Power stratification and class in the capitalist world system

Power/Stratification

Power and Stratification: The Perpetuation of Social Inequality under Global Capitalism

Stratification is defined as a social strategy of structured inequality where one group rules over another, economically, or politically, or usually both. This can be seen on a national level, in America, where wealth and political influence go hand in hand, and how America's wealth has translated into its continued international influence -- at least, as long as the dollar does not fall too much farther. Of course, class stratification has existed since time began, according to Marx, even before capitalism. But capitalism has defined class in terms of wealth, and solidified the existence of the class system. Worse yet, in a superficially democratic system the illusion of meritocracy is created through the ideology of the rhetoric that 'anyone can succeed so long as he or she tries hard enough.' But the rich continue to get richer, and the poor continue to get poorer, in America, and throughout the world rich nations get richer and poor nations get poorer.

Social power without capital under capitalism does not exist, unlike previous eras where, for example, the medieval church exerted great influence over policy as a class, in greater proportion than the (not inconsiderable) wealth it held. However, today, land, capital, and the ability to make money off of money are the primary means by which influence is leveraged. Having money perpetuates money. This is how rich hold onto their places in the social hierarchy. Money buys education, commodities like the 'right' clothes that signify success, money buys social influence for one's self and one's children, money buys property from which one can make more money, money buys media influence, and quite often the ears of the politically connected. The necessity of technology to do everything from allowing a business run efficiently to applying to college further underlines the ability of the digital divide between rich and poor peoples and nations to perpetuate inequality.