Editing Max Weber (section)

====Social stratification====
{{Main|Three-component theory of stratification}}

Weber also formulated a three-component theory of stratification that contained the conceptually distinct elements of social class, [[social status]], and political party.{{sfnm|1a1=Weber|1y=2015b|1pp=37–40|2a1=Parkin|2y=2013|2p=90}} This distinction was most clearly described in his essay "The Distribution of Power Within the {{Lang|de|Gemeinschaft}}: Classes, {{Lang|de|Stände}}, Parties", which was first published in his book ''Economy and Society''.{{sfn|Weber|2015b|pp=37–40}} Status served as one of the central ways in which people were ranked in society. As part of it, issues of honour and prestige were important.{{sfnm|1a1=Weber|1y=2015b|1pp=37–40|2a1=Bendix|2a2=Roth|2y=1977|2pp=85–87|3a1=Parkin|3y=2013|3pp=96–97}} With regards to class, the theory placed heavy emphasis on [[class conflict]] and [[private property]] as having been key to its definition.{{sfn|Parkin|2013|pp=91–96}} While Weber drew upon Marx's interpretation of class conflict in his definition of class, he did not see it as having defined all social relations and stratification.{{sfnm|1a1=Weber|1y=2015b|1pp=37–58|2a1=Parkin|2y=2013|2pp=92–93, 98|3a1=Bendix|3a2=Roth|3y=1977|3pp=85–87}} Political parties were not given as much attention by Weber as the other two components were, as he thought that they were not particularly effectual in their actions. Their purpose was to seek power to benefit their members materially or ideologically.{{sfnm|1a1=Parkin|1y=2013|1pp=104–108|2a1=Weber|2y=2015b|2pp=37–40|3a1=Swedberg|3a2=Agevall|3y=2016|3p=246}}

The three components of Weber's theory were:{{sfnm|1a1=Weber|1y=2015b|1pp=37–40|2a1=Parkin|2y=2013|2p=90}}
# Social class – Based on an economically determined relationship with the market
# Status ({{Langx|de|Stand|label=none}}) – Based on non-economic qualities such as honour and prestige
# Party – Affiliations in the political domain

This conceptualisation emerged from Weber's study of farm labour and the stock exchange, as he found social relationships that were unexplainable through economic class alone. The [[Junker (Prussia)|Junker]]s had social rules regarding marriage between different social levels and farm labourers had a strong sense of independence, neither of which was economically based.{{sfn|Bendix|Roth|1977}} Weber maintained a sharp distinction between the terms "status" and "class", although non-scholars tend to use them interchangeably in casual use.{{sfnm|1a1=Waters|1a2=Waters|1y=2016|1pp=1–2|2a1=Parkin|2y=2013|2pp=96–97}} Status and its focus on honour emerged from the {{Lang|de|[[Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft|Gemeinschaft]]}}, which denoted the part of society where loyalty originated from. Class emerged from the {{Lang|de|Gesellschaft}}, a subdivision of the {{Lang|de|Gemeinschaft}} that included rationally driven markets and legal organisation. Parties emerged from a combination of the two.{{sfn|Waters|Waters|2016|pp=1–2}} Weber interpreted [[life chances]], the opportunities to improve one's life, as having been a definitional aspect of class. It related to the differences in access to opportunities that different people might have had in their lives.{{sfnm|1a1=Swedberg|1a2=Agevall|1y=2016|1pp=41–42, 192|2a1=Waters|2a2=Waters|2y=2016|2pp=2–3}} The relationship between status and class was not straightforward. One of them could lead to the other, but an individual or group could have success in one but not the other.{{sfn|Parkin|2013|pp=104–108}}