Social status refers to the position or rank that an individual or group holds within a society. It is a core element of social stratification, indicating one’s place in a hierarchy of honor, prestige, and esteem. Social status serves as a measure of the relative standing of individuals or groups compared to others, influencing both […]
Introduction to the Manifesto of the Communist Party The Manifesto of the Communist Party was authored by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels in late 1847 and published in February 1848. It was commissioned as the programme for the Communist League at their Second Congress held in London from November 29 to December 8, 1847. The
Jürgen Habermas (b. 1929) is a leading German critical theorist and social philosopher, often associated with the second generation of the Frankfurt School. His formative experiences in post–World War II Germany – notably the fall of Nazism and the revelations of the Holocaust – profoundly shaped his commitment to democracy. Habermas later remarked that the
Weber on religion – It is a cultural force that must be understood from believers’ own viewpoints, shaping social behavior and institutions.
Max Weber’s concept of rationality stands as a cornerstone in his sociological framework, profoundly influencing his understanding of modern society, the development of capitalism, the structure of law, and the nature of bureaucracy. His exploration of rationality is inseparably linked to the broader historical process of rationalization, which he identified as a defining characteristic of
Anthony Giddens (born 18 January 1938) is a leading British sociologist whose work has profoundly shaped contemporary social theory. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential social theorists of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Over his career, he has published roughly 40 books and hundreds of articles, addressing
Introduction Feminism is broadly understood as the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes. It encompasses a range of socio-political movements, ideologies, and theoretical frameworks all united by the goal of ending women’s subordination to men and ensuring gender equality. Feminism critiques patriarchy – social systems in which men
Introduction Gender is one of the most fundamental social divisions in human society, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and contested categories of human experience. While sex refers to the biological differences between males and females — such as chromosomal, hormonal, and anatomical distinctions — gender is a deeply social phenomenon. It encompasses
C. Wright Mills’ The Sociological Imagination, published in 1959, stands as a seminal work in sociological theory and a passionate critique of the state of social science in post-World War II America. More than just a textbook, it is a manifesto, a call to arms for sociologists to engage with the vital connections between individual
Published posthumously in 1894 by Friedrich Engels, Volume III of Capital marks a crucial evolution in Karl Marx’s critique of political economy. Whereas Volume I analyzed the production of surplus value and Volume II focused on the circulation of capital, Volume III turns its attention to the capitalist system as a totality, dealing with the
Karl Marx’s Capital Volume II: The Process of Circulation of Capital (1885), edited posthumously by Friedrich Engels, shifts focus from the production of surplus value to the realization of value through the circulation of capital. This volume examines how capital moves through its cyclical metamorphoses—money, productive, and commodity forms—while addressing the systemic contradictions that threaten capitalist reproduction. Though often
Karl Marx’s Capital: A Critique of Political Economy stands as one of the most influential and incisive analyses of capitalism ever written. Composed over decades and published in three volumes (with two edited posthumously by Friedrich Engels), the work dismantles the economic, social, and philosophical foundations of capitalist society. Marx’s aim was not merely to critique classical
Karl Marx’s Capital Volume I: The Process of Production of Capital (1867) is a monumental work that systematically dismantles the capitalist mode of production by exposing its economic foundations, social contradictions, and historical specificity. Through a dialectical materialist framework, Marx analyzes how capitalism transforms labor into a commodity, extracts surplus value from workers, and perpetuates exploitation through
Introduction In the mid‑1960s, as independent India was grappling with deep-seated agrarian inequalities and the incomplete promise of postcolonial land reforms, a radical new form of peasant mobilization emerged in a small village in North Bengal. The Naxalbari movement of 1967–71 signified not only a spontaneous reaction against exploitative agrarian practices but also a turning
Introduction A rural society or also known as agrarian society is fundamentally structured around agriculture as the principal economic activity, shaping its social, political, and cultural systems. This type of society predominantly relies on farming (crop cultivation), livestock rearing, etc., as the primary means of sustenance and economic productivity. Unlike industrial or post-industrial societies, where
Max Weber’s views on religion (Detail Here) are central to his broader analysis of society, modernity, and the development of capitalism. Unlike Karl Marx, who saw religion primarily as an instrument of social control, Weber approached religion from a sociological perspective, emphasizing its role in shaping economic behavior, culture, and social change. Weber’s most influential
Movements are collective efforts undertaken by a group of people to bring about social, economic, or political change. They emerge due to dissatisfaction with existing conditions and aim to challenge or reform systems that affect people’s lives. Movements can be classified based on their objectives, strategies, and the extent of change they seek. Peasant movements,
Introduction Social Darwinism emerged as a sociological and political ideology in the late 19th century, drawing heavily from the evolutionary theories of Charles Darwin, particularly his ideas about natural selection. While Darwin’s biological theories focused on the natural world, Social Darwinism applied evolutionary principles to human societies, economies, and politics. The Industrial Revolution and the
Parth Raman and Pegah Mostajeran Iran’s significance to India is deeply rooted in shared historical, cultural, and civilizational ties that date back centuries. From the time of the Mughal Empire to the modern era, Iran’s influence on India’s art, architecture, language, and literature has been profound. Persian served as the court language of the Mughals
Dr. Ashwani Kumar In a fast-paced, contemporary society, the use of headphones has evolved from a mere convenience to a widespread social norm. As digital media interaction becomes increasingly popular, people now prefer engaging with content privately, whether listening to music, podcasts, or watching videos. This shift is driven by the desire for efficient, mobile
Alfred Reginald Radcliffe-Brown’s The Andaman Islanders: A Study in Social Anthropology (1922) represents a transformative milestone in the field of anthropology, heralding the emergence of structural-functionalism as a dominant theoretical framework. This work was not just an ethnographic account of the Andamanese people but a bold reimagining of how societies could be understood—as cohesive systems
Bronisław Malinowski’s Argonauts of the Western Pacific is a landmark in anthropology, offering a vivid account of the Trobriand Islanders of Papua New Guinea. Published in 1922, this work serves as a foundational text for modern ethnographic studies, emphasizing participant observation and meticulous fieldwork. The book broke new ground in the discipline by moving beyond
Dr. Ashwani Kumar “The most interesting of activities turn mundane when its performance is coerced for economic objects resulting in the alienation of the performer from the performance” Reduction of Love to a Commodity: Capitalizing on Love In contemporary society, love has increasingly been reduced to a commodity—something to be acquired, perfected, and consumed, often
Introduction The concepts of community and society are fundamental in sociology, often used to describe different forms of human association. While they are closely related, they differ in terms of structure, function, and the nature of relationships within them. The study of these distinctions helps sociologists understand how individuals interact in different social settings and
Introduction Values are fundamental to understanding human societies, shaping individuals’ beliefs, actions, and interactions. In sociology, values are considered the guiding principles that influence both personal decisions and collective norms. They serve as a foundation for cultural identity, social order, and institutional frameworks. This article explores the concept of values in sociology, discussing their definitions,
