George Ritzer

Ritzer's work over the course of the last fifteen years has increasingly focused on the impact of three overarching social forces that are rapidly transforming sociocultural systems around the world. These three forces are rationalization, capital development, and Americanization. Ritzer’s sociology addresses three major questions: What are the characteristics of these social forces? What are their dynamics, why are they gathering strength and expanding throughout the globe? And, how has their continued growth affected the experience and quality of life? George Ritzer is one of the most prolific and popular sociologists alive today. Ritzer's sociology is strongly influenced by Max Weber and Karl Marx, though he has changed the focus from production to consumption.

Read: Chapter 10: "George Ritzer's Rationalization of Consumption" in Macrosociology: The Study of Sociocultural Systems.

Glossary:
Look these words up in your chapter reading or in the Glossary of Social Science; study them and be ready for fill-in-the-blanks on the next exam:

McDonalization rationalization zweckrational

formal rationality substantive rationality capitalism

Americanization bureaucratization Taylorism

scientific management detailed division of labor hyperconsumption

means of consumption cathedrals of consumption disenchantment

consumerism globalization irrationality factor

dehumanization indigenous cultures homogenization

hyperindustrialism

Essays:

Demonstrate to me that you have read and mastered the course material. Answer the following essay questions to be turned in during class before your exam over this unit. For full credit, list the question, address the questions fully and completely in your own words and voice. Length should be about 500 words per question.

Summarize five characteristics of the fast food experience that are rationalized.
What are cathedrals of consumption? Why are they necessary?

Short Answers:

The following short answer questions are from your readings and are to be turned in during class before your exam over this unit. Each can be answered with a short paragraph of three or four sentences; use your own words and voice.

What are the "means of consumption"?

What are the attractions of fast food?

What unique organizational innovation did Roy Kroc make to the fast food industry? Why was this successful?

How are capitalism and rationalization intertwined?

Why is government committed to economic growth in the modern era?

What is the role of competition in the relationship between capitalism and rationalization?

What is Americanization?

What critique of Americanization is made by your professor?

Why have the consumption habits of Americans changed in the last 20 years?

How does Ritzer characterize globalization?

What are "parish churches of consumption"?

How does Ritzer characterize the goods produced by large, centralized corporations?

How do locally produced goods differ from those produced by centralized corporations?

What is the irrationality of rationalization? How does this apply to the fast food industry?

What impact does rationalization have on indigenous cultures?

What is the iron cage that both Weber and Ritzer have written about?

Links:

George Ritzer's Rationalization Theory

An Interview with Ritzer

Video:

Bibliography:

Ritzer, G. (2007, August 25). About Ritzer. (F. Elwell, Interviewer)

Ritzer, G. (2007). Being (George Ritzer) and Nothingness: An Interview. (S. Dandaneau, & R. Dodsworth, Interviewers)

Ritzer, G. (2005). Enchanting a Disenchanted World: Revolutionizing the Means of Consumption (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press.

Ritzer, G. (1995). Expressing America: A Critique fo the Global Credit Card Society. Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press.

Ritzer, G. (n.d.). George Ritzer Home Page. Retrieved August 20, 2007, from University of Maryland: http://www.bsos.umd.edu/socy/ritzer/

Ritzer, G. (1975). Sociology: A Multiple Paradigm Science. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, Inc.

Ritzer, G. (2004). The Globalization of Nothing. Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press.

Ritzer, G. (1993). The McDonaldization of Society. Newbury Park: Pine Forge Press.

Features | Syllabus | Theorists

McDonalization	rationalization	zweckrational
formal rationality	substantive rationality	capitalism
Americanization	bureaucratization	Taylorism
scientific management	detailed division of labor	hyperconsumption
means of consumption	cathedrals of consumption	disenchantment
consumerism	globalization	irrationality factor
dehumanization	indigenous cultures	homogenization
hyperindustrialism