SOCI 250 Midterm
Just-World Hypothesis
Research shows that all of us have a desire to believe that the world we live in is fair, orderly, and that things happen for a reason
6) How does capacity shape political inequality?
Do people have the ability to participate? ex. Literacy, Education, Health
7) What are neighborhood effects? (3)
1) A wide array of behaviors and social phenomena-- crime, child health, leadership networks, disorder, teen births, home foreclosures, and many other things-- are concentrated by place 2) Neighborhood chooses the individual, people have to feel accepted to live in a place; harder for poorer people to move out of their neighborhoods because they don't feel accepted
Neo-Toquevellian example
"Bowling Alone"-The idea that civic associations are critical to the success of democracy, and how their increased absence leads to a decrease in political efficacy
Social network bridging example
"Bridging boundaries for Christ" article
6) How does income inequality shape political inequality?
"Economy of influence": Political activity rises with socioeconomic status- the richest are most likely to donate to campaigns-"money primaries"
Political Egalitarian anti-example
"Unheavenly Chorus" - Those who are higher in socio-economic status are more likely to be active in political arenas; when it comes to need and desire for more liberal views that benefit the masses, non-voters are more likely to agree than voters - which illustrates the demographics involved in voting, seeing as those of higher socioeconomic status are more likely to vote and thus less likely to be in poverty (because they are of higher status)
Similarities between all three theories (3)
1) All three agree that civic participation essential to democracy 2) Neo-Tocquevillian and Communitarian are concerned with Egoism as a problem - that if people are too selfish/materialistic there will be a problem with society 3) Neo-Tocquevillian and communitarian are both focused on people joining voluntary associations
12. What are the challenges to social capital bridging across group differences?
1) Boundary work/boundary drawing: Social psychological process of defining boundaries between groups and assigning meaning to them 2) Collective identity: An individual's cognitive, moral, and emotional connection with a broader group or community 3) Risk of co-optation (to assimilate, take, or win over into a larger or established group); More powerful group may overtake the other; NGOs co-opted by government to control the people in totalitarian governments
7) How does the social infrastructure of neighborhoods shape communitarianism? (3)
1) More connected neighborhoods with higher collective efficacy-- trust and dependence among neighbors-- can buffer against crime and disorder 2) Helps people not feel lost and useless 3) Stronger connected neighborhoods will be a more empowered society leading to more civic and political participation
Communitarianism article example
"Neighborhood Effects"
SMT- Emotions
i. Group based anger is an important motivator of protest participation ii.Fear can inhibit protest participation
14. How is organized labor a form of civic association and what role does it play in civil society?
1) Collective bargaining power to address work conditions, wages, benefits, safety, discrimination 2) Job security security, peace of mind, and less income inequality saves time and energy for additional civic & political engagement 3) Unions can generate a sense of collective identity and solidarity in a united working/middle class 4) Stable relationships between worker and company for generalized trust 5) Civic and political education
What does successful bridging look like? (4)
1) Define a category that all group members can see themselves in 2) Signal the openness of this category to all group members 3) Use rituals, discourses, and/or symbols that are familiar to all group members (or learned by all group members together) and potentially meaningful to all (even if in different ways) 4) Highlight characteristics that group members share in some way while either downplaying or celebrating their differences
8. Describe causes of negative volunteering outcomes
1) Dependence on mixed funding sources-- Not all volunteering groups are financially well-off, many groups rely on unstable funding from grants and donations. 2) Lack of authentic commitment to a cause--Volunteers are not fully committed to their causes because ultimately, they volunteer on their free time. They have other business in their lives that most likely takes priority over their volunteering efforts. 3) Unskilled volunteers and skill mismatch-- Volunteer workers are ultimately unskilled or uneducated in the field they are working in. Volunteers are expected to be trained in a short amount of time because they are not experts in the field. 4) Community is not consulted--Many times, volunteer groups do not provide for the foremost interests of communities they are trying to help. A lot of cases involve the volunteers determining what the community needs and then tending to those needs in their own way independent from community input.
13. Explain three factors that shape how groups define/frame social problems
1) Diagnostic frame: the movement organization frames what the problem is and/or what they are critiquing 2) Prognostic frame: the movement organization frames the desired solution to the problem 3) Motivational frame: the movement organization frames a "call to arms" by suggesting and encouraging that people take action to solve the problem
What are the benefits of strong social networks (social capital) for democracy? (4)
1) Facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit or "generalized reciprocity." 2) A private and public good 3) Can bridge and/or bond. 4) Develop trust around information and their efficacy in the political process (specifically to do with social movements)
8. Describe routes to successful volunteering (5)
1) Focus on programs that transfer valuable skills to communities in need so they can do the work themselves 2) Avoid programs that use intermediary organizations-- focus on host organizations who accept direct inquiry and placements 3) Fundraise to hire locally 4) Match volunteer skills to needs or develop training programs 5) Collaborate with targeted communities
11. What are the factors that drive some people and not others to participate in social movements? (6)
1) Grievances and discontent 2) Social network/capital 3) Resource mobilization 4) Political opportunities and efficacy 5) Group identity 6) Emotion
6. What other forms of inequality shape political inequality? (4)
1) Income 2) Social Status 3) Time/energy 4) Capacity
Communitarian threats to democracy (2)
1) Individualism and materialism 2) Decline of traditional values, religion, neighborhoods and mediating structures
12. What are two specific ways that groups we read about overcome these challenges?
1) Joy Bible Church-Bridged social capital by closing the social gap between white and black congregates Social cohesion is maintained by using a "Christ-centered strategy" Identified racism as a "sin" and calls all Christians to address this to be "right with God" Religiously based community service organizations See adopt a family article 2) ?
9. How does the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement shape grassroots participation today? Provide three specific examples.
1) Letter from Birmingham Jail-- King was jailed when he came down to Birmingham to protest injustices against African Americans for parading without a permit; nonviolent civil disobedience confirms there is an injustice, attempt to negotiate, self-purification, and direct action; Social movements today still use this framework to achieve social change 2) Ella Baker and Models of Social Change-- Bridging class divisions between African Americans; Critical of NAACP for focus on being recognized by white organizations, too focused on middle class agenda, being unaware of of the value of mass-based confrontational politics, being not nearly aggressive enough on economic issues, and being too much in the hands of the New York office; wanted to recruit women and young people because they were who would soon carry the movement, esp. from rural areas 3) "Youth" article-- how the legacy of the civil rights movement and backlash affects black adolescents and their activism; How youth organizing on the local level in their communities still have to face backlash as they attempt to communicate with higher powers who are white and do not have their best interests in mind; how important their associations are with each other to the community at large
1) What are the different factors that shape whether people engage in civic participation or not? (4)
1) Political-cultural contexts (opportunities and threats to engagement) 2) Education levels 3) Socioeconomic status 4) Access to political information
8. How can volunteering inhibit civic engagement? (7)
1) Resources diverted from problems, new problems created 2) Intermediary organizations keep majority of funds raised 3) Children and vulnerable populations are adversely affected 4) Local economy deprived of paying work 5) Community and individuals harmed due to incompetence 6) Loose, flimsy connections instead of dense social capital building 7) Dangers of "voluntourism"
8. How can volunteering benefit civic engagement? (4)
1) Teaches and transfers skills and knowledge from individual to community-- This happens because volunteers are usually not skilled in the area they are volunteering in. Experts can lead volunteer groups and through this, volunteers can learn what experts teach them such as how to execute activities and organizational skills. 2) Provides resources-- Resources can be diverted to those in need of them with little or no cost. 3) Bonds volunteer to community to wider world (social capital)-- Volunteers help their communities, or other communities abroad and they develop a relationship to these communities. 4) Empowerment and sense of efficacy-- Volunteers feel like they can make a difference and are able to produce good results for communities.
What are the downsides of strong social networks for society? (2)
1) When traditional authority breaks down, people may look to a new authority, public opinion, creating the tyranny of the majority 2) Anti-civil solidarities: Stigmatizing representations of others, destroying bridges between groups
2. What is the neo-Tocquevillian (Putnam's) argument about the relationship between voluntary associations and democracy? (2)
1) restraining the exercise for power by states and holding them accountable to the law and public expectations of responsible government (check on power) 2) Health of a democracy relies on strong, civic associations
Communitarian: ideal relationship between an individual and the government through this perspective
An African American individual chooses to reside in a neighborhood wherein there is an active Black Church community and the high community solidarity which is fostered by the friendliness amongst neighbors who have brunches together after Church on Sunday motivates members of this community to serve in their local neighborhood council and sponsor voter registration drives and other democratic events to increase participation in government
Neo-Tocquevillian: ideal relationship between an individual and the government through this perspective
An individual is engaged in a civic association such as the League of Women Voters which further enriches their democratic values and fosters a sense of democratic duty to vote in local, state, and federal elections. Furthermore, the skills that they acquire while being a part of a vital association motivates them to canvass for their Congressmember or to even run for city council.
Social Movement
Collectivities that seek to challenge or defend institutional and/or cultural systems of authority and their associated practices and representatives
Communitarian Theory
Communitarians argue that a health of a democracy relies on healthy communities, which are created through moral and civic values, transmitted through local mediating structures like family, religion, voluntary associations, a neighborhoods
Neo-Tocquevillans threat to democracy
Decline of civic associations; When voluntary associations go away, social capital declines and democracy is in danger
Communitarian Perspective
Democracy depends on strong local communities connected by shared moral and civic values
Differences between all three theories
Differ in their understandings about threats to democracy
Egalitarian: ideal relationship between an individual and the government through this perspective
Every public high school/community college has a mandatory voter registration drive
10. How are social movements a form of civic engagement (1) and how does this form of engagement compare to others we have discussed? (2)
Follows the definition of civic engagement-- literally coming together to address social problem Differences: 1) Social movements don't usually follow traditional institutional means--Non traditional way to address a problem 2) Social movement is contentious politics--there has to be some sort of fight through the social movement (compare to civic associations)
The dark side of social capital: Example
Highly educated Germans embracing a violent dictator: Hitler Why? 1) Weak national political institutions reinforced social cleavages; No strong and responsive government or parties to respond to associations; As association density rose, Nazi party entry did as well 2) "Bowling for Adolf" article
Political Egalitarian Theory
In a democracy, the goal should be political equality: the extent to which citizens have an equal voice over governmental decisions; also equal political participation and activity among citizens
Think about an example of a social movement that we have read about, discussed in class, or that you know well. Do the movement's organization, identity, and goals best reflect a neo- Tocquevillian, Political Egalitarian, or Communitarian approach? Making specific connections between the movement and the theory, explain how.
MLK's Civil Rights Movement- Egalitarianism - it sought to empower African Americans to attain political equality because it fought to extend suffrage to African Americans Nazi Germany - Communitarianism Mediating structures allowed for the Nazi Party to rise and become rampant Relies on Cohesion of same values, everyone needs to believe in the Fuhrer, everyone needs to put in all - there is no space for individualism If the community or your family is pro-Nazi, so will you be
6) How does time/energy shape political inequality?
Not everyone has time to vote because of work
13. Provide examples for each of the three steps to framing
Observed injustice - Diagnostic Frame ("There is a problem") Goal - Prognostic Frame ("Here's how to fix it") Call to Action - Motivational Frame ("Here's why you want to fix it") Example: Black Lives Matter Movement Diagnostic: white cops killing black teenagers Prognostic: creating greater awareness of this issue via protests and legislation, creating solidarity amongst people regardless of race Motivation: creating a greater equality in society, justice for black men, fighting racism
Grievances/discontent
Old social movement theory: Structural strain → discontent/grievances through relative depreciation→ protest; but, discontent by itself does not guarantee that a social movement will begin and that people will participate once it has begun
SMT- Social networks, social capital, and social embeddedness
People are much more likely to participate in social movement activity when they're embedded in strong social networks; Through social networks, individuals: 1) Get political information 2) Develop trust around that information and their efficacy in the political process 3) Raise political consciousness
6) How does social status shape political inequality?
People higher up are more likely to be an influence, the way districts are drawn cause unequal voting and representation (gerrymandering, redlining)
Why might communitarian theory not be legitimate?`
Really relies on community choice; idea that we can always choose where we live Ex. "Neighborhood Effects"
SMT- Political opportunities and perceptions of efficacy
Social movements are more likely to arise and succeed when political opportunities develop; When there are political opportunities, sympathizers perceive greater efficacy and are more likely to become activists
Political Egalitarian threat to democracy
Systems of inequality/social/economic inequality that cause political inequality
What is bridging?
The connections that link people across a cleavage that typically divides society (such as race, class, or religion)
Mediating structures
The institutions standing between individuals in their private lives and large institutions of public life; Help individuals feel empowered and "at home" in society and give governments meaning and legitimacy ex. family, religion, voluntary associations, and neighborhoods
SMT- Resource mobilization (organization, time, money, energy)
The mobilization of resources can shape movement success in getting people to join and sustain participation in movements
Voluntary associations
associations are defined as voluntary insofar as they are not state directed... citizens free to form them and members free to join them or leave them, without the threat of political coercion
Political Egalitarian Perspective
democracy depends on equal access to political decision-making where no single voice has more power
Neo-Tocquevillian Perspective
freedom to join voluntary associations builds social capital and forms the cornerstone of democracy
SMT- Identity and perceptions of group solidarity or threat
i.The more people identify with the group, the more inclined they are to protest on behalf of the group ii. Structural social changes such as immigration flows, economic changes, increasing political power of minorities, can cause majority groups to feel threatened even when no threat exists. Perceptions of threats drive this even if no actual threat exists
Citizen participation
ordinary citizens working together to address public problems to improve communities, nations, and the world
Social capital
social networks have value Features of social organization such as networks, norms, and social trust facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit or "generalized reciprocity" A private good and a public good Can bridge and/or bond
