Stratification Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Stratification Systems - Essay Example Perhaps his ideas originated from his family background, where a blend of politics and academics created the right environment for a sociologist of his stature to develop. Studying law at the university further enabled the polishing of the ideas held about the society, despite having developed impressive historical and social views at a very tender age, which almost put him in trouble with his teachers. Weber had personal experience with conflict at the domestic level when his family problems exposed him to taking sides with his mother in disputes (Kerbo, 6). Concept of conflict among upper and lower classes took the dimension of the motivation, which he thought depended on factors such as power, prestige, as well as the ownership of property and wealth. The level of access of class and status is dependent on the transferability of the factor that accords the class and status, for instance prestige. Weber held that it would be possible for prestige to gain property if the parties involved in both classes were willing to exchange their possession. The position that wealthy people often wield power in the society may also translate into prestige involved, making it easy for such persons to rise to political power. In view of bureaucracies and their origin, Weber identifies the authority of the state as the only legitimate party to apply force and violence in carrying out its roles. His observation of the rational source of legal power wielded by the state explains the acceptance of government in the modern world (Kerbo, 15). Rising population numbers in human civilization and the need to control the monetary concept of living among the people eventually led to bureaucratic organization, taking care of administration needs of the socie ty. To generate this argument, Weber identifies three types of authority or dominations namely, charismatic, traditional and legal. From the legal coining of power by the state,