MIDTERM EXAM: SOCIOLOGY 102,
2025/2026 WITH
CORRECT/ACCURATE ANSWERS
According to Miliband (1969), what is the state? What is the state
elite? - CORRECT ANSWERS- -The state isn't a thing, it doesn't
exist. The state stands for a number of institutions that together,
constitute its reality, and which interact as parts of what may be
called a state system. While people can give allegiance to the
state, it is the government that they are required to give their
obedience. The relation of its leading members of the government
and to the society is crucial to the determination of the role of the
state.
-The state elite are those in which state power lies, and it is
through them that this power is wielded in its different
manifestations by the people who occupy the leading positions in
each of the institutions.
General Theoretical Perspectives - CORRECT ANSWERS- -Marxian
Conflict Perspective.
-Functionalist Perspective
-Symbolic Interactionalist perspective.
Karl Marx's Role in Marxian Conflict Theory - CORRECT ANSWERS-
-General theories are based around economic systems, and that
society is fundamentally based on the economic system.
,-Interested in social classes, and the control over resources. In
that some classes had resources, while others didn't.
-Lives depend on the function/ way in which society develops
capitalism.
-The two classes (bourgeoisie vs. proletariat) according to Marx,
are fundamentally at odds with each other, and it will eventually
lead to workers over throwing capitalists and begin communism.
Development of Marxist Theories - CORRECT ANSWERS- -Largely
ignored/ opposed by early American and British sociologists
before the 1960s.
-Many were conservatists'. Had the idea of social Darwinism, and
saw Marx and Marxism as a challenge to liberty and freedom.
-Spread in the late 1950s and 60s, in opposition to functionalist
theories. Because people wanted to oppose popular belief.
Functionalist Theory - CORRECT ANSWERS- -You have a society
composed of different parts who work together to function
correctly.
-Society works like a biological structure, and people are assigned
different roles that allows society to function sustainably.
-Look at the different functions, each of them keep up the role for
society to uphold. Organism synonym.
-Ignore individuals, treating them as being secondary to larger
forces acting on or through them.
,Key claims of Marxian Conflict Theories - CORRECT ANSWERS- -
Societies are divided into classes with opposing interest.
Particularly true capitalist societies.
-Classes engage in conflicts with one another.
Marx's Theories of Capitalism - CORRECT ANSWERS- -Modern
Capitalism: A type of economy in which:
-Actual ways we produce the things we use.
-Goods and services are brought and sold.
-The "means of production" are privately owned and used as
capital. Some people are taking the means of production to make
more stuff to sell and make profit. It creates a cycle, because
capital is re-invested and money is continuously increasing.
-The owners of capital employ wage- laborers.
Marx's Predictions about the development of Capitalism -
CORRECT ANSWERS- *The ways in which Marx was wrong, is the
way in which new theories had been developed.
1. Capitalism would spread across the world and become a global
system.
2. Capitalist societies would increasingly split into two classes -
workers and the capitalists.
3. Class conflict will lead to a worldwide revolution. Division into
two classes would lead to a revolution across the world. Workers
of the world would unite, and increasing inequalities.
-Development of capitalism brings positive things like cars,
telephones, etc.
, -Revolutions in China and Russia don't represent what Marx is
saying. Marx said that revolutions would happen in the center of
Capitalism.
Problems with Marx's Predictions in mid-20th century - CORRECT
ANSWERS- -Existence of a "middle-class".
-Revolutions did not occur in Capitalist societies.
-Working class is somehow incorporated into the political notions
through democracy.
-Communism in Soviet Union, Cuba, China are not the
communism that Marx had imagined.
Milliband's (1969) Theory of the State - CORRECT ANSWERS- -
Addressed the big problem with Marx, in that there is an existing
middle class. They are employees, but not in the limited sense
like the working class.
-Class structure consists of upper class, those making large sums
of wealth and make more money based on their existing wealth;
middle class, people who work as professionals or who are small
business owners; and working class, people who have to work
menial, low-paying jobs.
-Main question: To what extent does the Upper Class control the
state?
-Would say that capitalists do have more power, however, he
does give the working class more leverage than Marx does.
Critical Theories - CORRECT ANSWERS- -Key Claims:
2025/2026 WITH
CORRECT/ACCURATE ANSWERS
According to Miliband (1969), what is the state? What is the state
elite? - CORRECT ANSWERS- -The state isn't a thing, it doesn't
exist. The state stands for a number of institutions that together,
constitute its reality, and which interact as parts of what may be
called a state system. While people can give allegiance to the
state, it is the government that they are required to give their
obedience. The relation of its leading members of the government
and to the society is crucial to the determination of the role of the
state.
-The state elite are those in which state power lies, and it is
through them that this power is wielded in its different
manifestations by the people who occupy the leading positions in
each of the institutions.
General Theoretical Perspectives - CORRECT ANSWERS- -Marxian
Conflict Perspective.
-Functionalist Perspective
-Symbolic Interactionalist perspective.
Karl Marx's Role in Marxian Conflict Theory - CORRECT ANSWERS-
-General theories are based around economic systems, and that
society is fundamentally based on the economic system.
,-Interested in social classes, and the control over resources. In
that some classes had resources, while others didn't.
-Lives depend on the function/ way in which society develops
capitalism.
-The two classes (bourgeoisie vs. proletariat) according to Marx,
are fundamentally at odds with each other, and it will eventually
lead to workers over throwing capitalists and begin communism.
Development of Marxist Theories - CORRECT ANSWERS- -Largely
ignored/ opposed by early American and British sociologists
before the 1960s.
-Many were conservatists'. Had the idea of social Darwinism, and
saw Marx and Marxism as a challenge to liberty and freedom.
-Spread in the late 1950s and 60s, in opposition to functionalist
theories. Because people wanted to oppose popular belief.
Functionalist Theory - CORRECT ANSWERS- -You have a society
composed of different parts who work together to function
correctly.
-Society works like a biological structure, and people are assigned
different roles that allows society to function sustainably.
-Look at the different functions, each of them keep up the role for
society to uphold. Organism synonym.
-Ignore individuals, treating them as being secondary to larger
forces acting on or through them.
,Key claims of Marxian Conflict Theories - CORRECT ANSWERS- -
Societies are divided into classes with opposing interest.
Particularly true capitalist societies.
-Classes engage in conflicts with one another.
Marx's Theories of Capitalism - CORRECT ANSWERS- -Modern
Capitalism: A type of economy in which:
-Actual ways we produce the things we use.
-Goods and services are brought and sold.
-The "means of production" are privately owned and used as
capital. Some people are taking the means of production to make
more stuff to sell and make profit. It creates a cycle, because
capital is re-invested and money is continuously increasing.
-The owners of capital employ wage- laborers.
Marx's Predictions about the development of Capitalism -
CORRECT ANSWERS- *The ways in which Marx was wrong, is the
way in which new theories had been developed.
1. Capitalism would spread across the world and become a global
system.
2. Capitalist societies would increasingly split into two classes -
workers and the capitalists.
3. Class conflict will lead to a worldwide revolution. Division into
two classes would lead to a revolution across the world. Workers
of the world would unite, and increasing inequalities.
-Development of capitalism brings positive things like cars,
telephones, etc.
, -Revolutions in China and Russia don't represent what Marx is
saying. Marx said that revolutions would happen in the center of
Capitalism.
Problems with Marx's Predictions in mid-20th century - CORRECT
ANSWERS- -Existence of a "middle-class".
-Revolutions did not occur in Capitalist societies.
-Working class is somehow incorporated into the political notions
through democracy.
-Communism in Soviet Union, Cuba, China are not the
communism that Marx had imagined.
Milliband's (1969) Theory of the State - CORRECT ANSWERS- -
Addressed the big problem with Marx, in that there is an existing
middle class. They are employees, but not in the limited sense
like the working class.
-Class structure consists of upper class, those making large sums
of wealth and make more money based on their existing wealth;
middle class, people who work as professionals or who are small
business owners; and working class, people who have to work
menial, low-paying jobs.
-Main question: To what extent does the Upper Class control the
state?
-Would say that capitalists do have more power, however, he
does give the working class more leverage than Marx does.
Critical Theories - CORRECT ANSWERS- -Key Claims:
