Sociology: Capitalism, Socialism and the Concept of Mixed Economy - Essay Example

Sociology Define capitalism and socialism and the concept of mixed economy. Both capitalism and socialism involves two planes: the political andthe economic. For capitalism, it is essential to demarcate the political and the economic levels that are involved within the structure of capitalistic ideologies. Assumptions concerning the political or economic levels are often omitted to the benefit only of hazy thinking. Capitalism centers around the concepts of individually owned private property in a decentralized market operated by the forces of supply and demand in the quest for profit. Capitalism means that the “government leaves the people alone regarding all economic activities. It is the separation of economy and state” (Capitalism, socialism and Mixed-Economy, 2007). According to Przeworski (1990) capitalist economic system working under a totalitarian political one is possible. In most cases, capitalism requires a democratic political system in which to function. Likewise a socialist economic system can be either part of Communism or Socialism. Thus capitalist economic institutions under totalitarian governments (for instance, Fascist or Communist) become generally more centralized, more planned, and rely less or not at all on a free market. Capitalism, therefore, requires a democratic political environment if it is to exist and function. It should be recognized that state ownership, and control, and planning produce a bureaucracy and power situation which may latently provide the basis for totalitarianism. Socialism means ”control of property is put into the hands of society as a whole” (Capitalism, socialism and Mixed-Economy, 2007). The classical argument for the perfectly competitive, and free market has therefore been under considerable attack for some years. The weak point of socialist system is that it rests on collectivism which limits free market operations and economic performance. One of the most obvious features of collectivism as an economic system is the absence of the right of private persons to hold property. Property rights of a sort might exist under an absolute dictatorship to the extent that the dictator personally controls all resources in the economy, which he would then regard as his personal property. In a collectivist society there are no market prices to help guide the dictator by serving as indicators of expected benefit and expected cost, and enabling him objectively and meaningfully to record the benefits and costs of each undertaking. A ‘mixed economy’ is a combination of capitalism and socialism which help to achieve the best economic condition. “It [mixed economy] is the attempt to gain the advantages of freedom without government having to give up its power” (Capitalism, socialism and Mixed-Economy, 2007). The mixed economy represents a self-ordering process embodying a powerful internal dynamic that tends to cycle the system between relatively free markets, on the one hand, and collectivist central planning and inevitable crisis, on the other. Furthermore, these crises can signal turning points at which the widespread realization of the inner contradictions generates pressure for dramatic and perhaps radical change. Taking into account advantages and disadvantages of these theories, it is possible to say that all of them have some limitations and advantages. The mixed economy is one of the best models which propose economic and political freedom. The dynamics of the mixed economy arise out of the attempt of some part of the state apparatus deliberately to alter the course of the market process toward an outcome different from the one that would have otherwise emerged. The theories show that market and governmental processes intermingle and influence each other in political, social and economic spheres. 2. Define and discuss the medicalization of society Medicalization of society has different definitions and interpretations but all of the researchers agree that the medicalization of society becomes an area of concern for the government and scientists. Medicalization means promotion and popularization of medicine and health-related issues as important social values. The authors explain that the medicalization of society is closely connected and affected by media and a message created by media. It has a direct influence on behavior of population as they are not passive viewers but active recipients who imitate and copy what they see and hear from the screen. The medicalization is defined as a process in which people see their problems, behavior and activities from medical perspective. “Medicalization occurs when a medical frame or definition has been applied to understand or manage a problem” (Conrad 1992, 209). Also, medicalization can be interpreted as an extensive social control over the health of citizens. On the one hand, popularization of healthcare and medical service, drugs and healthy way of life is an urgent need aimed to improve health of the nation. On the other hand, it becomes social scourge which ruins lives of millions of people. “Increasing reliance on scientific medicine and drugs” lead to tragic outcomes: inappropriate drugs usage, passive way of life, illnesses and deaths. From early years, people are supported and ‘guided’ by medical staff, and even “death came to be viewed as an event that requires the attendance of medical personnel” (Thompson, Hickey 1999, 550). People become helpless and passive performers of doctors will and social values. Thompson and Hickey (1999) underline that “the medical model of deviance” and plastic surgery are another areas of concern. The authors discuss a very important problem created by media and adverting stating that the medicalization sets limits on the behavior of people based on wrong social images and false diseases. They cite vivid examples and facts which force readers to rethink social norms and values they share. Also, it is possible to add to the research discussion of obesity problems and health-related diseases closely connected with the medicalization. Differentiation stems from the consciousness of forming a community with shared perfect health. In reality, most of people are exploited by medical services and pharmaceutical companies which “handle routine problems of everyday living” (Thompson, Hickey 1999, 550). Medicine is essential to medicalization. It denies that the involvement of medical practitioners and institutions is either a necessary or sufficient condition for medicalization. If medicalization involves extending the medical professions activities to some new area, then many diseases like obesity or alcoholism are only weakly medicalized. Conrad (1992) admits that result of medicalization is its contribution to the individualization of social problems. Also, he argues that "the medicalization of deviance is part of a larger phenomenon that is prevalent in our society: the individualization of social problems" (25). Culture permits problems to be attributed to "the society" rather than to the individual deviants. Moreover, the individualization of social problems entails the demand that individuals be seen as responsible for their actions. In sum, rather than waiving the requirement of medical involvement in the medicalization process, medicalization theory modifies its conceptualization of medicine itself. The apparent limitation of medicalization without medicine is resolved when medicalization theory adopts a constructionist view of medicine as well as of deviance. In spite benefits and advantages of medicalization, it becomes a social problem based on images of ideal body and healthy personality. It is a part of consumer culture which works by providing a wave of images and values designed to stimulate desire for healthcare services and drugs and in doing so provide an influential view of social ideals. References 1. Capitalism, Socialism and Mixed-Economy (2007). Importance of Philosophy 2. Conrad P. (1992). “Medicalization and Social Control." Annual Review of Sociology 18: 209-232. 3. Przeworski, Adam (1990). The State and the Economy Under Capitalism. New York: Harwood Academic Publishers. 4. Thompson, W., Hickey, J. (1999). Society in Focus. Fifth edn. Read More