SOCIAL STRATIFICATION

Book Details

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Author: K.L. Sharma

• Language: English

• Binding: Paperback

• Number of Pages: 401

• Release Date: 26-07-2024

• ISBN: 9788131614013

• Package Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.2 x 1.5 inches

About the Book

This groundbreaking book presents a comprehensive analysis of social stratification, combining both theoretical concepts and empirical studies. Divided into two sections, it delves into the theoretical and conceptual dimensions of social stratification and mobility, alongside a detailed examination of empirical studies focusing on caste, class, ethnicity, power, social inequality, and social mobility in the Indian context.

K.L. Sharma challenges traditional notions of caste, class, and rural-urban divides, emphasizing how these long-standing distinctions have transformed in contemporary India. The book critiques the traditional caste-class polarity and the division between urban and rural life, arguing that these constructs no longer hold relevance in the face of structural and cultural shifts. Sharma highlights how these changes have led to the emergence of new patterns of social stratification and mobility, with a fresh system of theoretical and conceptual frameworks that negate the conventional understanding of these social divides.

Through an interdisciplinary approach, the book explores how new questions arising from ongoing social changes create new situations and social encounters. The text encourages readers to think critically about how these emerging dynamics are reshaping India's social landscape, providing insights that challenge established definitions and ideas.

This work is an essential resource for students, scholars, and researchers interested in understanding social stratification and mobility, particularly in the Indian context, and offers new perspectives on the evolving social order in India.

Contents

1. Introduction: Theoretical and Methodological Issues

2. Defining Social Stratification

3. Basic Concepts Relating to Social Stratification

4. Theories of Social Stratification

5. Dimensions of Social Stratification

6. Open and Closed Systems of Social Stratification

7. The Caste System: Continuity and Change

8. Emerging Patterns of Social Stratification in India

9. Culture and Social Stratification

10. Social Stratification in Rural-Agrarian Setting

11. Social Stratification in Urban-Industrial Setting

12. Social Stratification and the Weaker Sections

13. Gender and Social Stratification

14. Social Mobility

15. New Dimensions in the Studies of Caste, Class, Ethnicity, and Power

About the Author

K.L. Sharma is a distinguished academic, having served as a Professor of Sociology at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, where he held various positions, including Rector (pro-Vice-Chancellor). He also served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, and later as the founder Vice-Chancellor of Jaipur National University. Sharma's academic contributions include over 28 books and more than a hundred research papers. He has supervised over 100 M.Phil and Ph.D. students and remains a prominent figure in the academic community. Additionally, Sharma has been recognized for his work in the field of social development and regularly contributes to current affairs through popular media outlets.