I' Concepts for Class Analysis cond'

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• I. Concepts for Class Analysis (cond.)
• Discussion of Risky Business film clip
• Weapons of the Weak (Scott)
• II. Two Perspectives on the Salience of Class
• Are Social Classes Dying? (Clark Lipset)
• Race and Class (Navarro)

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What can we learn about the dynamics of class
relations from James Scotts analysis of a
Malaysian peasant village?

• What does he say about class domination and
  class resistance?

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• What are everyday forms of resistance?
• What are weapons of the weak?

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• Weapons of the weak
• Is this a useful concept for analyzing class or
  race relations in the US?
• Can you think of examples?

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Clark and Lipset, Are Social Classes Dying? In
their article they argue...

• new forms of stratification are emerging
• social class is becoming less salient in
  peoples lives
• the concept is becoming outmoded

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What kind of evidence is cited to support their
position? Do you agree or disagree with their
argument?
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An Important Qualification Class remains salient
in sociologists theories and commentaries. We
do not suggest it be altogether abandoned but
complemented by other factors. (Clark and
Lipset, p. 45) A Lively Debate The edited book
includes vigorous rebuttals to Clarks and
Lipsets view, as well as supporting pieces.
Class matters....the question is how much. The
MicroCase exercise, How Does Class Matter?, is
designed to explore this question.
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Vincente Navarro, Class and Race Life and Death
Situations Questions for Discussion 1. What does
Navarro mean when he says that the concept of
class is treated as Un-American in the U.S.?
What does he mean when he calls it the invisible
category.?
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2. How does this affect the collection of
national statistics and the setting of national
goals and priorities?
3. Whats wrong with this in the health care
area, according to Navarro?
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4. How does Navarro explain the fact that the
United States is the only advanced capitalist
society without universal health care? How does
he explain the steady reduction of health care
benefits in the U.S.? 5. What is Navarros
general point about race and class as explanatory
concepts?