Sociology: A Brief Introduction, Chapter 14

Offshoring

The transfer of work to foreign contractors, many of them located in developing cities. The latest tactic in the time-worn business strategy of raising profits by reducing costs.

Color-blind racism

The use of the principle of race neutrality to defend a racially unequal status quo.

Terrorism

The use or threat of violence against random or symbolic targets in pursuit of political aims/

Monarchy

A form of government headed by a single member of a royal family, usually a king, queen, or some other hereditary ruler.

Oligarchy

A form of government in which a few individuals rule.

Representative democracy

A form of government in which certain individuals are selected to speak for the people.

Dictatorship

A government in which one person has nearly total power to make and enforce laws. Rule primarily through the use of coercion. They seize power rather than being freely elected or inheriting power.

Fair trade

A movement in which consumers in industrialized countries voluntarily pay above-market prices for certain foods so that the workers who plant, pick, and pack the crops can receive higher wages.

Power elite

A small group of military, industrial and government leaders who control the fate of the United States

Industrial society

A society that depends on mechanization to produce its goods and services. Can be capitalist or socialist.

Pluralist model

A view of society in which many competing groups within the community have access to government, so that no single group is dominant.

Capitalism

An economic system in which the means of production are held largely in private hands and the main incentive for economic activity is the accumulation of profits.

Socialism

An economic system under which the means of production and distribution are collectively rather than privately owned, aimed at meeting people's needs rather than maximizing profits.

Affirmative action

Associated with John F. Kennedy. Positive efforts to recruit minority group members or women for jobs, promotions, and educational opportunities.

Communism

Associated with Karl Marx. As an ideal type. an economic system under which all property is communally owned and no social distinctions are made on the basis of people's ability to produce.

War

Conflict between organizations that possess trained combat forces equipped with deadly weapons.

Monopoly

Control of a market by a single business firm.

Politics

Defined by Harold Lasswell as "Who gets what, when, and how"

Democracy

Government by the people.

Deindustrialization

The systematic, widespread withdrawal of investment in basic aspects of productivity, such as factories and plants.

Authority

Institutionalized power that is recognized by the people over whom it is exercised.

Traditional authority

Legitimate power is conferred by custom and accepted practice. Authority rests in custom, not in personal characteristics, technical competence, or even written law.

Microfinancing

Lending small sums of money to the poor so they can work their way out of poverty.

Elite model

Marx. A view of society as being ruled by a small group of individuals who share a common set of political and economic interests.

Charismatic authority

Power made legitimate by a leader's exceptional personal or emotional appeal to his/her followers. Derived more from the beliefs of followers than from the actual qualities of leaders.

Rational-legal authority

Power made legitimate by law. (U.S. Constitution gives Congress and president the authority to make an enforce laws and policies) Leaders are thought to have specific areas of competence and authority but are not thought to be endowed with divine inspiration.

Downsizing

Reductions taken in a company's workforce as part of deindustrialization.

Power

The ability to exercise one's will over others; this lies at the heart of a political system.

Peace

The absence of war, or more broadly, a proactive effort to develop cooperative relations among nations.

Force

The actual or threatened use of coercion to impose one's will on others

Sovereignty movement

The effort by the indigenous people of Hawaii to win self-government, as well as the restoration of - or compensation for - their ancestral lands.

Influence

The exercise of power through a process of persuation.

Political system

The social institution that is founded on a recognized set of procedures for implementing and achieving society's goals.

Economic system

The social institution through which goods and services are produced, distributed and consumed.

Laissez-faire

This term describes the prevailing form of capitalism following the Industrial Revolution under which people compete freely, with minimal government intervention in the economy.

Force, influence, authority

Three basic sources of power within any political system (FIA)

Traditional, rational-legal, charismatic

Three ideal types of authority (TRC)

Informal economy

Transfers of money, goods, or services that are not reported to the government.

Totalitarianism

Virtually complete government control and surveillance over all aspects of a society's social and political life. (Hitler's reign, Soviet Union in the 1930s, North Korea today)