Theoretical Principles of Sociology, Volume 1 (eBook)

Jonathan Turner is a Distinguished Professor of Sociology at University of California Riverside. He received his PhD from Cornell University in 1968 and since the 1969-1970 academic year, he has been at UCR. Within the discipline, he is known primarily as a general theorist, although he has a number of more substantive specialities, including: the sociology of emotions, ethnic relations, social institutions, social stratification, and bio-sociology. He has been Faculty Research Lecturer at UCR, and in the profession he has been president of the Pacific Sociological Association and California Sociological Association.He is also a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has lectured widely all over the world, and he has been a visiting professor at Cambridge University, UK, Universitat Bremen, Germany, Universitat Bielefeld, Germany, Shandong University, and Nan Kai University, People's Republic of China.

Preface 8
Acknowledgements 12
Contents 14
List of Figures 18
List of Tables 20
Chapter 1: First Steps in Developing a General Sociological Theory 22
A Return to Grand Theory 22
Taking a Stand on Basic Issues in Sociological Theorizing 26
Keeping Theories Simple 26
What Nomothetic Theories Can and Cannot Do 30
A Simple Conceptual Scheme 33
Macro-level Social Reality 33
Meso-level Social Reality 35
Micro-level Social Reality 37
The Simplified Conceptual Scheme 38
Conclusion 41
Chapter 2: Selection Pressures and the Evolution of the Macrodynamic Realm 42
Where Functionalism Went Wrong 43
The Dynamics of Selection 44
The Relevance of Herbert Spencer’s Early Insights 44
Durkheimian and Spencerian Selection 45
Forces and Selection Dynamics 48
Forces, Selection, and Differentiation 52
The Constitution of Macro Social Reality 58
Chapter 3: The Forces of the Macrodynamic Realm 61
Population as a Social Force 62
Malthus’ Analysis of Population Growth and the “Four Horsemen” 64
Herbert Spencer’s Model of Population Dynamics 66
Émile Durkheim’s Model of Population Dynamics 67
A Synthetic Model of Population Dynamics 71
An Elementary Principle on Population Dynamics6 75
Production Dynamics 77
Elements of Production 77
Level of Technology 78
Physical Capital 82
Human Capital 82
Property 83
Entrepreneurial Mechanism 84
An Elementary Principle on Production Dynamics 86
Distribution as a Macrodynamic Force 87
Distributive Infrastructures 87
Markets and Exchange Dynamics as Driving Forces 90
Weber’s Model on Markets, Money, and Exchange 90
Simmel’s Model of Money and Social Transformation 92
The Rise and Expansion of Dynamic Markets 96
Fernand Braudel on Commerce in Early Modern Europe 96
Randall Collins on Meta-Markets and Change 98
A General Model of Distributive Exchange Dynamics 99
An Elementary Principle on Distribution Dynamics 102
Regulation as a Macrodynamic Force 104
The Consolidation of Power 104
The Coercive Base of Power 105
The Administrative Base of Power 105
The Material Incentive Base of Power 106
The Symbolic Base of Power 106
The Centralization of Power 109
Modeling the Dynamics of Consolidation and Centralization of Power 111
The Cultural Basis of Regulation 114
An Elementary Principle of Regulation as a Macrodynamic Force 118
Reproduction as a Macrodynamic Force 119
The Nature of Reproduction in Human Societies 119
The Shifting Institutional Basis of Reproduction 120
An Elementary Principle on Reproduction as a Macrodynamic Force 121
Conclusion 122
Chapter 4: The Dynamics of Institutional Domains 124
The Emergence and Evolution of Institutional Domains 125
Inter-Institutional Differentiation 125
Intra-Institutional Differentiation 130
Mechanisms of Integration Within Institutional Domains 134
Cultural Mechanisms of Integration 135
Institutional Cultures 135
Embedding of Culture 142
Structural Mechanisms of Institutional Integration 144
Structural Segmentation 145
Structural Differentiation 147
Structural Interdependence 148
Structural Inclusion 150
Structural Overlaps 152
Structural Mobility 154
Structural Segregation 155
Structural Domination 156
Varying Patterns in the Integrative Bases of Institutional Domains 158
Intra-Institutional Integration 161
Bases of Cultural Integration 161
Bases of Structural Integration 161
Inter-Institutional Integration 162
New Bases of Cultural Integration 162
New Bases of Structural Integration 164
Elementary Principles on Institutional Dynamics 165
Conclusion 168
Chapter 5: The Dynamics of Stratification Systems 171
Fundamental Properties of Stratification Systems 172
The Unequal Distribution of Valued Resources 172
Inequalities in Material Wealth 173
Inequalities of Power 176
The Unequal Distribution of Prestige 178
The Unequal Distribution of Other Generalized Media 179
The Unequal Distribution of Emotions 181
Modeling the Unequal Distribution of Valued Resources 182
The Formation of Classes 184
Homogeneity and Class Boundaries 184
Consolidation of Graduated with Nominal Parameters 185
Intersection of Parameters and Class Formation 187
Institutional Differentiation and Class Formation 187
Modeling Class Formation 188
The Rank-Ordering of Classes 192
Ideological Formation and Rank-Ordering of Classes 192
Meta-Ideologies, Values, and Rank-Ordering of Classes 193
Consolidation of Parameters and Rank-Ordering of Classes 194
The Intersection of Parameters and Rank-Ordering 195
Modeling the Rank-Ordering of Classes 196
Mobility Across Classes 199
Structural and Cultural Conditions of Mobility 199
Modeling Processes of Class Inter-Mobility 200
Integrative Dynamics of Stratification Systems 202
Institutional Differentiation and Stratification 202
Stratification and Integration 204
Structural Bases of Integration 204
The Cultural Basis of Integration 208
Stratification and Disintegration 210
Stratification and Polity Breakdown 210
The Dynamics of Polity and State Breakdown 211
Polity, Stratification, and Mobilization of Non-Elite Classes 217
The Structure of the Institutional Order 219
Inequality in the Distribution of Resources 220
Withdrawal of Legitimacy from Institutional Domains 220
Awareness of Objective Interest 221
Emotional Arousal 222
Periodic Collective Outbursts 223
Increasing Intensity of Emotions and Involvement 223
Further Efforts at Organization 224
The Violence of Conflict 224
Elementary Principles of Stratification Dynamics 226
Conclusion 230
Chapter 6: The Dynamics of Societal Systems 233
The Properties of Societal Systems 233
Elements of Societal Dynamics 234
Institutional Domains and Societal Dynamics 235
Institutional Differentiation 235
Institutional Integration 241
Structural Bases of Institutional Integration 241
Cultural Bases of Institutional Integration 248
The Institutional Basis of Societal Dynamics 255
Stratification and Societal Dynamics 261
The Structure of Societal Stratification and the Shifting Basis of Integration 261
Integration of Stratification Systems and Societal Dynamics 265
Dynamics of Highly Stratified Societies 265
Dynamics in Less Stratified Societies 269
Stratification and Its Integration During Societal Evolution 273
Systems of Communities and Societal Dynamics 287
The Evolution of Systems of Communities 288
Structural Integration of Communities 293
Cultural Integration of Communities 298
Elementary Principles on Societal Dynamics 300
Conclusion 303
Chapter 7: The Dynamics of Inter-Societal Systems 306
Geo-Political Inter-Societal Systems 308
Variations in Geo-Political Formations 308
Conditions of Geo-Political Mobilization 310
Conditions of Territorial Expansion 315
Conditions Increasing the Size of Geo-Political Formations 318
Conditions of Geo-Political Collapse 321
Elementary Principles of Geo-Political Formations 322
Geo-Economic Inter-Societal Systems 326
The Dynamics of Dependency Geo-Economic Systems 329
The Dynamics of Free-Market Geo-Economic Inter-Societal Systems 331
Elementary Principles of Geo-economic Formations 335
Conclusion 338
Chapter 8: Principles of Macrodynamics 340
Principles of Macrodynamics 341
An Elementary Principle on Population Dynamics 341
An Elementary Principle on Production Dynamics 342
An Elementary Principle on Distribution Dynamics 343
An Elementary Principle of Regulation as a Macrodynamic Force 344
An Elementary Principle on Reproduction as a Macrodynamic Force 345
Elementary Principles of Institutional Differentiation and Integration 345
Elementary Principles of Stratification 349
Elementary Principles of Societal Dynamics 353
Elementary Principles of Inter-Societal Systems 355
Conclusion 361
References 363
Author Index 372
Subject Index 375