Social network analysis of class structures: A study case of Brazil, China, Germany, Rusia and United States

This thesis investigates the complex dynamics of social stratification in the context of contemporary globalized societies, with a particular focus on the interplay of class positions and occupational categories across five major countries: Brazil, China, Germany, Russia, and the United States. The study aims to offer a nuanced understanding of social hierarchies by integrating network analysis into the examination of socioeconomic structures, providing an innovative methodological approach to traditional class-based analysis. Central to this research is the development of an analytical class scheme based on occupational categories, utilizing datasets from the World Values Survey. The study's objective is to provide a comprehensive alternative to identity-focused methodologies, which may oversimplify social dynamics by concentrating on categories such as race, gender, or nationality. By employing network analysis, this research seeks to map the intricate relationships and interactions within and between different social classes, offering deeper insights into the structural dynamics and connectivity that underpin contemporary socioeconomic systems. Key research questions guiding this study include: the differences and similarities in social stratification structures among the countries analysed, the hierarchical relationships between occupational categories, the patterns characterizing these hierarchical arrangements, and the innovations brought by a social network approach compared to traditional methodologies. The thesis is structured as follows: The first chapter introduces the theoretical and methodological framework, research problem, questions, and contributions to existing scholarship. The second chapter critiques the shift away from class-based analysis in sociological research, advocating for a return to structuralist and empirically grounded approaches. The third chapter reviews major theoretical perspectives on social stratification from classical to contemporary theories. The fourth chapter details the methodological approach, including network analysis, data sources, and operationalization of variables. The fifth chapter presents the comparative analysis of occupational category networks across the studied countries, uncovering structural characteristics and trends. The final chapter integrates findings with conceptual and theoretical discussions, addresses study limitations, and suggests potential future research directions. The research finds that high-status roles are predominantly linked to professional and technical occupations, with a strong connection to higher administrative positions. Intermediate roles include clerical, service, and sales occupations, which exhibit significant affinities both among themselves and with other categories. Lower-tier roles, such as farm workers and unskilled or semi-skilled workers, cluster together with high levels of affinity within these lower categories. The research concludes that most individuals across countries identify with working or middle classes, with fewer reaching higher classes, reflecting a consistent socioeconomic pattern of moderate education and income. Key differences include variations in gender distribution by country—e.g., high female representation in clerical roles in Russia, Brazil, and Germany, versus more women in farm and semi-skilled roles in China—and the strength of the correlation between class and education, which is strong in Brazil, weaker in China, and varied in Germany, Russia, and the U.S. Additionally, occupational linkages differ by country, with Brazil and China showing strong ties between professional and clerical roles, while the U.S. exhibits stronger connections between clerical and sales roles. This research contributes to the field of social stratification by incorporating network analysis to reveal the multifaceted nature of social hierarchization. It emphasizes the importance of occupational categories in understanding socioeconomic hierarchies and offers a comparative perspective that enhances the discourse on social class in the modern world.