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{{Culture of Caphiria}} | {{Culture of Caphiria}} | ||
In [[Caphiria]], the concept of '''social stratification''' is incredibly complex and diverse, encompassing both legal and social status. Stratification is generally hierarchical, but there are multiple and overlapping social hierarchies, and an individual's relative position in one might be higher or lower than in another. There are three distinct concepts that go into establishing one's place in Caphirian society: | |||
*Power (''Potestas''): A citizen's ability to do what they want despite resistance from others. | *'''Power''' (''Potestas''): A citizen's ability to do what they want despite resistance from others. | ||
*Status (''Dignitas''): A citizen's prestige, popularity and honor or how highly society regards them. | *'''Status''' (''Dignitas''): A citizen's prestige, popularity and honor or how highly society regards them. | ||
*Class (''Ordo''): A citizen's legal and economic position in society. | *'''[[Social class in Caphiria|Class]]''' (''Ordo''): A citizen's legal and economic position in society. | ||
At the peak of the social pyramid (''pyramidis societas'') is the [[Imperator]]. An Imperator has the highest ''dignitas'', ''potestas'', and is of the highest ''ordo'' in Caphirian society. If sociologists do not recognize any absolute standard for these ordinal measures than the Imperator is the relative standard to which the qualities of other residents in the empire are compared. Power and Status are generally perceived to be directly tied to a person's social standing, whereas Class is a person's legal status. After the Imperator, the peak of the ''pyramidis societas'' is the imperial family, which is currently the [[ | At the peak of the social pyramid (''pyramidis societas'') is the [[Imperator]]. An Imperator has the highest ''dignitas'', ''potestas'', and is of the highest ''ordo'' in Caphirian society. If sociologists do not recognize any absolute standard for these ordinal measures than the Imperator is the relative standard to which the qualities of other residents in the empire are compared. Power and Status are generally perceived to be directly tied to a person's social standing, whereas Class is a person's legal status. After the Imperator, the peak of the ''pyramidis societas'' is the imperial family, which is currently the [[Panther Estate]]. Altogether the imperial family tends to hold offices of power and a number of prestigious military and collegian posts, they are rarely handed out in the form of nepotism and are usually won based on merit. | ||
The modern stratification system of Caphiria was first outlined in 1925 by Benico Artensoria Gravalchi, a Caphirian sociologist, philosopher, jurist, and political economist. Gravalchi is one of the most important theorists on the development of modern Caphirian society. His masterwork, ''Oeconomia et Societas,'' published in 1927, defined the state as an entity that successfully claims a "monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory", an idea that would become part of the Caphirian ethos leading into the 21st century. Gravalchi would play a major role in the development of the multidimensional approach to Caphiria's social stratification, being responsible for creating the link among wealth, prestige and power. | The modern stratification system of Caphiria was first outlined in 1925 by Benico Artensoria Gravalchi, a Caphirian sociologist, philosopher, jurist, and political economist. Gravalchi is one of the most important theorists on the development of modern Caphirian society. His masterwork, ''Oeconomia et Societas,'' published in 1927, defined the state as an entity that successfully claims a "monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory", an idea that would become part of the Caphirian ethos leading into the 21st century. Gravalchi would play a major role in the development of the multidimensional approach to Caphiria's social stratification, being responsible for creating the link among wealth, prestige and power. | ||
==Class (''Ordo'')== | ==Class (''Ordo'')== | ||
The concept of class stratification in Caphiria is by far the most prevalent and important of the three concepts. ''Ordo'' is defined as an "individual's socioeconomic position within Caphirian society, taking into account factors like wealth, income, race, education, gender, occupation, and social status." | The concept of class stratification in Caphiria is by far the most prevalent and important of the three concepts. ''Ordo'' is defined as an "individual's socioeconomic position within Caphirian society, taking into account factors like wealth, income, race, education, gender, occupation, and social status." | ||
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A rapid rise through class in Caphirian society is a rare event and often the subject of cultural legend. These people are referred to as ''novi homines'' (new men) with great respect. They are celebrities deserving of their fame. Cicero, the great statesman, is the poster boy of the New Men - he is after all perhaps the most famous non-Imperator in Caphiria's history with more records about him than Lanintius himself. Other famous New Men are Archaedavincus Acutula, the Imperium's most prolific inventor; Aulus Lugius, the finest playwright of all time and Lucius Volta, a tremendously successful scientific entrepreneur. They are the legendary cases of plebeians who rose to become patricians. | A rapid rise through class in Caphirian society is a rare event and often the subject of cultural legend. These people are referred to as ''novi homines'' (new men) with great respect. They are celebrities deserving of their fame. Cicero, the great statesman, is the poster boy of the New Men - he is after all perhaps the most famous non-Imperator in Caphiria's history with more records about him than Lanintius himself. Other famous New Men are Archaedavincus Acutula, the Imperium's most prolific inventor; Aulus Lugius, the finest playwright of all time and Lucius Volta, a tremendously successful scientific entrepreneur. They are the legendary cases of plebeians who rose to become patricians. | ||
===Social Class=== | ===Social Class=== | ||
{{main|Social class in Caphiria}} | |||
Stratification by social class starts at birth where the child is given his or her father's standing in society - ''patrician'', ''equite'', ''plebeian'', ''indigeni'' or ''peregrini''. Intermarriage is discouraged by costing the higher class family dishonor but does happen on occasion. Appeals can be made to ''praetores'' or the Imperator on the basis of wealth to advance but these are rewarded only in extraordinary circumstances and almost never to citizens who aspire to join the aristocratic order of patricians. Conversely, a member of the upper classes can move down by having him or her self adopted into a family of lower class, an act viewed as tremendously disgraceful. | Stratification by social class starts at birth where the child is given his or her father's standing in society - ''patrician'', ''equite'', ''plebeian'', ''indigeni'' or ''peregrini''. Intermarriage is discouraged by costing the higher class family dishonor but does happen on occasion. Appeals can be made to ''praetores'' or the Imperator on the basis of wealth to advance but these are rewarded only in extraordinary circumstances and almost never to citizens who aspire to join the aristocratic order of patricians. Conversely, a member of the upper classes can move down by having him or her self adopted into a family of lower class, an act viewed as tremendously disgraceful. | ||
====Patrician class==== | ====Patrician class==== | ||
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Advantages to membership in the nobility, aside from natural ''dignitas'', are invulnerability to sentences of execution (except capital crimes such as treason, or under direct orders of the Imperator), ability to freely enter government facilities (unless prohibited), special placement at venues like the theater and market, and the right to follow the ''cursus honorum'', a path through the entire political spectrum of the Imperium from minor offices to Senate. Nevertheless, patricians obey the same laws, pay the same proportional rate of taxes and have the same vote as lower class citizens. | Advantages to membership in the nobility, aside from natural ''dignitas'', are invulnerability to sentences of execution (except capital crimes such as treason, or under direct orders of the Imperator), ability to freely enter government facilities (unless prohibited), special placement at venues like the theater and market, and the right to follow the ''cursus honorum'', a path through the entire political spectrum of the Imperium from minor offices to Senate. Nevertheless, patricians obey the same laws, pay the same proportional rate of taxes and have the same vote as lower class citizens. | ||
====Equite class==== | ====Equite class==== | ||
Below Patricians are the Equite class, making up the "upper class" for those not born in the aristocracy. Making up 27.9% of the population, the equestrian rank is enjoyed by over 223 million citizens. For most citizens, becoming a member of the Equite class is the highest obtainable ''ordo'', and as such it is a highly sought after place in society. Lacking the ''dignitas'' of the nobility, many equites are still wealthier than their upperclassmen. | Below Patricians are the Equite class, making up the "upper class" for those not born in the aristocracy. Making up 27.9% of the population, the equestrian rank is enjoyed by over 223 million citizens. For most citizens, becoming a member of the Equite class is the highest obtainable ''ordo'', and as such it is a highly sought after place in society. Lacking the ''dignitas'' of the nobility, many equites are still wealthier than their upperclassmen. Prior to the end of the [[Great Schism of 1615]], all clergy within the [[Imperial Church]] were automatically granted the rank of equite. | ||
Members of the Equite class are typically knowledgeable and have been educated in "elite" settings. Because the bulk of equestrians are not born into their wealth, they place an extremely high value on education and go above and beyond to ensure their children will also be a member of the upper class when they grow up. Equestrian parents enroll their children in prestigious preschools and elementary schools leading to private middle schools and high schools, and finally elite, private colleges such as [[Fortuna Institute]]. Through this, their children traditionally join exclusive clubs or fraternities and further ingrain themselves in the upper echelon of society. Hefty donations and tithes to the church are also used a way to ingratiate themselves further. | Members of the Equite class are typically knowledgeable and have been educated in "elite" settings. Because the bulk of equestrians are not born into their wealth, they place an extremely high value on education and go above and beyond to ensure their children will also be a member of the upper class when they grow up. Equestrian parents enroll their children in prestigious preschools and elementary schools leading to private middle schools and high schools, and finally elite, private colleges such as [[Fortuna Institute]]. Through this, their children traditionally join exclusive clubs or fraternities and further ingrain themselves in the upper echelon of society. Hefty donations and tithes to the church are also used a way to ingratiate themselves further. | ||
Members of the Equites control and own significant portions of corporate Caphiria and may exercise indirect power through the investment of capital. The high salaries and the potential for amassing great wealth through stock options have greatly increased the power and visibility of the "corporate elite". The equestrians are renowned for a work ethic that is the envy of other countries, bringing them wealth through their own hard work. For this common trait, some of the largest corporations are owned by an equestrian rather than a patrician. The very richest of these corporate magnates is [[Alexandus Venio II]], with a net worth of $70 billion from his ownership of [[Quicksilver Industries]], Caphiria's largest and most valuable company. | Members of the Equites control and own significant portions of corporate Caphiria and may exercise indirect power through the investment of capital. The high salaries and the potential for amassing great wealth through stock options have greatly increased the power and visibility of the "corporate elite". The equestrians are renowned for a work ethic that is the envy of other countries, bringing them wealth through their own hard work. For this common trait, some of the largest corporations are owned by an equestrian rather than a patrician. The very richest of these corporate magnates is [[Alexandus Venio II]], with a net worth of $70 billion from his ownership of [[Quicksilver Industries]], Caphiria's largest and most valuable company. | ||
====Plebeian class==== | ====Plebeian class==== | ||
Below the Equites is the Plebeians, or Plebs, - socially divided into the ''Upper-Plebeian'' order and the ''Lower-Plebeian'' order. Upper Plebs are the empire's middle class, earning a decent living but lacking the privileges of the upper classes. They represent the average citizen, making up the majority of the population. Lower Plebs are the work force, those of farmer, miner, janitor, doormen, street cleaner, servant and the like, ones which few Caphirians consider respectful employment, despite the rigorous physical and mental fortitude required to perform many of these tasks Plebeians receive good benefits from the government to compensate for their reduced privileges and are more well-off than the lower classes citizens of other countries. | Below the Equites is the Plebeians, or Plebs, - socially divided into the ''Upper-Plebeian'' order and the ''Lower-Plebeian'' order. Upper Plebs are the empire's middle class, earning a decent living but lacking the privileges of the upper classes. They represent the average citizen, making up the majority of the population. Lower Plebs are the work force, those of farmer, miner, janitor, doormen, street cleaner, servant and the like, ones which few Caphirians consider respectful employment, despite the rigorous physical and mental fortitude required to perform many of these tasks Plebeians receive good benefits from the government to compensate for their reduced privileges and are more well-off than the lower classes citizens of other countries. | ||
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Beneath even the bottom rung of the social ladder are the ''indigeni'' (natives). With about 2.2% of the population, their treatment serves as an example of how the Caphirians, despite their defenses of human rights, have great potential for ethnic chauvinism. Most are kept from leaving their home provinces by exorbitant transportation prices and usually sell themselves into slavery as a last ditch effort to escape destitution. Like ''peregrini'', who are at least covered by their homeland, ''indigeni'' are not covered for education, healthcare or litigation. | Beneath even the bottom rung of the social ladder are the ''indigeni'' (natives). With about 2.2% of the population, their treatment serves as an example of how the Caphirians, despite their defenses of human rights, have great potential for ethnic chauvinism. Most are kept from leaving their home provinces by exorbitant transportation prices and usually sell themselves into slavery as a last ditch effort to escape destitution. Like ''peregrini'', who are at least covered by their homeland, ''indigeni'' are not covered for education, healthcare or litigation. | ||
===Economic class=== | ===Economic class=== | ||
Stratification by economic class is less rigid than the social class but does not offer nearly as many legal or political advantages (or disadvantages). There are 8 distinct economic classes in Caphiria and while it is theoretically possible for an individual of any social class to exist in any economic class, they are almost exclusively linked together. The principle considerations for an individual's economic class are their adjusted gross income (AGI), educational history, and employment history. | Stratification by economic class is less rigid than the social class but does not offer nearly as many legal or political advantages (or disadvantages). There are 8 distinct economic classes in Caphiria and while it is theoretically possible for an individual of any social class to exist in any economic class, they are almost exclusively linked together. The principle considerations for an individual's economic class are their adjusted gross income (AGI), educational history, and employment history. | ||