Intro to Intro 2:Macrosociology

Examples of Macrosociology (1)

• Macrosociology is concerned with societies and parts of societies

• Important question: How do societies change?– One way is through technological change

• Consider the introduction of the automobile

Q: What changed with the introduction of the automobile?

Examples of Macrosociology (2) The Automobile

• For starters: – Most people today afraid to be on a horse– Not many songs about blue-tail flies

• Not so many flies

– Geography of supermarket products• On average travel about 1000 miles• Harms local producers

– Road construction now big business• Good for immigrants

Examples of Macrosociology (3)

• Riches and destitution: why are there rich people and poor people? – Are the rich really different?– How much of success is inherited, how much

earned?

Examples of Macrosociology (4)

• Racial and ethnic relations– Where do race and ethnicity come from?– Why and how do they make a difference?

Examples of Macrosociology (5a)

• Interactions between parts of society– Example: after-school daycare programs

illustrate interactions between • economy and family – two earners needed• education and family – school hours affect

possible working hours• education and government – govt determines

public school hours

GlobalizationGlobalization

EconomyEconomy Popular culturePopular culture

• HollywoodHollywood CDs of recent US movie releases cheap in ChinaCDs of recent US movie releases cheap in China

• Companies try to export US property rights law, tooCompanies try to export US property rights law, too

• BollywoodBollywood Even the nickname reflects globalizationEven the nickname reflects globalization

• Hip- hopHip- hop Jamaica + Bronx Jamaica + Bronx worldwide tunes worldwide tunes

• Gangnam styleGangnam style

Globalization: Early TheoryGlobalization: Early Theory

One of the early analyses of One of the early analyses of globalization was globalization was The Communist The Communist ManifestoManifesto

• 1848 1848 • By Karl Marx and Friedrich EngelsBy Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

Micro vs Macro: The Sociological Imagination

• The Sociological Imagination (Mills)– Key: ability to see connection between the life of

the individual (microsociology) and the larger social context (macrosociology)

• Involves ability to see connections between …– Biography and history– Personal troubles and public issues