Lecture Notes

As I indicated in my previous post (Apr. 11), I was considering posting some lecture notes in order to catch up a bit. So, here are some lecture notes on Chapters 9 & 10. You should either print these out or copy them and insert them in your class notebook.

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On Thursday (4/10) I began talking about Vilfredo Pareto who the authors describe as the quintessential theorist of political cynicism, inspired by his fellow countryman, Machiavelli. But before he became a cynic, however, he was a cautious liberal who believed in progress. The passage I quoted in class from the bottom of p. 231 - 232 expressed an optimism that is absent in his later work.

2. But during his final 25 years he increasingly became, in his view, "a nonideological realist" about politics in society.

3. His concept of the "Circulation of Elites" reflects this (which can be compared to Michels' "Iron Law of Oligarchy") -- the basic idea being that society will always be governed by some sort of elite, whether it be in the context of a so-called democracy, or socialism, or whatever type of system. See especially p. 230, much of which I planned to quote in class.

(a) It is a harsh view, a realistic one (Pareto regarded himself as the only REAL social theorist), but a view which leaves no room for the possibility of change or substantial improvement. (The authors note how Pareto rejected Durkheim's quest for a new morality based on scientific principles as hopelessly naive.) See p. 236 (2nd to last paragraph)

4. Regarding gender, Pareto comes across as being to the right of Rush Limbaugh (and his criticism of feminists as "femi-nazis"). The authors suggest some personal experiences may have contributed to his misogynst views. He regarded women as naturally fickle and promiscuous, incapable of scientific thinking, etc., etc....

C. Robert Michels (1876-1936): his views of politics and society were not quite as hard-edged as Pareto's, but he clearly embraced a more realistic view and was not that hopeful about change.

1. His so-called "Iron Law of Oligarchy" (oligarchy meaning rule by a few) may come as close as anything to a sociological LAW. See bottom p. 238

(a) And note how this clearly applies to Marxist revolutions -- the state would never be abolished or "wither away." See mid p. 239.

(b) Michels was also sensitive to the difficulty of enlisting the support of the masses in overthrowing capitalism -- as long as there appeared some hope or opportunity for at least some members of the proletariat to rise to the top.

(c) In fact, Michels recognized that rather than demeaning, alienating work giving rise to radicalism, it is more likely to breed apathy among the workers.


Chapter 10 Economic Sociological Theories: Veblen and Schumpeter

A. Although both these thinkers had interesting insights into the nature of capitalist society, we are going to focus on Veblen as the better-known and more influential figure (being a major influence on C. Wright Mills) and gloss over Schumpeter, in part because I am not that familiar with his work, and I believe it could be characterized as more strictly economic rather than sociological.

B. The chapter opens, appropriately I believe, with a song from "Fiddler on the Roof" -- "If I were a rich man...." -- a song which especially illustrates some concepts in Veblen.

C. Biographically, Veblen was born and raised on the farm in the Midwest (Wis. & Minn.), but he clearly "broke the mold," becoming quite an intellectual, one with a critical, even sarcastic bent. (As we've seen before, the authors indulge in a little pop psychology, suggesting that Veblen's marginality and struggles obtaining and keeping an academic appointment fed his criticism of America and higher education. Perhaps, but to what extent is pure speculation, and suggesting such a connection tends to diminish the strength of his arguments.)


That's all for now, so on Tuesday (4/15) we'll pick up at this point in Chapter 10. And remember, after Chapter 10, we'll skip ahead to Chapter 13 in the text. Also, don't forget the extra credit opportunity I described in the previous post (4/11).