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This is a blog for a community of students in Sociology 101A: "Sociological Theory," in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, Fall, 2008.
Welcome!
This is the informal blog spot for errant questions, random ramblings, and clever musings. For the rest of the semester, we'll use this blog to clarify the work(s) of Lenin, Gramsci and Fanon. Feel free to endlessly post, and don't forget: Theory Rocks!
Will Obama bring the U.S. closer to socialism?
Obama: A Traditional or Organic Intellectual?
Grappling with Gramsci
"The mode of being of the new intellectual can no longer consist in eloquence, which is an exterior and momentary mover of feelings and passions, but in active participation in practical life, as constructor, organizer, 'permanent persuader' and not just a simple orator (but superior at the same time to the abstract mathematical spirit) ..." (Prison Notebooks, 10).
"The relationship between the intellectuals and the world of production is not as direct as it is with the fundamental social groups but is, in varying degrees, 'mediated' by the whole fabric of society and by the complex of superstructures, of which the intellectual are, precisely, the 'functionaries'" (Prison Notebooks 12).
"The superstructure of civil society are like the trench-systems of modern warfare. In war it would sometimes happen that a fierce artillery attack seemed to have destroyed the outer perimeter; and at the moment of their advance and attack the assailants would find themselves confronted by a line of defense which was still effective" (Prison Notebooks 235).
"The massive structures of modern democracies, both as State organizations, and as complexes of associations in civil society, constitute for the art of politics as it were the 'trenches' and the permanent fortifications of the front in the war of position ..." (Prison Notebooks 243).
"... [I]t is obvious that all the essential questions of sociology are nothing other than the questions of political science" (Prison Notebooks 244).
"As long as the class-State exists the regulated society cannot exist, other than metaphorically---i.e. only in the sense that the class-State too is a regulated society" (Prison Notebooks 257).
What did you think of the Rosa Luxemburg film?
Oh No He Didn't: Endless, Evolving and Perplexing Lenin Quotables
"We are in favour of a democratic republic as the best form of state for the proletariat under capitalism" (The State and Revolution, 323).
"Simultaneously with an immense expansion of democracy, which for the first time become democracy for the poor, democracy for the people, and not democracy for the money-bags, the dictatorship of the proletariat imposes a series of restrictions on the freedom of the oppressors, the exploiters, the capitalists. We must suppress them in order to free humanity from wage slavery, their resistance must be crushed by force; it is clear that there is no freedom and no democracy where there is suppression and where there is violence" (The State and Revolution, 373).
"The expression 'the state withers away' is very well chosen, for it indicates both the gradual and the spontaneous nature of the process. Only habit can, and undoubtedly will, have such an effect ..." (The State and Revolution, 374).
What did you think of Salt of the Earth?
Who got it right?
1 comment:
Weber’s theory of bureaucracy directly contrasts that of Patrimonialism. Whereas Patrimonialism functions in a very subjective way, rational Bureaucracy operates in a very objective, calculable way.
There are six institutional features that create the foundation for bureaucracy. A fixed jurisdiction of duties around a visible hierarchy solidifies a stable structure that is nonexistent in Patrimonalism (196). Officials, whom must work full-time, have a separation between their work and home (198). They must undergo expert training to obtain their position, which prevents work being passed down by loyalty and subjective agreements. Finally, the management of officials through rules and documents streamlines the bureaucratic process in an objective way and guards against changes in official’s duties by unfixed authority figures prevalent in Patrimonialism.
Most importantly, the official must know that their job is a vocation; it is a duty to work and not a pleasure (198). They are appointed by higher authority figures and granted tenure for life under the assumption that they will commit themselves to the work (199). They place high value on the Status of an official and wish to make a career out of it, through merit-based promotions, and for which rewards coincide with Official positions in bureaucracy (200-204).
For bureaucracy to exist there must be four preconditions. While past administration collected taxes from people using officials, these officials are be expropriated from the system. Since the bureaucrat no longer has access to the administration, they need a money economy; paid salaries will replace the tax system (204). This new system must be governed through a set of rational laws, commonly referred to as the “Roman” laws (218). Lastly, bureaucracy must operate under a democracy, for which all people must be treated equally under the law (224).
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has many key bureaucratic elements. First, there is a clearly defined hierarchy with the “executives” defining themselves as the “President” and “Managing Director” over the various committees. Even in the committees themselves, there are positions such as “committee director,” “senior deputy,” and “associate director.” In fact, most of HRC’s staff has a specific title that relates their authoritative position to another staff person. This most likely encourages status recognition and social esteem. Since people have gradually moved into higher positions, people most likely make careers within HRC. Unfortunately, there was no information on if these positions had tenure.
The HRC also has the six institutional features. Within the blatantly visible hierarchy, there are specific assigned duties to each position that is clearly laid on their website. These full-time positions are governed by government laws that separate work from home. Each staff person has a resume-like description of their prior experiences, which legitimizes how they have attained their positions and also acts as a status symbol for both themselves and HRC itself. By having many “qualified” people employed within HRC, the organization itself attains social prestige. Finally, it is also governed by rules and documents through labor contracts.
What is highly un-bureaucratic about the HRC is that it has a “Board of Directors,” which is a group of volunteers comprised of corporate and community leaders. This board is the governing body for the corporation and they solely determine HRC’s mission and purpose. According to the website, the board has “ultimate authority over the organization’s actions, including fiscal management and budget approval and policy.” Weber would not understand why the HRC staff would make a career out of something for which even the “executive” does not have ultimate authority. Furthermore, what motivates people to join the board of directors since it is on a volunteer basis.
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