Answer to Question #194691 in Sociology for Eli

Question

1)Identify and briefly explain in one page three ways othering manifests in Burawoy's reading of race,class and colonialism.

2)What sociological perspectives can one draw from explaining the phenomena of 'othering'?

Answer 1

Three Ways of Othering from Burawoy’s Reading

In Burawoy's reading, the three ways of othering is manifested through economic factors, a model of change, and ideology. Economic factors focuses on the race and ethnicity in the United States and South Africa because of the social life of the involved communities. The black colony is viewed as an internal colony due to the studies of a black worker in the United States. More attention was given to the ways of production and the relationship between different groups with their means of production. As a result the blacks were seen to be taken of greatest advantage. It is a parallel approach when advocates use class or economic factors. There exist two theoretical in our society, that ghetto belongs to the internal colony while the blacks belongs to the marginal working class.

 On the other hand, a model of change is akin to the economic factors although it is based on the description of ethnic differentiation and systems of dominations. This model describes change such as economy, to be brought up by intergroup conflicts. Moreover it asserts that racial divisions among plural communities is important than class divisions in terms of bringing change. In order to understand the racial communities or racial interests, their history should be uncovered by focusing on the agents and processes of change. Instead of studying their history, advocates have mainly dealt with appearance.

Othering is also evident through foregoing criticism in regards to extant ideologies. Internal colony model espouses that the idea of black power and third world begun in late sixties and gained fame. For instance, in South Africa, the main cause of cleavages is racial but not economic class.

Sociological Perspective from ‘Othering’

By explaining the phenomena of 'othering', it is apparent that there is development of two identities, that is minority and majority identities. Henceforth, a different group in the society is controlled by groups of great political powers. This superiority can be thought to be either innate or natural. However, this is identities are developed from interaction with different groups