SOCI1003 Introduction to Sociology

Convention on the Rights of the Child

The Convention on the Rights of Children is established to address the basic rights of children to meet the basic requirements of a healthy life and a brighter future. The Convention on the Rights of the Child works on four principles, the non-discriminatory attitude towards children, children’s best interest, the right to development and survival, and the views of children. The Convention on the Rights of the Child are executed by UN bodies to strengthen the understanding of human rights with respect to children rights for drawing attention of state parties to obligations they have towards children, to address the specific features of early childhood in consideration of realization of their rights, to encourage children’s recognition in society from addressing their quality of life, vulnerabilities, capacities, guidance, protection, and support by exercising the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Isaacs, and Triggs, 2018). The Rights Convention defines children as human being below the age of eighteen, which means that every young child is the holder of every right which is written in this convention. These rights are established to make children meet the quality of life by accessing the rights of education, right of easy survival, right to nutrition, right to shelter, etc. The convention helps to meet the necessities of young children which they cannot ask for themselves. This rights convention for children is applied holistically which take into account the principle of interdependence, indivisibility, and universality. The UN Convention on rights of child is the first convention which was widely ratified human right convention. In 2018, the parliament of Sweden also provided strong protection to rights of children. The legal authorities who make decisions for children are obligated to consider this convention of rights of children.

Institutional Theories - Institutionalism

The Convention on the Rights of the Child have different theoretical aspects as well and in this report the theory of institution has been discussed with respect to this convention. Institutionalism is the most frequently termed use in political science. It is general approach to govern which concentrates on institutions by studying them inductively, historically, and comparatively. The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the best example to understand institutionalism as it emphasizes on organizations such as government bodies or international bodies to implement the key principles of institutionalism which are mainly included five institutions such as the family, religion, government, economy, and education. Applying these institutions to Convention on the Rights of the Child it can be concluded that institutionalism has the major impact on developing the structure of this convention by considering all the institutions (Frolov, 2016).

Each of the institution is important while developing the framework of the rights of children at global level. Such as, in terms of providing the children their rights family plays a important role because children are naive at the early age where there is no understanding of right and wrong, parents or guardians are responsible to provide them their basic rights. Besides, government has the major role, as it only depends on the robust legislative structure where children can be provided with equal rights. The institution of education has important contribution in the learning of children for their basic rights including the right of education. Thus, institutionalism has major impact on the development of the convention for children’s rights. The Sweden Government and UN Assembly has majorly considered all the institutions related to the theory by establishing the convention and its effective implementation and execution all across the world, the purpose of the convention is to provide each and every children a safe and secure world where they are able to meet their necessary needs in terms of food, shelter, and education (Hansson Wahlberg, 2014).  

Application of Theories: The theoretical aspects of the rights convention can be explained by considering two varieties of institutionalism, these are:

Sociological Institutionalism – The social institution of children rights is contrary to the legal positivistic approach to rights of human, sociologists have argued the fact that human rights cannot be restricted to various legal norms. These rights need to be seen as more than the legal norms only which are discerned by judges who are trained in legal reasoning. For children rights to have the meaning at sociological level, these rights need to institutionalize at social grounds. The rights of children should not only be considered as the legal obligations only but they have to be considered as a social meaning which need to be embedded in the mindset of people as well as the daily workings of societal institution, for instance, schooling system, judiciary, healthcare system and one’s family (Jong-Chan Rhee, 2014).

Rational Choice Institutionalism - By implementing this institution in convention of rights of children, government can execute the framework at ethical level as well where people have the sense of responsibility towards children of different communities in terms keeping in mind the treatment towards children such as equality in education irrespective of gender, backgrounds, ethnicity, social status, etc. Adequate healthcare services for children with experiences and specialized healthcare professionals, fulfilment of the basic requirement that a children need to be provided at early age such nutritional values, These children who are underprivileged need to be focused more as they do not have anybody to take care of themselves. Thus, society has the major responsibility towards children who are socially backwards and need more attention in terms providing the basic necessities such as food, shelter, and education (Karusigarira, 2015).

Comparison of institutionalism concepts –

The relation between rational choice and sociology theory in terms o children rights is unclear both the theories have similarities as well as differences when keeping in mind the idea of  convention of rights of child. Some theorists suggest that sociology theory is the modified version of rational theory. It is suggested that sociological theory shares a historical lineage with rational theory. But here are fundamental differences, as sociology theory is based on sociological perspectives and principles of each individual of the society while rational theory is mainly concerned with the collective approach (Das, 2017).

Sociological theory differs from rational theory in terms of denial of perspectives of individuals who are principle actors of the society. Sociological theory is concerned with the contribution of each individual in making a difference in society such as implementation of convention and following all the guidelines wholeheartedly.  This theory explains individual contribution of each person living in a society in providing children a safe environment where children can have equality in basic rights (Atlas of Public Management, 2021). The sociology theory argue the individualistic approach towards the children rights and its importance in society where each of the person should be educated enough to know the importance of human rights specifically children rights in society. People need to consider children as the future asset to improve current situation. On the other hand, the rational theory is concerned with the holistic approach in which society and different communities need to work together to make positive differences in society. Rational theory provide the idea of working together in a community organizations in which the organization is run by a group of individuals who decide the guidelines to establish the programs related to various social issues. Thus, this theory supports the concept of holistic approach while sociological theory is concerned with the individualistic approach.  The key similarity between these theories is both involves the communities to act on the convention of rights and implement in real world whether as an individual who is aware of children’s rights or community as a whole to work together to make necessary differences in society  (Little, Little, and profile, 2021).

Karl Marx's central analysis of capitalism

The view of Marxism is explained by a principle called dialectical materialism. Marx have explained the political economy of the entire world of capitalism which suggest that the economically powerful class known as capitalists are exploiting the entire society for their personal benefits. Marx has exposed the characteristics of this exploitation along with protest against the exploitation of the society. The working class people are most likely to suffer from capitalism and they are protesting against this capitalistic approach of business class people. Thus, Marxism is the political, social, and economic picture of exploiters through his dialectical materialism (Stedman Jones, 2018).

Features of Marxism:

• The Marxism tenets are not general but particular which is not build up on general theories that can be applied to all places. The concept of ‘superstructure’ and ‘base’ are real concepts but their application is different in different places.
• The concept of Marxism is not a philosophy or a science but a practical and critical analysis of this existing society. It can be termed as Praxis which is based on verifiable and exact knowledge. Thus, Marxism is a empirical doctrine.
• The central idea to discuss in this concept of Marxism is capital society, in which Marx has explained the important aspects of society in terms of capitalism through the application of dialectical materialism.
• The main of Marxism is not only analyzing the capitalist society but to make changes in this society. He have predicted the changes which can be done to the present situation where society is living on the edge of rich or poor
• Karl Marx described capitalism as historical progressive stage that eventually stagnate due to many internal contradictions and lead to socialism.
• Marx defined capital as an economic and social relation between people in which they seek to abolish capitalism.
• Socialists believe that capitalism can overcome by revolution; structural changes will play the major role in its political reform.
• Marxism is a perspective of critical approach in which it focused on the exploitation of workers in accumulation of capital for business.
• It argues that workers would inevitably cause the self-destruct which would be followed by communism and socialism (Browning, 2018).
  
  

Application: In recent times, there are a number of approaches to political economy which helps to explain the challenges posed by contemporary capitalism concept. The failure of capitalism concept in the growing power and economies misbalancing the economic world which suggests that it is time to introduce neo-capitalism concept by addressing present global crises such as pandemic, climate change, nuclear war threats, and advanced technologies. The significant aspect in today’s geopolitical reality is that the concept of imperialism is turning aggressive increasingly. Although, there are challenges faced by western imperialism in the form of different perspectives on world affair for different countries. The fears which are posed by the western imperialism are the main reason behind the vast portion of global population that it is enables to choose the way of living by their own choice in 21^st century. There is a urgent need to counterbalance the present situation. The concept of Marxism is still alive and relevant in this world today; it can also help to address the current crisis which is faced by capitalism (Sazanova, Sharipov, and Dyakonova, 2019).

Marxism provides a framework for the evolution of society, capitalist, on the other hand brought a modern society which is based on sciences and it is wealthy, politically democratic, and secular which also promote economic exploitation as well as human liberation. This socialist approach transcends capitalism through destroying its exploitive element which domination of market relations and capital growth. These elements were originally necessary for progress in businesses and to develop an economy for public good instead of private sectors profits, thus, the Marxism in terms of socialism is seen as enlightenment.  For Marxists, the concept of socialism which embraces the element of emancipation that is modernization, is generally unfettered by capitalism. This suggests that this new concept of Marxism not only promote the development of forces which are productive but also promise to produce the civilization at higher level. Though, capitalism has gone through many changes throughout the history but the economic system provided by capitalism is still based on exploitation of worker class. Thus, Marxism in modern capitalistic society will be utilising to add values in business practices where it needs to be focused more on a sustainable development and to provide the quality life paths of living to worker class as they are the fundamental elements of any business and their needs must be recognized and be at priority by capitalists. Besides, the modern crises involve the disease outbreaks and climate change which also needs to be address by Marxists in which there has to consideration of environment safety and safety of the global population to avoid further severe consequences (이재현 2017).

Difference with modern Capitalism

Since the emergence of capitalism, it remains the focus of controversies, the growth of capital economy is been extra-ordinary but capitalism is prone to crisis and associated with inequality. In the concept of modern capitalism, it has unleashed the potential of labour, combining land, human capital and capital to achieve extra-ordinary and unimaginable success in businesses. It has been stated that capitalism has rescued the major part of population from idiocy of rural and remote life. But, on the negative side, it has impacted the life of people who cannot compete with new technology and its advancement. It also has created losers such as European farmers and craftsmen. Today, there are a number of people, small businesses, workers, and others who has fear to not survive in this modern capitalistic society. Other aspect of modern capitalism is that its tendency towards the crises, governments has established measures to fights against crises but it has not managed to eradicate it (강내희 2015).

Modern Capitalism has provided many opportunities and new scope to develop businesses even at smaller or larger scale. It has introduced this worked with new technologies and new business strategies along with a number of job opportunities to the young generation. Modern capitalism is changed the complete situation from the last decades where there a number of drawbacks in maintain the business at long term goals. It has helped the capitalists to explore new ideas of businesses and to make monetary profits to their business such as marketing at social media platforms and more technological advancements which help to grow business. But, one thing that has remained unchanged about is the empowering rulers who have the desires to fulfil their powerful economic interests. These rulers are the modern capitalists which are only focused to make monetary profits to their businesses at any cost. This leads to make modern capitalism as the modern version of slavery. The concept of modern capitalism has made human more self-interested individuals. The proposal of new opportunities has also developed the demand of more in people to make more money irrespective of considering the values and ethics of business. The modern capitalism has provided various opportunities to people to grow their business but it also has put many people at the edge of poverty where they cannot access the basic resources for their basic requirements. The population which remained affected by the modern capitalism is the labour class which was also exploited previously and it is also exploited in modern situation but in a more technologically advanced manner. Thus, there is need to reconsider the concept of Marxism in modern capitalism as well, where the crises an be addressed at global level (DeJean, 2019).

References 

Browning, G.K., 2018. A globalist ideology of post-Marxism? Hardt and Negri's empire. In Taking Ideology Seriously (pp. 87-102). Routledge.

Das, R 2017, "Institutionalism in organisation studies: navigating paradigmatic incommensurability", in , International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy, vol. 10, no. 1, p. 1.

DeJean, J 2019, "John Law's Capitalist Violence and the Invention of Modern Prostitution, 1719–1720", in , Capitalism: A Journal of History and Economics, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 10-19.

Frolov, D 2016, "Methodological institutionalism 2.0: From institutions to institutional configurations", in , Voprosy Ekonomiki, no. 7, pp. 147-160.

Hansson Wahlberg, T 2014, "Institutional Objects, Reductionism and Theories of Persistence", in , Dialectica, vol. 68, no. 4, pp. 525-562.

Institutional Theories – Historical, Sociological, and New Institutionalism – Atlas of Public Management 2021, viewed 27 September 2021, <http://www.atlas101.ca/pm/concepts/institutional-theories-historical-sociological-and-new-institutionalism/>.

Isaacs, D and Triggs, G 2018, "Australia's immigration policy violates United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child", in , Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, vol. 54, no. 8, pp. 825-827.

Jong-Chan Rhee 2014, "Theories of Institutional Change: Issues and Limits of New Institutionalism", in , Korean Political Science Review, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 163-184.

Karusigarira, I 2015, "The systemic police corruption: beyond New Sociological Institutionalism", in , International Multilingual Journal of Contemporary Research, vol. 3, no. 2.

Little, D, Little, D and profile, V 2021, Rational choice institutionalism, in , Understandingsociety.blogspot.com, viewed 27 September 2021, <https://understandingsociety.blogspot.com/2016/10/rational-choice-institutionalism.html>.

Stedman Jones, G 2018, "Karl Marx's changing picture of the end of capitalism", in , Journal of the British Academy, vol. 6, pp. 187-206.

Sazanova, S.L., Sharipov, F.F. and Dyakonova, M.A., 2019. Spatial economics, geopolitics, and marxism. Marx and Modernity: a Political and Economic Analysis of Social Systems Management. A collective monograph. Edited by Marina L. Alpidovskaya, Elena G. Popkova. A Volume in Advances in Research on Russian Business. Information Age Publishing Inc, 651, pp.279-88.

Everyday Life, Cultural Studies, and Marxism", in , MARXISM 21, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 12-44.

State Monopoly Capitalism and the Crisis of Modern Capitalism", in , MARXISM 21, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 83-111.

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