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Role of Wealth and the Process of Policy-Making
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Role of Wealth and the Process of Policy-Making
Media is the top-ranked influencer in this modern globalized world. This is the force which is dominating every sphere of life and even uncovering the different social phenomena as well. No one denies the role and significance of media in this competitive age as it is one which reveals and unmasks different realities in social structures. In this vein, it is often reported by media that powerful people in society have a larger say in the process of decision -making. A wealth of a person or group has always remained a dominant factor in societies. This wealth is even more important in this world where capitalism is ruling every aspect of human life on earth. So different corporate entities are using their status and wealth to influence opinions, views, and even state policies. This is no escaping the fact that the legislative process is influenced by these wealthy persons in society through the different veiled mechanism. This is way too pervasive, and every society witnesses this social phenomenon of wealth in important policies. Nevertheless, several sociologists are view this phenomenon in a different way. For some social thinkers such as Wilbert Moore and Kingsly Davis, this is structural functionalism in society as different units in society are collectively working to achieve a harmonious balance. This is unlike the conflict theorists such as Karl Marx and Lewis Coser, who opine that it is the power of the rich to influence policies in government. In this vein, both sociological perspectives take this influence of wealth on policymaking differently.
This social phenomenon of wealth in important legislative and executive policies is functional for the theorists who belong to the structural-functionalism perspective. These sociologists opine that every society worked when there is a common understanding of all its rich and poor units. Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore opine that It is the functional side of society that some people are rich and enjoy high social status ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"rbqduvHh","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Davis and Moore)","plainCitation":"(Davis and Moore)","dontUpdate":true,"noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":705,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/ZD9MNZ2P/items/P5M22PI4"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/ZD9MNZ2P/items/P5M22PI4"],"itemData":{"id":705,"type":"article-journal","title":"Some principles of stratification","container-title":"American sociological review","page":"242–249","volume":"10","issue":"2","source":"Google Scholar","author":[{"family":"Davis","given":"Kingsley"},{"family":"Moore","given":"Wilbert E."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1945"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Davis and Moore, 1945). Whereas, other people are ranked below in social strata. In this purview, it is usual modus operandi that rich must contribute more in important affairs of society as they are the superior one in any social setup. They are endowed with more important tasks such as guiding and directing the working of society. The rich class can have more say in important policies as their businesses are important assets for social setups. In this vein, this social phenomenon of rich and wealthy class exercising more control and influence on policies and decision is normal as they are already authorized to do it in every society.
On the other hand, social conflict theorists opine this social phenomenon is the symbolic reflection of the power and influence of the rich class. For conflict theorists such as Kral Marx, every society has a fake and superficial sense of harmonious equilibrium, which is not real by any means ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"bhoi15CW","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Lenski)","plainCitation":"(Lenski)","dontUpdate":true,"noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":712,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/ZD9MNZ2P/items/Y9TT7A5Z"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/ZD9MNZ2P/items/Y9TT7A5Z"],"itemData":{"id":712,"type":"book","title":"Power and privilege: A theory of social stratification","publisher":"UNC Press Books","source":"Google Scholar","title-short":"Power and privilege","author":[{"family":"Lenski","given":"Gerhard E."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2013"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Lenski, 2013). It is the will of the dominant class as they own the means or forces of productions in society ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"6ouqYMcx","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Coser)","plainCitation":"(Coser)","dontUpdate":true,"noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":710,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/ZD9MNZ2P/items/7SNX7GNB"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/ZD9MNZ2P/items/7SNX7GNB"],"itemData":{"id":710,"type":"article-journal","title":"Continuities in the study of social conflict.","source":"Google Scholar","author":[{"family":"Coser","given":"Lewis A."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1967"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Coser, 1967). They are immensely powerful as the superstructure of society takes their views seriously and make those policies that are wanted by them. So when rich class interferes in the process of decision making, this is the show of their economic and then political power in society. Hence, this role of the wealthy class is so massive, and it is even giving a sense of superficial equilibrium, which is all about their own will. So, this social malady is the symbol of the rich class.
To summarize, this influence of wealth on policy-making is no secret. Now and then, this is reported by media that successful business entities are calling for some policies, and then they get implemented as well. Nevertheless, this social phenomenon is viewed differently by structural functionalists and social conflict theorists.
References:
ADDIN ZOTERO_BIBL {"uncited":[],"omitted":[],"custom":[]} CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY Coser, L. A. (1967). Continuities in the study of social conflict.
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1968-10438-000
Davis, K., & Moore, W. E. (1945). Some principles of stratification. American Sociological Review, 10(2), 242–249.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/2085643?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
Lenski, G. E. (2013). Power and privilege: A theory of social stratification. UNC Press Books.
Power And Privilege." Google Books. N. p., 2019. Web. 22 July 2019.
https://books.google.com.pk/books?id=N8M3CwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Power+and+Privilege+Book+by+Gerhard+Lensk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjn1YbHkcjjAhXxQEEAHTHMCucQ6AEIJTAA#v=onepage&q=Power%20and%20Privilege%20Book%20by%20Gerhard%20Lensk&f=false
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