G. Therborn's global sociology: theory of social inequalities

The problem of social inequality is one of the main theoretical issues in sociology. In the age of globalization there is a new subject, "global social inequality". Its novelty lies in the fact that there is not only an increase in the scale of inequality, but also an emergence of new types of inequality, as well as interpenetration of the "old" and "new" types that requires modification of research methodology. The economic, universalist (resource) approach to global inequality denies its fundamental novelty and recognizes only the change in the scale. It is opposed by a pluralist approach of "global sociology", and G. Therborn's theory of "social inequalities" is a constituent part of it. Therborn identifies three dimensions of inequality: vital, existential and resource. Each dimension corresponds to their "field": vital dimension corresponds to family, existential to social interaction, resource to property and employment. These fields are molded from vertical and horizontal inequalities which are denoted by metaphors of "ladders" and "circles". Each of the inequalities is formed by the influence of four differentiation factors: 1) nature; 2) the system of structuring opportunities and benefits; 3) productivity and efficiency of action; and 4) individual and collective redistributive action. Vital inequality could be flattened or increased under the influence of existential inequality; existential under the influence of the resource inequality. The class struggle is the main form of redistribution of resources. System of production, reproduction and change of inequality can be represented in the form of four dual positions where each mechanism of inequalization (distancing, exclusion, hierarchization, exploitation) is opposed by its own mechanism of equalization (compensation, inclusion, organizational / institutional alignment and redistribution). Since global inequality is not always globally emerged, it is not only a result of the global distancing, but also a result of various combinations of global and national inequalities. Growth of importance of inequalities within countries under the influence of global polarization determine the class character of the new global order. There are two main trends: development of the middle class and consolidation of the working class. Development of the middle class includes globalization of the consumer middle class and politicization, protest of the national middle classes. Consolidation of the working class includes de-industrialization of developed countries and concentration of the working class in Asia, as well as the mobilization of the lower strata in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

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