Module Code and Title: The Individual, State, and Society - Essay Example

Module Code and Title: The Individual, State and Society Title of Assignment: MODERN, CAPITALIST SOCIETY Student Number: Tutor’s Name: Date of Submission: Content 1. Introduction 2. Overview of a modern capitalist society 3. Understanding individualism and collectivism 4. Discussion of the extent to which the capitalist society should be organized according to the individualist values rather than the collectivist values. 5. Conclusion Introduction A capitalist society is one that has an economic system whose basis is on private ownership in regards to both the means of production and the process of creation of goods and services for the purpose of making profits for business enterprises that are privately owned. A capitalist society may take different forms, which include state capitalism, mixed economies and laissez-faire. Since time in history capitalism has undergone revolution with political economists, economists and historians all over the world taking different perspectives as far the analysis of a capitalist society is concerned (Christian 2007, p.113). To a very high degree, the organization of modern capitalist society is seen to have characteristics of both individualism and collectivism. However, the big question arises as to what extent the capitalist society should be organized according to the individualist setup rather than the collectivist setup. To begin with, individualism implies to the organization that encompasses the promotion of and exercises an individual’s objectives and desires hence reflecting the value of self-reliance and independence. With this organization, there is greater opposition of any external influence or interference by the society as far as an individual’s interests are concerned (Swart and Koenraad 2007, p.80). On the other hand, collectivism is the kind of organization that shows greater emphasis on the existence of interdependence in the society. With this, organization groups’ goals are prioritized over personal individual goals with the promotion of cohesion within the groups in the society (Triandis and Harry 2001, p 59). Contrary to individualists, collectivists have their focus on the nation, community or society. Through out history, both individualism and collectivism have been seen to exist in diverse types of economic and educational, government and political philosophies. The elements of individualist and collectivists have been contained in most societies. The extent to which the modern capitalist society should be more individualistic rather that collectivistic relates highly to the matters of policy and politics. It is quite a fact that the society moves towards liberalization day after a day (Gray 2008, p.66). This is evidenced by the fact that quite a number of political ideologies have cropped up supporting capitalism in the modern world from the perspective of liberalization which is understood to relate more to individualism (Louis 2003, p.24). In the contrary, collectivism is understood to stifle the aspects of diversity and individuality through the emphasis placed and stressed upon common social identification for instance nationalism. The implication is therefore that for the people in the modern capitalist society to enjoy democracy and their individual rights it should be more focused to the individualistic organization than to the collectivist organization. In the modern capitalist society, there exist class systems which are understood as to relate to a certain level of economic nature. The capitalist class constitutes self-made men and it is only open to people who have quite essential individual qualities (Christian 2007, p. 116). This concept relating to social classes in the society is seen to be more closely related to the organization of the society from an individualistic point of view. Today, individual people are seen to be more attached to their own personal welfare rather than to the social groups in which they are part. It is with no doubt that, from an economic perspective, these people have their class interests they want to attach themselves to, with the freedom of being part of any group if they wish to. In this case, within the sphere of modern capitalism the aspect social mobility is demonstrated. Against this is a good example of the caste system in India whereby there no promotion of an individualistic society (Triandis and Harry 2001, p.67). It is therefore crucial to have the modern capitalist society to uphold individualistic perspective in order to enable individual to exercise their won freedom as they wish. In the modern society, capitalism sides with the idea that every individual in the society is entitled to enjoy their own rights including the right of expression of their own personal opinions (Steven 2002, p.55). This way, people are able to concentrate and focus on their own individual achievements and rights. The society to a very high degree reflects features in which there exist loose ties among individuals. There is therefore an aspect of motivation for an individual to work hard to achieve personal goals and make life comfortable for themselves and their immediate families (Louis 2003, p.27). In this case, there is free exercise of loyalty and without having any constraints. On the other hand, with collectivism societies constitute people who have very strong ties including their extended families whereby care and protection showed by all members and to all members without necessarily questioning their loyalty. To some extent, such a system seems quite burdening if only a few individuals within the society are seen to put efforts of hard work. Therefore, the modern capitalist society should be organized in line with individualistic organization rather than collectivist organization. For instance, Germany is a good example of a society where people place more emphasis on individual rights and individual achievements. Within this society, it is expected that each German have the responsibility of fulfilling own personal needs. They are basically not against people working as a group but they uphold the fact that each and every individual has the right of their own opinions. In Germany therefore, people are seen to have more relationships that are loose than it is depicted in a society where collectivism is emphasized (Triandis and Harry 2001, p.70). The modern capitalist society demonstrates some certain levels of competition with the market system. People in the society are striving to gain competitive advantage and have a substantial share of the market. This is due to the fact there many sellers and buyers of goods and services. It is competition that is seen to organize and control prices in the market (Scott and John 2000, p.36). Such a state of competition can be achieved within the individualistic setup whereby individuals own enterprises and want to obtain personal developments and achievements from their operations in the market since they have personal goals and objectives that they wish to achieve. This is seen as the road map towards better living and alleviation of poverty. From a collectivist perspective, because emphasis is on the achievement of a common goal, it is quite rare to find people competing. From this, we find that since the society has undergone immense change, in as far as market operations are concerned, there is need for the modern capitalist society to embrace individualism in order to complement the characteristics depicted by economic markets today. For instance, the United States depicts individualistic characteristics with the American dream being a very good representation of the same (Louis 2003, p 29). It basically implies to the hope that Americans have a life this if of a better quality and higher living standards. The belief that is reflected is that, regardless of one’s status in the society each and every individual can raise their status from being poor. In the world today, international commerce has expanded on large scale constituting various aspects of large-scale industry, machinery and growth of major financial institutions as far as power is concerned. These transformations can only be achieved in a state where personal growth and development is promoted (Louis 2003, p.25). Within industries, division of labour has taken root to make work more efficient and effective in a bid to yield greater performance. It reflects some levels of specialization whereby an individual is given the opportunity to achieve personal goals in their area of work in as far as the acquisition of knowledge and skills are concerned (Mark 2006, p.32). On the contrary, with a collectivist setup it might not be possible to achieve much development due to the fact that some individuals may be reluctant to contribute to their efforts towards greater industrialization. Therefore, the modern capitalist society should have an organization that is more individualistic rather than being collectivistic for the purpose of supporting economic development globally with the foundation of such success being personal achievements at the grass root level. In conclusion, though there are modern capitalist societies that are seen to achieve development without necessarily depending on the individualism but collectivism with a good example being Japan, there is need for these societies to take heed and consider the fact the fact that humans have their own personal desires which each wishes to fulfill. They need to be given the opportunity to exercise their freedom and enjoy their own personal rights. This is due to the fact that the society is changing and people have their own personal interest different from the other. Though the ultimate relationship existing between capitalism and individualism may be changing from time to time, the modern capitalist society should be organized from an individualistic point of view rather than the collectivists. References Christian, B 2007, Capitalism, Ethics and the Paradoxon of Self-exploitation, New York, GRIN Verlag. Gray, J 2008, Faces of Liberalism, New York, the New Press Louis, D 2003, Essays on Individualism: Modern Ideology in Anthropological Perspective, Chicago, University Of Chicago Press. Mark, O 2006, Profit Theory and Capitalism, Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press. Scott, L and John, U 2000, Capitalism, The Penguin dictionary of sociology, London Steven, L 2002, Individualism, New York, Springer. Swart, F and Koenraad, W 2007, "Individualism", Journal of the History of Ideas, vol. 23, no. 1, p. 77–90. Triandis, M and Harry, C 2001, “Individualism-Collectivism and Personality", Journal of Personality, vol. 69, no. 6, p. 56-72 Read More