7. Write the short notes on the following:

1. Pareto on social equilibrium.
2. Power and legitimacy
3. Role-set and role conflict.
4. Totemism and social solidarity

Pareto on social equilibrium

Pareto’s definition of social equilibrium begins with the observation that the social system is 'constantly changing in form'. When some modifications are introduced to this from. Pareto argues that at once, a reaction will take place, tending to restore the changing form to its original state as modified by nonnal change. Pareto then clarifies that the concept of equilibrium should only be used by analogy in its sociological applications. By analogy, then disequilibriating movements arising within the social system encounter opposing forces which seek to restore 'equilibrial balance'. A social system is therefore like a river. Both flow constantly. Both resist, and threaten to sweep away, intrusive efforts to modify both their form and their 'manner of flow'. Hence the main purpose of Pareto’s concept of social equilibrium was to convey the idea of synchronising force running between the social, political and economic sub-cycles of the grand historical cycle. One example of a disequilibriating movement would therefore be where govemment attempts to centralise sovereignty at a time when social attitudes are liberalising and the economic cycle is moving towards prosperity.

Power and legitimacy

Role-set and role conflict.

As distinct from status, role represents the dynamic aspect of status and as such it comes with as set rights and obligations. At any given time an individual member occupies a plurality of statuses or ‘status- set’ e.g. a man may be simultaneously a husband, father etc. Thus, ‘role-set’ may be defined as the sum of all rights and obligations that an individual have by virtue of the status-set he/ she occupies.

The simultaneous performance of role-sets by an individual in the context of ‘role expectation’ and the normative patterns of a society generates stress and strain. This phenomenon is called role conflict e.g. a District Collector faced with the dilemma of adhering to nepotism or sticking to meritocratic principle in the recruitment process. Parsons formulated a set of 'pattern variables' to resolve such role conflicts. Merton observes that since not all statuses are important and scrutinized all the time, the performance of the ‘role-set’ is possible.

Totemism and social solidarity

Emile Durkheim in his study on religion brings out the interrelationship between totemism and social solidarity.Totemism refers to an activity of Totem ( any symbol like crocodile , tiger) worship. In his work on elementary forms of religious life , durkheim says that arundta tribes followed totem worship.

The tribe society was divided into vatious clans and each clan believed that they were descendants of the totem. Thus it was a symbol of sacred . While worshipping each member of the clan had the sysmbol etched on his body. And durkerim says that worship of totem is nothing but worship of society . Thus during festivities all clans come together for totem worship and celebrate . This brings in social solidarity in the society.

This argument was further extended by max weber when he said that during worship , the totem is sacrifised and consumed by individuals. However , it is not a profane activity because they believed that the spirit of totem would join the spirit of all individuals.

Such an analysis is relevant to modern society albeit in a different form . Today totem has taken various forms like Flag , party symbol etc. This totem arouses a feeling of oneness among people and bring them together thereby augmenting social solidarity in the society.