sociology test 4 chapter 13

Nation States

Approximately 190 nation-states currently exist throughout the world. Today, everyone is born, lives, and dies under the auspices of a nation-state. Four types of political systems are found in nation-states: monarchy, authoritarianism, totalitarianism, and democracy

Authoritarianism

Authoritarianism is a political system controlled by rulers who deny popular participation in government. Control media. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, dictatorships. China, Castro

Unemployment

Cyclical - result of lower rates of production during recessions. Seasonal - result of shifts in the demand for workers based on holidays. Structural -skills needed by employers do not match skills of unemployed

Strikes

In recent years, strike activity has diminished as workers fear losing their jobs. In 2008 only 15 strikes involving more than 1,000 workers were reported. Number of workers involved in the actions declined from more than 2.5 million in 1971 to 72,000 in 2008

disability

Workers with a disability make 85% (men) and 70% (women) of what coworkers without disabilities earn. A survey of executives responsible for making hiring decision for their companies found that the average cost of workplace modifications to accommodate employees with a disability was less than $500.

conflict perspectives on government

Elite model; *government exists for the benefit of wealthy or politically powerful elites who use the government to impose their will on the masses. *Decisions are made by the elites, who agree on the basic values and goals of society *The needs and concerns of the masses are not often given full consideration by the elite

traditional authority

Ex: patrimony, patriarchy;the power that is legitimized on the basis of long-standing custom; subject to erosion as traditions weaken; kings, queens, emperors, religious dignitaries

Industrial Economy characteristics

1.New forms of energy, mechanization, and the growth of the factory system. 2. Increased division of labor and specialization among workers. 3. Universal application of scientific methods to problem solving and profit making 4. Introduction of wage labor, time discipline, and workers' deferred gratification. 5. Strengthening of bureaucratic organizational structure.

Voters

10% of the voting- age population participates at a level higher than voting. Over the past 40 years, less than half the voting-age population has voted in nonpresidential elections. In many other Western nations, the average turnout is 80 to 90% of all eligible voters

presidential election 2008

56th quadrennial;62 percent of the 208.3 million eligible voters cast ballots, compared with 60.6 percent in the 2004

Capitalism

Four distinctive features: 1.Private ownership of the means of production. 2.Pursuit of personal profit. 3.Competition. 4.Lack of government intervention

unemployment rate

In March 2011, for example, the unemployment rate was 8.9 percent (13.7 million people), and the number of people employed part time for economic reasons (referred to as "involuntary part time workers") such as Robert was 8.3 million.

Global perspective political systems

Political institutions emerged when agrarian societies acquired surpluses and developed social inequality. When cities developed, the city state became the center of political power. Nation-states emerged as countries acquired the ability to defend their borders

Socialism

Three distinctive features: 1. Public ownership of the means of production. 2. Pursuit of collective goals. 3. Centralized decision- making

shared monopoly

a condition that exists when four or fewer companies supply 50 percent or more of a particular market. (automobile industry)

totalitarianism

a political system in which the state seeks to regulate all aspects of people's public and private lives. propaganda and electronic surveillance used. Nazi Party, Afghanistan, Muslims

ruling class

a relatively fixed group of privileged people who wield power sufficient to constrain political processes and serve underlying capitalist interests. Although the power elite controls the everyday operation of the political system, who governs is less important than who rules.

welfare state

a state in which there is extensive government action to provide support and services to the citizens.

subcontracting

an agreement in which a corporation contracts with other (usually smaller) firms to provide specialized components, products, or services to the larger corporation.

democratic socialism

an economic and political system that combines private ownership of some of the means of production, governmental distribution of some essential goods and services, and free elections.

mixed economy

an economic system that combines elements of a market economy (capitalism) with elements of a command economy (socialism).

services

are activities for which people are willing to pay.

goods

are objects that are necessary or desired

special interest groups

are political coalitions made up of individuals or groups that share a specific interest they wish to protect or advance with the help of the political system. pressure groups or lobbies

Domhoff

argues that the media tend to reflect "the biases of those with access to them—corporate leaders, government officials, and policy experts."

violence

behavior intended to bring pain, physical injury, and/or psychological stress to people or to harm or destroy property.

occupations

categories of jobs that involve similar activities at different work sites.

conglomerates

combinations of businesses in different commercial areas, all of which are owned by one holding company.

Tea Party Movement 2009

emerged to support more constitutionally limited government and to oppose various stimulus and bailout programs that use federal monies.

government

is the formal organization that has the legal and political authority to regulate the relationships among members of a society and between the society and those outside its borders.

consumption

is the ostentatious display of symbols of wealth, such as owning numerous mansions and expensive works of art, wearing extravagant jewelry and clothing, or otherwise flaunting the trappings of great wealth.

political socialization

is the process by which people learn political attitudes, values, and behavior.

terrorism

is the use of calculated, unlawful physical force or threats of violence against a government, organization, or individual to gain some political, religious, economic, or social objective.

marginal jobs

jobs that differ from the employment norms of the society in which they are located.

transnational corporations

large corporations that are headquartered in one or a few countries but sell and produce goods and services in many countries.

corporations

large-scale organizations that have legal powers, such as the ability to enter into contracts and buy and sell property, separate from their individual owners.

power elite

made up of leaders at the top of business, the executive branch of the federal government, and the military. Mills-the power elite is composed of influential business leaders, key government leaders, and the military. The elites possess greater resources than the masses, and public policy reflects their preferences.

interlocking corporate directories

members of the board of directors of one corporation who also sit on the board(s) of other corporations.

Enloe

militarism

functionalist perspective on government

pluralist model; government serves important functions that no other institution can fulfill. Contemporary functionalists identify four main functions: (a) maintaining law and order, (b) planning and directing society, (c) meeting social needs, and (d) handling international relations, including warfare.

Mills- power elite

power elite is made up of leaders at the top of business, the executive branch of the federal government, and the military. Highest paid "corporate rich" most powerful

iron triangle of power

see also military industrial complex; a three-way arrangement in which a private interest group (usually a corporation), a congressional committee or subcommittee, and a bureaucratic agency make the final decision on a political issue that is to be decided by that agency.

pluralist

see functional government

militarism

societal focus on military ideals and an aggressive preparedness for war. patriotism, obedience, faith in authority...help support militarism (Enloe)

state

state—the political entity that possesses a legitimate monopoly over the use of force within its territory to achieve its goals.

Domhoff -ruling class

the corporate rich influence the political process in three ways. First, they affect the candidate selection process by helping to finance campaigns and providing favors to political candidates. Second, through participation in the special interest process, the corporate rich are able to obtain favors, tax breaks, and favorable regulatory rulings. Finally, the corporate rich gain access to the policy-making process through their appointments to governmental advisory committees, presidential commissions, and other governmental positions.

labor

the group of people who contribute their physical and intellectual services to the production process in return for wages

Veblen- The theory of the Leisure Class

the idle rich, who made vast sums of money through factory ownership and the hard work of their employees, represented a conspicuously consuming, parasitic leisure class.

military industrial complex

the mutual interdependence of the military establishment and private military contractors.

routinization of charisma

the process by which charismatic authority is succeeded by a bureaucracy controlled by a rationally established authority or by a combination of traditional and bureaucratic authority.

Durkheim

the purpose of government is to socialize people to be good citizens, to regulate the economy so that it operates effectively, and to provide necessary services for citizens.

constitutional monarchs

the royalty serve as symbolic rulers or heads of state while actual authority is held by elected officials in national parliaments. In present-day monarchies such as the United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain, and the Netherlands, members of royal families primarily perform ceremonial functions.

primary labor market

the sector of the labor market that consists of high paying jobs with good benefits that have some degree of security and the possibility of future advancement.

primary sector production

the sector of the economy that extracts raw materials and natural resources from the environment.

tertiary sector production

the sector of the economy that is involved in the provision of services rather than goods.

secondary sector production

the sector of the economy that processes raw materials (from the primary sector) into finished goods.

secondary labor market

the sector of the labor market that consists of low-paying jobs with few benefits and very little job security or possibility for future advancement.

economy

the social institution that ensures the maintenance of society through the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

politics

the social institution through which power is acquired and exercised by some people and groups

Galbraith-military industrial complex

the threat of war is good for the economy because gov money spent on military preparedness stimulates private sector of the economy, creates jobs, and encourages consumer spending

Mills- military industrial complex

this alliance of economic, military, and political power could result in a "permanent war economy" or "military economy."

Weber's three ideal types of authority

traditional, charismatic, rational-legal

political terrorism

unconventional warfare; uses intimidation, coercion, threats of harm, and other violence that attempts to bring about a significant change in or overthrow an existing government.

split ticket

voting for one party's candidate in one race and another party's candidate in the next one.

capital

wealth owned or used in business by a person or corporation

representative democracy

whereby citizens elect representatives to serve as bridges between themselves and the government. The U.S. Constitution requires that each state have two senators and a minimum of one member in the House of Representatives. The number of voting representatives in the House (435) has not changed since the apportionment following the 1910 census; however, those 435 seats are reapportioned based on an increase or decrease in a state's population as shown in census data gathered every ten years.

democracy

is a political system in which the people hold the ruling power either directly or through elected representatives. Ruled by the people

oligarchies

( republican and democratic parties) do not offer voters clear policy alternatives ;dominated by active elites who hold views that are further from the center of the political spectrum than are those of a majority of members of their party. As a result, voters in primary elections (in which the nominees of political parties for most offices other than president and vice president are chosen) may select nominees whose views are closer to the center of the political spectrum and further away from the party's own platform. Kendall, Diana (2012-01-01). Sociology in Our Times (Page 419). Cengage Textbook. Kindle Edition.

political action committees (PAC's)

(PACs)—organizations of special interest groups that solicit contributions from donors and fund campaigns to help elect (or defeat) candidates based on their stances on specific issues.

Voters- why they don't vote

*Conservative argument: People are satisfied with the status quo, are uninformed and lack an understanding of government processes *Liberal argument: People feel alienated from politics due to corruption and influence peddling by special interests and large corporations

Media conglomerates-factors of rapid growth

1. Aggressive political and economic maneuvering by dominant media firms. 2. Introduction of new technologies that increased the cost efficiency of global systems. 3. Policies of the U.S. government and organizations

Postindustrial Economy

1. Information displaces property as the central preoccupation in the economy. 2. Workplace culture shifts away from factories and toward diverse work settings, the employee, and the manager. 3. The conventional boundaries between work and home are breached

Professions- 5 characteristics

Abstract, specialized knowledge, Autonomy, Self regulation, Authority, Altruism

monarchy

is a political system in which power resides in one person or family and is passed from generation to generation through lines of inheritance. Spain- constitutional monarchy

oligopoly

exists when several companies overwhelmingly control an entire industry. (music industry)

absolute monarchy

heredity or god given right to rule; Kuwait

professions

high-status, knowledge based occupations.

city-state

independent or autonomous entity not administered as a part of another local government whose territory consists of a city and possibly its surrounding territory

cottage industries

industries—producing goods in their homes that could be sold to nonfamily members.

lobbyists

influence legislation on behalf of specific clients

nation-state

is a unit of political organization that has recognizable national boundaries and whose citizens possess specific legal rights and obligations.

communism

is an economic system characterized by common ownership of all economic resources

socialism

is an economic system characterized by public ownership of the means of production, the pursuit of collective goals, and centralized decision making

political party

is an organization whose purpose is to gain and hold legitimate control of government.it is usually composed of people with similar attitudes, interests, and socioeconomic status. A political party (1) develops and articulates policy positions, (2) educates voters about issues and simplifies the choices for them, and (3) recruits candidates who agree with those policies, helps those candidates win office, and holds the candidates responsible for implementing the party's policy positions.

power

is the ability of persons or groups to achieve their goals despite opposition from others; is a social relationship involving both leaders and followers

political sociology

is the area of sociology that examines the nature and consequences of power within or between societies, as well as the social and political conflicts that lead to changes in the allocation of power. primarily focuses on the social circumstances of politics and explores how the political arena and its actors are intertwined with social institutions such as the economy, religion, education, and the media.

political systems found in nation states

monarchy, authoritarianism, totalitarianism, and democracy.

internet

number 2 source of news

television

number one source of news

war

organized, armed conflict between nations or distinct political factions.

Mills- media

page 416, "spider web"; Mills hoped that individuals would develop the capacity for critical judgment based on information they received from the media industry; however, he was doubtful that this would occur for two important sociological reasons: (1) media communication involves a limited number of people who communicate to a great number of others ("the masses"), and (2) audiences have no effective way of answering back, making mass communication a one-way process.

contingent work

part-time work, temporary work, or subcontracted work that offers advantages to employers but that can be detrimental to the welfare of workers.

elite model

power in political systems is concentrated in the hands of a small group of elites, and the masses are relatively powerless.

pluralist model

power in political systems is widely dispersed throughout many competing interest groups

dictatorship

power is gained and held by a single individual

rational-legal authority

power legitimized by law or written rules and procedures. Also referred to as bureaucratic authority. President, elected officials; authority resides in office. British Parliament, U.S. presidency

charismatic authority

power legitimized on the basis of a leader's exceptional personal qualities or the demonstration of extraordinary insight and accomplishment that inspire loyalty and obedience from followers; temporary and unstable; politicians, soldiers, entertainers; Napoleon, Chavez, Mother Teresa

authority

power that people accept as legitimate rather than coercive.

pork barrel

projects designed to bring jobs and public monies to the home state of members of Congress, for which they can then take credit.

military juntas

result when military officers seize power from the government, Argentina, Chili, Haiti,