Social Stratification And Pluralism

Social Stratification has a stronger based argument in its description of contemporary Caribbean Social life than Pluralism, however can both be used to analyze aspects of all societies to varying degrees. They are not mutually exclusive, both consensus and dissensus, cohesion and conflict, are present in varying degrees in all societies (van den Berghe 1963; Lenski 1966; Williams 1966; Mitchell 1970). Pluralism, according to Furnival is where different ethnic groups in a society remain separate and distinct except for when they converge or meet in the market place. The market place lacks the distinctive characteristics required for the organic solidarity Durkheim had envisioned, instead involving brutal conflict and exploitation. The norms,

In other words, from a perspective that considers society as something like an organism, the theory argued that this organism has needs that must be met if it is to remain healthy. Among these needs is for the most important positions or jobs in the society to be staffed by the most qualified and competent people.~Social stratification is considered a mechanism that ensures that the need is met. looking at Talcott Parsons who wrote "central for the purposes of this discussion is the differential evaluation in the moral sense of individuals as units." (Parsons 1964:70), meaning that status or honor is the most important dimension of social stratification. In other words, members of society are evaluated and ranked based on how well they compare to the dominant values of the society they reside in, resulting in a social hierarchy. Parsons recognized wealth and power differences, of course, but for him these are by definition secondary. Writing of wealth, Parsons (1964:83) stated, "In spite of much opinion to the contrary, it is not a primary criterion, seen in terms of the common value system. . . . its primary significance is a symbol of