (An Old and Rare Book)

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Designed as a critical examination of the mainstream traditions of social stratification theory, this book propounds the theme that theoretical traditions of social stratification have their origin almost exclusively in the writings of Marx and Engels, Max Weber and Mosca Pareto School, and that despite many useful insights into, and observations upon, the structures of inequality offered by other classical theorists before them, no tradition could be established. The modern social stratification theorists have shown remarkable affinity with the mono-dimensional tradition of Marx and Engels, multi-dimensional tradition of Max Weber, and particularistic tradition of Pareto. This work provides the reader with a detailed exposition of the theories of these three major figures and acquaints him with the modern development.

Beginning with a discussion of the main theoretical orientations of social stratification, this study compares and contrasts the life, socio-cultural milieu, and intellectual itinerary of the three forerunners of social stratification theory-Marx Weber, and Pareto. This book, then, considers the social stratification theories of three men whose work is regarded as the more formal foundation of social stratification theory. In doing so, the examination of the fields development continues with the contributions of those who followed them. This leads the reader to the concluding and most important theme of this study-the debate with Marxian thought and how it shaped the theoretical traditions of social stratification.

Dr. Rajendra Pandey (b. 1937) is Assistant Professor of Sociology in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. Before switching over to IIT Kanpur, he was lecturer in Sociology in the Gorakhpur University. He obtained his Doctorate in Sociology from Banaras Hindu University. Rural analysis, sociology of education, sociology of development, social stratification and sociological theory are the principal areas of his interest. His research papers have been published in various sociology and social work journals in India and abstracted in Sociological Abstract, a publication of International Sociological Association, San Diego, USA.

Besides Sociology of Development and Sociology of Underdevelopment (published by Mittal Publications), Dr. Pandey has more than half dozen outstanding book to his credit. Currently he is 'representing India on Comite Aspirations: Besoins Development Association-Internationale de sociologie, Centre Ethnologie Sociale at de Psycholocinologic, a Montrouqe, France.

The idea of this book arose mainly from my long-standing interest in the diverse ways in which social stratification has been conceived and analysed. It was inspired more immediately by my earlier book, Social Inequality. Features, Forms and Functions, where I could not do justice in the elaboration of the mainstream traditions of social stratification theory. This volume, like the one that preceded it, is an attempt in the same direction but here attention is focussed on the three mainstream traditions of stratification theory propounded by Marx, Weber and Pareto.

Despite the growing refinements in stratification theory and methods, modern stratification theorists have shown a remark- able affinity with the tradition established by Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Vilfredo Pareto and used the conceptual kits provided by them. Although the works of all the three were of a fairly narrow circle, they had deep impact over the generation to follow. Without doubt, today's stratification theory has its roots almost exclusively in their writings. Needless to say, much before Marx, Weber, and Pareto the classical theorists offered significant insights into, and comments on, the structure and forms of social inequality, restrictions imposed by it and ways for their alleviation. But they failed to bequeath us a corpus of ideas worthy to create a theoretical tradition That is not to say that there were shortcomings in the thinking of classical thinkers but to say that whatever rich contributions and sociological imaginings are there, they still await intellectual attention to extract a helpful framework.

**Contents and Sample Pages**