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Presented byPresented by

MD. Mahbubur Rahman MD. Mahbubur Rahman

Lecturer in GEDLecturer in GED

Northern University BangladeshNorthern University Bangladesh

E-mail: jillurmahbub@gmail.com E-mail: jillurmahbub@gmail.com

Lecture- 2: Society and Social Class

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IntroductionIntroduction Association, interaction, interrelation, Association, interaction, interrelation,

interconnection and interdependence all interconnection and interdependence all these are the first and foremost these are the first and foremost significant concepts of the universe. significant concepts of the universe. Association between living organisms or Association between living organisms or between living and nonliving organisms or between living and nonliving organisms or their interdependence is the prerequisite their interdependence is the prerequisite and indispensable for the survival of both. and indispensable for the survival of both. And, society is the web of human And, society is the web of human association or relationship within living association or relationship within living and nonliving organisms (physical and nonliving organisms (physical environment). environment).

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IntroductionIntroduction

Let’s now Let’s now definedefine the concept ‘society’, the concept ‘society’, classifyclassify society from both Marxist and society from both Marxist and non-Marxist viewpoints, non-Marxist viewpoints, identifyidentify different social classes in the human different social classes in the human history and finally, history and finally, detectdetect the type of the type of Bangladeshi society compared to the Bangladeshi society compared to the historical societies in order to know historical societies in order to know of the socio-economic condition of the of the socio-economic condition of the country.country.

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Definition of Definition of Society: Society:

The English The English word ‘society’word ‘society’ derived from the derived from the Latin word Latin word sociussocius means "companion, means "companion, associate, comrade or business partner." associate, comrade or business partner." Notably, this association must be of human Notably, this association must be of human being rather than of lower animals or other being rather than of lower animals or other living organisms as Aristotle said: living organisms as Aristotle said:

Man is a social animal. The person who Man is a social animal. The person who doesn’t want to live in the society is either doesn’t want to live in the society is either God or animal. So, God or animal. So, society is the complex of society is the complex of organized associations and institutions organized associations and institutions with a communitywith a community..

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• MacIverMacIver defined society as a “web of defined society as a “web of social relationship”.social relationship”.

• Moris Ginsberg saidMoris Ginsberg said, “A society is a , “A society is a collection of individuals united by certain collection of individuals united by certain relations or mode of behaviour which relations or mode of behaviour which mark them off from others who do not mark them off from others who do not enter into these relations or who differ enter into these relations or who differ from them in behaviour”.from them in behaviour”.

• Cambridge Advanced Dictionary Cambridge Advanced Dictionary defined defined society as “a large group of people who society as “a large group of people who live together in an organized way, making live together in an organized way, making decisions about how to do things and decisions about how to do things and sharing the work that needs to be donesharing the work that needs to be done.”.”

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DefinitionDefinition• A society is a body of humans generally seen as a A society is a body of humans generally seen as a

community. or group of humans or other organisms community. or group of humans or other organisms of a single species that is delineated by the bounds of a single species that is delineated by the bounds of cultural identity, social solidarity, functional of cultural identity, social solidarity, functional interdependence, A society is an interdependence, A society is an economiceconomic, , socialsocial or or industrialindustrial infrastructure, made up of a varied infrastructure, made up of a varied multitude of individuals. Members of a society may multitude of individuals. Members of a society may be from different ethnic groups. be from different ethnic groups.

• A society may be a particular ethnic group, such as A society may be a particular ethnic group, such as the Saxons; a nation state, such as Bhutan; a broader the Saxons; a nation state, such as Bhutan; a broader cultural group, such as a Western society. The word cultural group, such as a Western society. The word societysociety may also refer to an organized voluntary may also refer to an organized voluntary association of people for religious, benevolent, association of people for religious, benevolent, cultural, scientific, political, patriotic, or other cultural, scientific, political, patriotic, or other purposes. purposes.

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Since no single definition of society is universally Since no single definition of society is universally applicable, we can conceptualize the term through applicable, we can conceptualize the term through the following characteristics:the following characteristics:

1. Society consists of people1. Society consists of people

2. Mutual interaction and mutual awareness2. Mutual interaction and mutual awareness

3. Both common and multiple interests3. Both common and multiple interests

4. Society is dynamic, not static4. Society is dynamic, not static

5. Each society has its own culture5. Each society has its own culture

6. Cooperation and division of labour. 6. Cooperation and division of labour.

7. Both likeness and difference7. Both likeness and difference

8. Both ‘we’ feeling and ‘they’ feeling 8. Both ‘we’ feeling and ‘they’ feeling

9. Society has the dominance over its 9. Society has the dominance over its members (Social Control)members (Social Control)

10. Society has different parts like human 10. Society has different parts like human organismorganism..

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Type of Society and Different social Type of Society and Different social ClassesClasses Sociological typology of society has major Sociological typology of society has major

two views: two views:

1. Marxist View and1. Marxist View and

2. Non- Marxist view.2. Non- Marxist view.

Marxist View:Marxist View: Marx tried to classify society in Marx tried to classify society in terms of mode of production or an economic terms of mode of production or an economic base. To Marx, base. To Marx, development of society tends development of society tends to be economic in nature that to be economic in nature that is today known is today known as historical materialism. Simply stated, as historical materialism. Simply stated, since there are different modes of production since there are different modes of production in the history, different types of society and in the history, different types of society and different social classes were noted. different social classes were noted.

Mode of Production may be defined through Mode of Production may be defined through the following figure:the following figure:

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Mode of ProductionMode of Production

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Marx, on the basis of mode of production, Marx, on the basis of mode of production, classified society into 6 categories and classified society into 6 categories and mentioned different social classes in those mentioned different social classes in those societies. To him, different types of societies. To him, different types of society emerged as a result of class society emerged as a result of class struggle as evident from the following struggle as evident from the following figure:figure:

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Marxist Model of Social Transformation

Mode ofProductio

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Emergence of New Society

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Table: Historical Type of Society by Karl Marx Table: Historical Type of Society by Karl Marx

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Society Based on Islamic Society Based on Islamic EconomyEconomy

Whereas capitalist economy is based on Whereas capitalist economy is based on the private ownership of property and the private ownership of property and exploitation poor masses and communism exploitation poor masses and communism does not support private ownership and does not support private ownership and class based society, Islam synthesize class based society, Islam synthesize these two notions. It is Islam which, in one these two notions. It is Islam which, in one hand, acknowledges private ownership of hand, acknowledges private ownership of property and, on the other hand, property and, on the other hand, minimizes the gap between the rich and minimizes the gap between the rich and poor. Interestingly, though Islamic poor. Interestingly, though Islamic economy is based on that Shariah (Quran, economy is based on that Shariah (Quran, Hadith, Izma & Qias) is older than Marxist Hadith, Izma & Qias) is older than Marxist and non-Marxist economic notions, there and non-Marxist economic notions, there is a synthesis in Islamic economy. is a synthesis in Islamic economy.

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Islam has set some standards, based on Islam has set some standards, based on justice and practicality, for such economic justice and practicality, for such economic systems to be established.  These systems to be established.  These standards aim to prevent the enmity that standards aim to prevent the enmity that often occurs between different often occurs between different socioeconomic sections. Actually, Islamic socioeconomic sections. Actually, Islamic economy is neither Socialist nor Capitalist, economy is neither Socialist nor Capitalist, but a third way with none of the but a third way with none of the drawbacks of the other two systems. drawbacks of the other two systems.

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Characteristics of Islamic Economic SystemCharacteristics of Islamic Economic System

As a complete way of life, Islam has As a complete way of life, Islam has provided guidelines and rules for provided guidelines and rules for every sphere of life and society.every sphere of life and society.

▶▶An Islamic economic system is not An Islamic economic system is not necessarily concerned with the necessarily concerned with the precise amount of financial income precise amount of financial income and expenditureand expenditure, imports and exports, , imports and exports, and other economic statistics.and other economic statistics.

▶▶A society that implements A society that implements Islamic Islamic laws and promotes Islamic mannerslaws and promotes Islamic manners will find that it brings together will find that it brings together all the all the systemssystems – social, economic, and so – social, economic, and so forth – that it deals with progress and forth – that it deals with progress and also peaceful things.also peaceful things.

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▶▶In Islam, human behavior -whether in the In Islam, human behavior -whether in the economic area or others – economic area or others – is not value freeis not value free; nor ; nor is it value neutral.  It is connected with the is it value neutral.  It is connected with the ideological foundation of the faith. ideological foundation of the faith.

Other Economic Aspects in Islam:Other Economic Aspects in Islam:

▶▶Property: Property: The Qur'an states that God is the sole The Qur'an states that God is the sole owner of all matter in the heavens and the owner of all matter in the heavens and the earth. Man, however, holds God's possessions earth. Man, however, holds God's possessions in trust (in trust (amanatamanat). ).

Islamic jurists have divided properties into threeIslamic jurists have divided properties into three categories:categories:

a) a) Public property- Public property- Public property in Islam refers Public property in Islam refers to natural resources (forests, uncultivated to natural resources (forests, uncultivated land, water, mines, oceanic resources etc.) over land, water, mines, oceanic resources etc.) over which all humans have equal right.which all humans have equal right.

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b) State property- Unclaimed, unoccupied b) State property- Unclaimed, unoccupied and heir less properties, including and heir less properties, including uncultivated land can be considered state uncultivated land can be considered state property.property.

c) Private property- There is consensus c) Private property- There is consensus amongst Islamic jurists and social amongst Islamic jurists and social scientists that Islam recognizes and scientists that Islam recognizes and upholds the individual's right to private upholds the individual's right to private ownership.ownership.

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▶▶Market:Market:

Islam accepts markets as the basic co-Islam accepts markets as the basic co-ordinating mechanism of the economic ordinating mechanism of the economic system. system.

It allows consumers to obtain desired It allows consumers to obtain desired goods, producers to sell their goods, at a goods, producers to sell their goods, at a mutually acceptable price.mutually acceptable price.

The The three necessary conditionsthree necessary conditions of market- of market-

a) Freedom of exchange (a) Freedom of exchange (engage in trade, and engage in trade, and rejects the contention that trade is forbiddenrejects the contention that trade is forbidden.), .),

b) Private ownership and b) Private ownership and

c) Security of contract. The longest verse of c) Security of contract. The longest verse of the Qur'an deals with commercial the Qur'an deals with commercial contracts involving immediate and future contracts involving immediate and future payments.payments.

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▶▶Banking:Banking: Islamic economic institutions, not just the Islamic economic institutions, not just the

Islamic bank but all those connected with Islamic bank but all those connected with Islamic banking operates on the Islamic banking operates on the basis of basis of "zero interest." "zero interest."

For example, consider the practical reality For example, consider the practical reality of of purchasing a vehicle from an Islamic purchasing a vehicle from an Islamic bankbank under an allegedly "zero interest" under an allegedly "zero interest" loan. loan.

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▶▶Welfare: Social welfare, unemployment, Welfare: Social welfare, unemployment, public debt and globalization have been public debt and globalization have been re-examined from the perspective of re-examined from the perspective of Islamic norms and values.Islamic norms and values.

▶▶Popularity and availability: Today there are Popularity and availability: Today there are many financial institutions, many financial institutions, even in the even in the Western worldWestern world, offering financial services , offering financial services and products in and products in accordance with the rules accordance with the rules of the Islamic finance.of the Islamic finance. Like many Like many countries of the western Europe initiated countries of the western Europe initiated the Islamic banking system because of its the Islamic banking system because of its continuous monitoring and handling about continuous monitoring and handling about the money for using it properly .the money for using it properly .

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▶▶Issues of Development and Growth:Issues of Development and Growth: Islamic development more comprehensive Islamic development more comprehensive

then other economic system, because it then other economic system, because it refers also hereafter and today’s world.refers also hereafter and today’s world.

In Islam, allow all inter generation right on In Islam, allow all inter generation right on wealth.wealth.

▶▶Poverty issues in Islam:Poverty issues in Islam: Jakah can remove povertyJakah can remove poverty, In developing , In developing

countries it is difficult to remove poverty. countries it is difficult to remove poverty. To remove poverty have to create charity To remove poverty have to create charity fund and to give free interest loan, but it fund and to give free interest loan, but it is totally impossible because no is totally impossible because no developed country will give a single developed country will give a single money without interest. So only jakah money without interest. So only jakah from the able persons can change the from the able persons can change the poverty situations from any country.poverty situations from any country.