Social inequalities and the development of society from a sociological perspective

Abstract

The aim of the article is to attempt to answer the questions: what are the causes of inequality throughout history, what are the causes of inequality in today’s post-industrial society and how can the growing inequalities be counteracted. The analysis of the social inequalities in the development of society employs a sociological approach. The values that lead to the social inequalities: power, money and prestige, can be demonstrated as being part of the history of the inequalities taking place in European society and its development since the 19th century. The article focuses on the concept of social stratification becoming one with progressive social development. It introduces theories explaining social inequalities. Social inequality is classified as one of the most important social problems. It stresses that inequality in life time is changing. It is noted that social inequality and economic development are reciprocal. It is pointed out that today’s post-industrial society has increased the role of education and profession, and that education is today one of the essential goods that diversifies whole social groups; it is also a factor in the reduction of marginal inequality. It was considered that unemployment and precariat constitute an important social problem of the 21st century. It is shown that inequality continues to grow, leading to difficulties in the development of society. It presents a number of factors (in practice) which cause the reduction in social inequalities, as well as the negative consequences of social divisions.