Socialism

When looking at contemporary South African society it is very hard to identify precisely what sort of system it follows. Some people might claim that South African society is a completely socialist society whilst others might say that it can be seen as a capitalist society. I however fell that it is an odd combination of both. The 2 theorists that help me understand South African society the most efficiently would be marx and perhaps Durkheim.

These two theorists deal with capitalism and socialism. There are however only a few ideas and theories that I would say help me when trying to understand the society I live in. perhaps this is so because I believe that contemporary south African society is neither capitalist nor socialist.

South African society, to me, is very stratified and the division of labour is very evident. Durkheim discusses how in the modern world society is held together by the dependency of individuals on each other because of the division of Labor that exists. In our modern societies Durkheim identifies 2 types of solidarity. Organic solidarity is the first; this type of solidarity weakens the collective conscience of the people. In earlier more primitive societies there was mechanical solidarity- here the individuals are more unified and there is less division of labor. Individuals have similar tasks and therefore a similar responsibility towards their society and so they had a stronger collective conscience Modern society has a more stratified division of labor. Durkheims concern was that the different types of division of labor changes the individuals attitude and perception of society and where he/she belongs in it. ( fundamental concepts of sociology).

Mechanic solidarity refers to a stage in society when all the individuals have similar or the same responsibilities, jobs and value towards society. It can be said that if one individual was to leave then there would be hardly or no significant change in within the society. This type of society has little interdependence and is ruled with repressive sanctions. Also it is a highly religious society where prevalence is given to the supreme well being of society rather than the individual.

Organic solidarity then refers to that stage in society when there is a greater interdependence than before. This is due the more complex and stratified division of labour. As the society becomes more industrialized and modern there is greater need for specialized work. Individuals have different jobs to do, different responsibilities to fulfill and different perceptions of society as a whole and also of themselves as an individual of that society.

In South African society I can see the evidence of division of labour. South Africa has become much more industrialized and modern as time has passed and in order to keep up with the changing world South Africa has had to evolve very fast in terms of industry and society. This means that as industry becomes more global there is the need for specialized workers and technicians. This should be a positive result but south Africa now faces the problem of emigration.

Even though there are a great deal of specialized workers in South Africa there is the big issue of the brain drain. Many of these specialists are leaving South Africa and moving overseas to where the opportunities are better and the work is more rewarding. Durkheims theory helps me to understand society a bit more in the sense that I know understand that these individuals are doing this because other countries have a greater division of labour, thus these specialists are needed more urgently and therefore there is great rewards and pay for them elsewhere as compared to the opportunities and rewards available in south Africa.

Another factor that coincides with the theories of durkheim is that of industrial revolution (fundamental concepts of sociology). With regard to the industrial revolution, there was a major shift in technology, socio-economic status and there was even rapid cultural change. This in turn affected the agricultural and textile sectors as well. This saw the beginning of unionization. Unions emerged as the voices of the underprivileged workers and those who could not defend themselves. However although people were coming together and urbanization was high individuals were growing more and more isolated. Marx called this process ‘isolation’ and ‘alienation’. These were results of unchecked capitalism. Capitalism brought about the creation of slums and poor working conditions of mass of wage laborers and it also saw a hike in unemployment.

I feel that this can be used as a benchmark when studying contemporary South African society. There have been enormous amounts of industrialization in South Africa and it has been rather quite rapid. The rapidness of the industrialization had meant that the workers were almost always left on the fringes; sufficient thought was not given to the rights and privileges of the workers. The unions then emerged and gave previously voiceless workers a means to air their thoughts, demands and requests. Present day South African society still has the problems of wage increase demands, payment cuts, retrenchment and much more. There are always protests and meetings going on in the hope that it will help solve the problems that workers face. These are current issues that face the south African society of today daily.

Another reason durkheim helps me to understand south African society was the ideas and thoughts that he had on the topic of religion. "For we know today that a religion does not necessarily imply symbols and rites , properly speaking, or temples and priests. This whole exterior apparatus is only the superficial part. Essentially, it is nothing other than a body of collective beliefs and practices endowed with a certain authority." (1973, p. 51 [excerpt from "Individualism and the Intellectuals"])(Web 1) durkheim claimed that religion was not divine or supernatural but rather that it was a phenomenon created by early society. He said that it was however a source of identification and solidarity for the individuals in society. Durkheim did not dismiss religion, although it is a man made system he believes that it is critical in managing society. It meant that there was a certain amount of order and togetherness and it was easier to manage society and its individuals as compared to a society where there was no concept of religion.

In modern societies however, religion is losing its clout because people are moving away from religion and into more secularized societies that do not see the need for religion. In primitive, orthodox societies religion was given utmost importance but as the world became more modernized and industrialized, so too did society become more secularized as compared to before. This type of society gives prevalence to secular ideas and to restitutive law. Religion is given the back seat and more importance is given to the individual.

The change from a mechanical solidarity to organic solidarity has been catalyzed by the industrial revolution. Individuals no longer need to occupy the same place in society. Before people used to be similar in most aspects from work to beliefs but now there has come a period in time when there is a necessity for specialized work, ideas and even beliefs. Religion can no longer be seen as the main pillar of the community. This leads to the breakdown of important norms and values and this in turn leads to anomie and discord amongst the individuals and society. People slowly begin to loose their identity as well as their ideas of who they are. Durkheim does mention that when individuals loose faith in the old religions new ones emerge. These are seen as a way for individuals and society to collectively demonstrate and express their ideas, values and sentiments.

In South African society I feel that this movement from religion to secular is very evident. People have become fragmented and distant from the idea of religion. The idea still exists but even though people claim that they are Muslim, Christian, Hindu etc it still remains as a name. Individuals are no longer interested in the religious side of society. Individuals have become more involved in the idea of oneself and material interests and enjoyment. Society has lost sight of the spiritual and gotten hold of the material. Even though there are many attempts being made by religious organizations to get youth involved in religion and religious work it is not working. The youth of south Africa are currently too caught up with the globalizing world and the ideas of wealth and enjoyment to consider that there might be a reason behind having the aspect of religion present in society

Another theory of durkheim’s that sparked my interest was his notion of anomie. Durkheim stated that anomie refers to the breakdown of social norms. Individuals are at a loss as to where they belong and how to behave with each other. Durkheim says that this is what leads to deviant behaviour and the breakdown of social interaction. He observed that social periods of disruption (economic depression, for instance) brought about greater anomie and higher rates of crime, suicide, and deviance. Durkheim felt that sudden change caused a state of anomie. (Web 2). Durkheims said that the state/phenomenon of anomie resulted in deviant behavior, disintegration of norms and social breakdown.

The most notable of the deviant behavior would be suicide. Durkheim identified 4 types of suicide; Egotistic, altruistic, anomic and fatalistic. Egotistic suicide was described by durkheim to occur to those individuals who had little or less association with society. An example could be an unmarried man, he has less social support and less responsibility as compared to a married man who has a home, children etc. in these cases it is easier for individuals to commit suicide as they have little support or reason to live.

The total opposite of Egotistic suicide would be Altruistic suicide. This is the result of too much social integration and interaction. So much so that the individual loses sight of his/her individuality and will sacrifice anything for society, an example could be military persons/soldiers. Anomic suicide according to durkheim occurred on a moral scale. He divided this into 4 categories- acute economic anomie, chronic economic anomie, acute domestic anomie and chronic domestic anomie. Each of these categories involves an imbalance of means and needs where the means are unable to fulfill the needs.

I felt that this was relevant to contemporary South African society because it highlights the problem of suicide, the breakdown of norms and even crime. The suicide and crime rates that are found in South Africa are among the highest in the world. Crime, according to durkheim, mens that society is changing or has the ability to change. He also stated in his literary works that crime can be seen as a result of extreme and rapid changes in society.

South African society is constantly in a state of flux and the individuals in the society have a difficult time adjusting and constantly adapting to the ever changing norms and values that society present. This has put extra strain on the people in society and lead to extreme behaviour such as crime and suicide.

So far I have dealt with those aspects of durkheim’s works that I feel are evident in south African society but like I mentioned earlier socialism is also evident in contemporary south African society. Karl Marx deals with socialism in societies and the different systems that are found in socialist societies.

The term socialism is used to refer to an economic system characterized by state ownership of the means of production and distribution. According to marx the socialist system was the system that arises after the proleteriat revolution. The modes of production are owned collectively. He also deals with aspects such as poverty and the importance of the worker as compared to the owners of businesses.

"Pauperism forms a condition of capitalist production, and of the capitalist development of wealth. It forms part of the incidental expenses of capitalist production: but capital usually knows how to transfer these from its own shoulders and the petty bourgeoisie". Extract from Capital. (Web 3)

This is an important point because according to Marx poverty also created alienation from society as a whole. It is a result of unchecked capitalism and is usually shrugged of the shoulders of the elite and the ‘bourgeoisie’. This is so evident in South African society; the issues of poverty and crime have been given the back seat many times before and will continue to be there as long as the ‘bourgeoisie’ are able to shrug it off.

Marx viewed the struggle of workers as an historical force. It would proceed from the class struggle of the proletariat and eventually lead to a socialist dictatorship of the proletariat and eventually result in a classless society/ communism.(Web 4). I do not however feel that South African society is ready for a classless society and I do not think that individuals would allow it. Although we do not have apartheid in South Africa any longer there are still those individuals who will not allow race and class to become non-existent. They still believe that certain classes deserve special treatment and privileges.

Marxist ideas are evident in certain sectors of contemporary South African society such as the government. They are also applicable to the idea of society as a whole; Property is owned according to the individual’s capacity and is not necessarily decided by the government. However there is not a lot that helps me understand contemporary South African society as efficiently as Durkheims ideas and views.

Although I have mostly spoken about Durkheim and his theories and ideas I will not go so far as to claim that South African society is a totally capitalist or completely socialist society. I rather feel that it is a combination of both or that contemporary south African society is evolving and changing and perhaps it is some where in between. Certain people might claim that previously South Africa was run by capitalists but I do not agree with this. As a south African citizen I cannot exactly pinpoint what type of society I live in but I do know that there are issues and problems that are present now that where discussed much earlier by these theorists. Perhaps that is why I am able to identify and understand a bit more when reading their works and theories. The issues such as poverty, crime, and class discrimination and workers strikes will always, somehow, be a part of the contemporary South African society.

Refrences:

Anthony giddens: fundamental concepts of sociology

J. E. Goldthorpe: the sociology of the third world: Second addition: Cambridge university press.

Web 1: http://www.durkheim.itgo.com

Web 2: http://www.en.wikipedia.org

Web 3: http://www.socialismtoday.org

Web 4: http://www.indexmundi.com