Topic Theory/ Key findings
sociologist
Modernity and Modernism Associated with the Enlightenment period. Refers to a period of European history (18 th-20th century) characterised by
globalisation the idea that society can progress through the use of human reason, rationality and science to explain the natural and
social world (evidence based).
Nation state When public or government institutions have jurisdiction over a clearly defined geographical area. Individuals become
citizens with rights protected by the state – we see the emergence of a mass society. Key political unit of modern
society.
Free market Private ownership of the means of mass production that creates enormous wealth and social inequalities, nation-
capitalism state becomes a key regulator of capitalism and maintaining the conditions for it to be profitable (e.g. low wages).
Rationality, Scientific, (rather than religious) framework of evidence, ‘proof’ and technological development dominant –
science and important in industry ad medicine.
technology
Individualism Greater individual freedom within society based on the protection of individual sovereignty via the nation state but
structural inequalities question how far ‘free choice’ exists. Choices limited by structural inequalities e.g. women find
it difficult to remarry after divorce. Happens because (1) we have more choice over our identity, (2/3) we are
motivated to put profit and self-interest first.
Globalisation 1. Technological: information is exchanged via the internet. Satellite communications, the internet and global TV
have heled create time scape compression. Media saturated society. Greenhouse gases take place across
different countries. Beck argues we are living in a ‘risk society’.
2. Economic: the economy takes place within a set of global networks and greater interconnectedness. The
global economy is increasingly weightless via electronics. Transnational companies operate across frontiers,
producing on a global scale most Transnational Corporations (TNCs) are Western based on creating a global
capitalist class (Sklair).
3. Political: globalisation has undermined the nation state. We now live in a borderless world in which TNCs and
consumers have more power than governments. States are now less able to regulate the activities of large
capitalist enterprises. Lash and Urry describe the 21st century as ‘disorganised capitalism’.
4. Culture/ identity: cultures no longer live in isolation to eachother, we now have a global culture. Western
owned media companies spread western culture to the rest of the world. Economic migrants and asylum
seekers help create a globalised culture. Traditional sources of identity such as class have been undermined.
Identity is based on consumption.
Link to Modernity shapes a universal, national outlook. Functionalists- norms and values, family as an agent of socialisation and
modern education as a secondary agent. Marxists- ruling elite norms and values, family as an agent of bourgeois socialisation
theories and education as an agent of elite socialisation and legitimising class inequalities. BUT individuals no longer conform to
national or class based identities. Identities are shaped by individual consumption patterns based on lifestyle choices =
sociologist
Modernity and Modernism Associated with the Enlightenment period. Refers to a period of European history (18 th-20th century) characterised by
globalisation the idea that society can progress through the use of human reason, rationality and science to explain the natural and
social world (evidence based).
Nation state When public or government institutions have jurisdiction over a clearly defined geographical area. Individuals become
citizens with rights protected by the state – we see the emergence of a mass society. Key political unit of modern
society.
Free market Private ownership of the means of mass production that creates enormous wealth and social inequalities, nation-
capitalism state becomes a key regulator of capitalism and maintaining the conditions for it to be profitable (e.g. low wages).
Rationality, Scientific, (rather than religious) framework of evidence, ‘proof’ and technological development dominant –
science and important in industry ad medicine.
technology
Individualism Greater individual freedom within society based on the protection of individual sovereignty via the nation state but
structural inequalities question how far ‘free choice’ exists. Choices limited by structural inequalities e.g. women find
it difficult to remarry after divorce. Happens because (1) we have more choice over our identity, (2/3) we are
motivated to put profit and self-interest first.
Globalisation 1. Technological: information is exchanged via the internet. Satellite communications, the internet and global TV
have heled create time scape compression. Media saturated society. Greenhouse gases take place across
different countries. Beck argues we are living in a ‘risk society’.
2. Economic: the economy takes place within a set of global networks and greater interconnectedness. The
global economy is increasingly weightless via electronics. Transnational companies operate across frontiers,
producing on a global scale most Transnational Corporations (TNCs) are Western based on creating a global
capitalist class (Sklair).
3. Political: globalisation has undermined the nation state. We now live in a borderless world in which TNCs and
consumers have more power than governments. States are now less able to regulate the activities of large
capitalist enterprises. Lash and Urry describe the 21st century as ‘disorganised capitalism’.
4. Culture/ identity: cultures no longer live in isolation to eachother, we now have a global culture. Western
owned media companies spread western culture to the rest of the world. Economic migrants and asylum
seekers help create a globalised culture. Traditional sources of identity such as class have been undermined.
Identity is based on consumption.
Link to Modernity shapes a universal, national outlook. Functionalists- norms and values, family as an agent of socialisation and
modern education as a secondary agent. Marxists- ruling elite norms and values, family as an agent of bourgeois socialisation
theories and education as an agent of elite socialisation and legitimising class inequalities. BUT individuals no longer conform to
national or class based identities. Identities are shaped by individual consumption patterns based on lifestyle choices =
