Chicago School of Thought – Urban Sociology

Chicago school has been contributing to the development of the sociology field for years. The principal focus of specialists has lied in thorough research of cultural and population diversity making the city a kind of search laboratory. It should be noted that the area of urban sociology was developed and widened due to the number […]

Sanskritisation: Mobility in Rigid Caste System

Sanskritisation This concept or term was coined by M.N. Srinivas (a famous Indian Sociologist). Sanskrutization can be defined as the process by which a ‘low’ caste or tribe or other group takes over the customs, ritual, beliefs, ideology and style of life of a high and, in particular, a ‘twice-born (dwija) caste’. Impact of sanskritisation

Society

What is socialisation? Conceptualization and Agencies of socialisation

Meaning •What is socialisation? Socialisation is an important process for the functioning and continuation of society. Different societies have different ways and methods to train their new born members so that they are able to develop their own personalities. This training of and building the personality of the child is called socialisation. •Socialisation is a

Hunting and Gathering Society

How do early Humans get their Food?

Early humans would have obtained food in a number of ways, such as gathering, hunting, scavenging, and fishing. The gathering would involve collecting plant foods such as seeds, nuts, berries, fruits, and tubers.

Society

Discipline and Punish (Summary) by Foucault

Michel Foucault’s Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison (1975) is a profound and transformative work that interrogates the evolution of punishment and the mechanisms of power in modern societies. Foucault, a French philosopher and historian, explores the transition from public spectacles of punishment in pre-modern times to the more insidious and pervasive systems

Concept of State and its Attributes

The modern nation-state, with a centralized structure and elaborate bureaucracy, is a relatively recent human innovation (Bottomore 1979) having been in existence for only about 6,000 years (Berberoglu 1990). Prior to the rise of the state, authority was determined by kinship relations or religious rituals with no specific group charged with decision-making responsibility (Bottomore 1979).

Types of Authority and Legitimacy – Weber

Authority implies legitimacy or legitimate use of power. According to Weber, there are three systems of legitimation, each with its corresponding norms, which justify the power to command. It is these systems of legitimation which are designated as the followingtypes of authority. (i) Traditional authority This system of legitimation flows from traditional action. In other

System of Land Ownership

Systems of Land Ownership The system of land ownership regulates the relationship of the people to the land, specifically the power of disposition over land and the right to use the land. As it is practically impossible, on the one hand, to increase the amount of land while, on the other hand, it is the

Herbert Marcuse: One-Dimensional Man (1964) and Advanced Industrial Society

Introduction to Herbert Marcuse Herbert Marcuse was a German philosopher closely associated with the Frankfurt school (Radical intellectuals) Marcuse was more of a Marxist wing of the school. First published in 1964, the book was one of the most important works of that time and was recognized as a significant critical diagnosis of the present

Social System

Talcott Parsons: The Social System, and General Action Theory (1952)

Introduction Talcott Parsons (1902-1979) was a prominent American Sociologist of twentieth century. He served on the faculty of Harvard University from 1921 to 1973. Parsons made a rapid academic progress. He was made chairman of the Harvard Sociology department in 1944; in 1946, he set up and chaired the innovative department of Social relations; in

Unity in Diversity: A Case of India

When one closely observes a society, s/he may witness various diverse groups in it. Despite these diverse there exists a basic element of unity among the individuals in the society. This phenomenon is called unity in diversity.

Unconscious Traditionality

Indian Society: Basic Features

Indian Society: Basic Features Indian society is a rich mix of many different cultures, traditions, and ways of living. Understanding its main features gives us a better idea of this ancient civilization’s complexity and uniqueness. Here are some of the important things that make up Indian society: Conclusion Indian society is a complex and dynamic

Discourse, Power and Knowledge – Michel Foucault

The Introduction (The Archaeology of Knowledge) In France, a country that awards its intellectuals the status other countries give to their rockstars, Michel Foucault (1926–1984) was part of a glittering generation of thinkers. One of the great intellectual heroes of twentieth century, Foucault was a man whose passion and reason were at the service of

System Analysis: An Approach in Political Theory (2022)

System Analysis in Political Science Systems analysis was influenced by the Austrian Canadian biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy and the American sociologist Talcott Parsons. So, it is a variant of structural functionalism used in political science. It is a broad theory about how the various parts and levels of a political system interact with each other. The central or the

Society

Origin and Development of Sociology

In origin and development of Sociology, two factors played important role. 1) Intellectual Forces (contributions of thinkers; 2) Social Forces (Social conditions prevalent in society).

Social Institution

What is Social Institution? Basic concepts in Sociology (2025)

The social institution is a system of beliefs, norms, values, positions and activities that develop around a basic societal need or generally, institutions are patterns of norms that define behaviour in social relationships. Institutions are the pre-defined patterns of conduct established by habitualised human actions.

What is Community? Basic Concepts in Sociology (updated 2024)

Community is a term we apply to a pioneer settlement, e.g., a village, a city, a tribe or a nation. Whenever the members of any group (small or large) live together in such a way that they share the basic conditions of common life, we call that group a community.