Scheme 8.2. Types of Social Mobility

In the process of development of society, its social structure does not remain unchanged. At the micro level, relationships, social ties, group composition, statuses and roles, relations between groups are changing. At the macro level, the quantitative composition of the lower and middle layers is changed by the economic situation and political decisions of the authorities, legal and moral standards. In addition, each person is striving to improve his status.

All this creates a not frozen, not static, but dynamic picture of society. One of the processes of social dynamics is social mobility.

Social mobility is the transition of an individual or social group from one stratum to another.

Social mobility is distinguished by type, type and sphere.

• Horizontal - this is the movement within its stratum. For example, the transfer of an engineer from one plant to another to a similar position.

• Vertical - this is the movement from the lower stratum to the higher (ascension) or from the higher stratum to the lower (descent).

• Individual is an indicator of changes in a person’s position in society (status).

• Group — This is a change in group status. For example, an increase in wages for military personnel.

In addition, social mobility is distinguished by areas: economic, political, social, cultural, etc.

The intensity of social mobility depends on the level of development of society, economic conditions, democratic relations, living standards of the population.

Post-industrial society is characterized by intense, vertical mobility. In a democratic society where a person’s position does not depend on his prescribed status, nationality, religion, the channels of vertical mobility are open, and everyone who meets certain requirements has the opportunity to improve their social status.

G. Mosca believed that there are three possible options for the social mobility of the elite: “perpetuating” without renewal, “perpetuating” with renewal, and “pure” renewal. The best option for a stable society is the second, that is, the systematic renewal of the elite within the established limits.

The same situation is true for the concept of non-elitist, democratic society. Obviously, there is a specific limit, the threshold of social mobility, which without violating stability, sustainability of the social structure and processes cannot be exceeded.

In a democratic society where there are no social, national and other restrictions, nevertheless, there is a social mechanism that restrains mobility and prevents it from reaching its critical limit. This is a mechanism of competition, which manifests itself in the struggle to improve social status. Opportunities in this struggle largely depend on the level of education, abilities, physical condition, and opposition from other people who occupy neighboring positions in the social structure of society (above, below, next).

Thus, there is no stable society where social mobility is not limited. Unlimited mobility means a crisis in society, when the ruling elite and its supporting layers are completely changed. Lack of mobility means stagnation and decay of society.

Scheme 8.3. Social Mobility Channels

1. School (education). The school not only provides primary education, but also produces primary selection (selection). First, the selection goes to schools. Pupils of prestigious (private, specialized) schools have better chances for entering a university. At the end of the school, according to the appropriate selection mechanism, graduates are allocated either to production, or to a college (technical school), or to a university.

2. The family. From the upbringing, knowledge and skills acquired in the family, from the ties that the family has, much depends on the fate of a person. In addition, the second family, which man himself created, is of great importance. The social status of the wife and her family is also a channel of social mobility.

3. Professional organizations. Professional organizations (industrial, agricultural, scientific, managerial) are the next link in social selection, a channel of social mobility. Graduates of the same university may receive a different distribution. In addition, in the primary position, people with different abilities and capabilities have different terms. In a meritocratic society, that is, in a society where the status of a person is directly related to the benefit they bring (lat. Meritas - benefit), social selection is made according to personal qualities and depends on the efficiency of the individual. In an authoritarian society, other selection mechanisms are triggered: communications in power structures, personal loyalty to the boss, support for a certain policy, ideology.

4. Political parties. Political parties are an important channel for vertical mobility. Example: B. Gryzlov, became the chairman of the Duma, using such a mobility channel as the party "United Russia".

5. The army. A specific channel of social mobility is the army. In ancient history, many cases have been noted when people, using a military career, climbed to the very top of the social pyramid. According to P. Sorokin, out of 96 Roman emperors, 36 began their activities in the lower strata of society and achieved supreme power through military service. In modern times, everyone knows the example of Napoleon. In modern history, these are C. de Gaulle, D. Eisenhower, G. Zhukov.