EN
Stratification theories are considered in order to account for the persistence of educational inequalities in contemporary societies. A brief review of empirical evidence from different countries demonstrates that educational inequalities have not diminished for at least 50 years. To explain this phenomenon four social stratification theories are discussed: a functional theory, a theory of cultural capital, a class conflict theory, and a theory of the credential society. Reconciling the assumptions and main theses of the theories demonstrates that each of them can be profitably applied to explain some aspects of the mechanisms through which contemporary educational systems replicate social inequalities from one generation to the next.