Questions
- Compare the social organisation of work in slave and feudal societies. 10
- Elaborate on the social necessity of Religion. 10
Integrated Prelims + Mains Test Series
For UPSC Prelims and Mains 2023
Model Solutions
1. Compare the social organisation of work in slave and feudal societies. 10
Model Framework
Introduction
- Define Social Organisation of work: Patterning of economic activities which reflect the normative structure of society in the form of stratification, power relations, social mobility, DoL, etc.
Main Body:
- Feudal system - a political arrangement in which kings and feuds were in agreement. For land and its control, feuds support the king.
- Replaces slave system of work
- Feudal vs slave
- Labour: Not owned vs Owned by owner
- Stratification: Feudal, serfs, clergy etc. Vs slave-owner
- Activities of Production: Agriculture vs Hunting-gathering
- Source of Power: Land vs. Slave ownership
- Economic exchange system: barter system vs Community exchange
- Labour rights: marginal vs none
- Wages: mostly kind, bit cash vs Almost none
- Relation: Patron and dependency vs owning the slave thus total surrender.
- Significance of religion: more in feudal as it worked as an instrument of ruling class ideology. (Advanced vs. Primitive)
- Social mobility: relatively high in feudal society (almost zero mobility in slave society)
- In both, mostly informal types of organization. Yet more rights in the feudal MoP than slave society.
Conclusion
- From feudalism it usually transformed into capitalist mode of production. In any economies, all these MOPs present in one or other form
- Elaborate on the social necessity of Religion. 10
Model Structure
Introduction
- The sociology of religion is concerned with how different religious institutions actually function.
- In modern society sociologists focus on the organisation of religion which it survives.
Main Body
- Religion as a primary source of the most deep-seated norms and values - religious practices are likely to occur in home and in some other natural settings.
- Durkheim’s theory - religion as a major source of social solidarity and exultation. Religion provides believers with a common set of norms and values (unified system of belief) which helps to create a bond between moral communities. It shapes the behaviour of individuals towards one another.
- Parsons theory - religion shapes the cultural system of the community - thus it plays a role in Social Integration (Langar in Gurudwara, Maata ki chowki Bhandara) and in Social Control (Fatwa in Islam).
- Malinowski study of Trobriand islanders - religion assures continuity in the phase of discontinuity. (Alienation by stress thus people go to Ashrams)
- People often get religion when their fundamental sense of social order is threatened by the economic hardship, loneliness, grief, physical suffering or poor health.
- Religion acts as a force which mobilises the members in Social movements (socio religious movements - Arya samaj, Deoband movement)
- Also mention the Dysfunctions of Religion in short –
- Communal clashes, Social Disaster, Fundamentalism, etc.
- Feminists view religion as a Patriarchal System that provides men with more rights than women
- Marx views religion as a state instrument to propagate a ruling class ideology
Conclusion
- Sociology helps to identify the forces which bring existence to religion and looks beyond the purely personal spiritual and psychological factors.
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