Politics and Government Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Power and Authority Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Politics & Government Politics Power Government The social institution that distributes power, sets a society’s agenda, and makes decisions. Power The ability to achieve desired ends despite resistance from others. Government A formal organization that directs the political life of a society. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Weber’s Types of Authority Authority - Power people perceive as legitimate, not coercive. Traditional Power legitimized through respect for long established cultural patterns. Rational-legal Power legitimized by legally enacted rules and regulations. Charismatic Power legitimized through extraordinary personal abilities that inspire devotion and obedience. Examples: Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Adolf Hitler

Politics in global perspective Sociology, Eleventh Edition

THE MONARCHY MONARCHY ABSOLUTE MONARCHY CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHIES Rule by a single family over generations typical of ancient agrarian societies. Monarchies are legitimized by tradition, according to Weber. ABSOLUTE MONARCHY Rulers monopolizing power based on divine right. Modern Example: Saudi Arabia CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHIES Modern-day monarchies More figure head than ruler Political principles rule Elected official actually rules Modern Example: Great Britain, Spain, Denmark, etc. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Democracy Democracy – A political system which gives power to the people as a whole. Linked to Rational-legal Authority High-income countries claim to be democratic. Representative Democracy – Authority in hands of elected leaders, accountable to the people. The U.S. is not truly democratic. Extensive use of unelected bureaucratic officials. Rich have more political clout than poor. Capitalist societies claim to be democratic because of personal liberties while socialist countries claim to be democratic because of economic equality. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Global Map 17-1 (p. 447) Political Freedom in Global Perspective In 2005, a total of 89 of the world’s 192 nations, containing 44 percent of all people, were politically “free”; that is, they offered their citizens extensive political rights and civil liberties. Another 54 countries, which included 19 percent of the world’s people, were “partly free,” with more limited rights and liberties. The remaining 49 nations, home to 37 percent of humanity, fall into the category of “not free.” In these countries, government sharply restricts individual initiative. Between 1980 and 2005, democracy made significant gains, largely in Latin America and Eastern Europe. In Asia, India (containing 1 billion people) returned to the “free” category in 1999. In 2000, Mexico joined the ranks of nations considered “free” for the first time. Source: Freedom House (2005). Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Other political systems Authoritarianism A political system that denies popular participation in government. Totalitarianism A highly centralized political system that extensively regulates people’s lives. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Politics in the united states Sociology, Eleventh Edition

The Rise of the Welfare State Welfare state, government agencies and programs that provide benefits to the population. The U.S. welfare state is still smaller than those of many other high-income nations. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

The Political Spectrum The political spectrum helps us understand two types of issues: Economic Issues Economic Inequality - Poverty Social Issues Moral questions about how people ought to live. Equal Rights, abortion, death penalty, etc.

Where do you fall on the political spectrum? Why? Discussion question Where do you fall on the political spectrum? Why? Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Class, Race, and Gender Rich people tend to be conservative on economic issues but liberal on social issues. Low income people are economically liberal yet socially conservative. African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Jews and women tend to be liberal. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Figure 17-2 (p. 452) Left-Right Political Identification of College Students, 1970-2004 Student attitudes moved to the right after 1970 and shifted left in the mid-1990s. College women tend to be a bit more liberal than college men. Source: Astin et al. (2002) and Sax et al. (2003). Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Special interest groups Political alliance of people interested in some economic or social issue. Ex. Gun lobbyists POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES Organizations formed by special interest groups, independent of political parties, to pursue political aims by raising and spending money. 2004 – US presidency candidates spent $4 billion on their campaigns. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Voter apathy Many people do not vote. Women are more likely to vote than men. 65+ are more likely than college students to vote. People making $75,000+ are more likely to vote than people making less than $10,000. Homeowners, parents with young kids, more schooling and good jobs are more likely to vote. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

DISCUSSION QUESTION Kentucky and Virginia are the only states that don’t automatically restore voting rights to convicted felons after serving their sentence. Should convicted felons have a right to vote? Sociology, Eleventh Edition

National Map 17-1 (p. 454) The Presidential Election, 2004: Popular Vote by County George W. Bush won the 2004 presidential election with 51 percent of the total popular vote, but he received a majority in about 80 percent of the nation’s counties. John Kerry, who gained 48 percent of the popular vote, did well in more densely populated urban areas. What social differences do you think distinguish the areas that voted Republican and Democratic? Why are rural areas mostly Republican and urban areas mostly Democratic? Source: Copyright © 2004 by The New York Times. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Theoretical analysis of power in society Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Theoretical Analysis Pluralist model – linked to S-F. Power is dispersed among many competing interests groups. All groups have some voice. The power-elite model – based on S-C. “Real” power is concentrated among the very rich in America. Concentrating wealth in the hands of the few makes the US a mostly capitalist economy. Marxist political-economy model – S-C. Power is divided along the lines of a political economy. Bias is rooted within the nation’s social institutions. Revolution is the only answer. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Power beyond the rules Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Political Revolution Political Revolution – The overthrow of a political order in order to establish another. Coup d’etat – one leader disposing another Political Revolutions have common traits: Rising expectations Tend to happen when quality of life is improving. Unresponsive government Government unwilling or unable to reform. Radical leadership by intellectuals Revolution is often “university centered”. Students play crucial role. Establishing new legitimacy Guarding against the counterrevolution. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Characteristics of Terrorism Terrorism - Acts of violence, or the threat of violence, employed by an individual or a group as a political strategy. Define violence as a legitimate political tactic while bypassing established channels of negotiation. Used by governments as well as individuals. State Terrorism – use of violence generally without the support of law, by government officials. Democratic countries are especially vulnerable to terrorism. It is a matter of definition, one person’s terrorist is another's freedom fighter. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Where were you when you heard about the 9/11 terrorist attacks? What were people’s reactions? What have been some of the long term consequences of the 9/11 terrorist attacks? Sociology, Eleventh Edition

War and peace Sociology, Eleventh Edition

A Sociological approach to war Wars occur often but there is nothing natural about humans engaging in war. Warfare is a product of society. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Quincy Wright’s Five Factors That Promote War Perceived threats Threats to people and territory. Social problems Internal problems and frustration. Political objectives Show of force and protecting one’s own property. Moral objectives Rallying people around morality. Absence of alternatives Limited options Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Figure 17-3 (p. 458) Deaths of Americans in Eleven U. S Figure 17-3 (p. 458) Deaths of Americans in Eleven U.S. Wars Almost half of all U.S. deaths in war occurred during the Civil War (1861—1865). Sources: Compiled from various sources by Maris A. Vinovskis (1989) and the author.

Sociological profile of the armed forces A large share of young people: join the military to earn money for college or just to get out of a small home town. are of working-class background. are looking to the military for a job. The largest number of young enlistees come from the South, where local culture is more supportive of the military and where most military bases are located. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Militarism The world’s nations spend 1 trillion annually. $160.00 for every person on earth Military spending went up for decades due to the arms race between the US and the Soviet Union. Trying to increase military power. Militarism continues due to regional conflict. Even small conflicts have the potential to grow. Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Reducing Chances For War And Increasing Chances Of Peace DETERRENCE Balance of power (or terror) between societies. Ex. Cold War – 50+ years HIGH-TECHNOLOGY DEFENSE Strategic defense initiative. DIPLOMACY AND DISARMAMENT Keep talking about reducing arms. RESOLVING UNDERLYING CONFLICT Increase spending on promoting peace rather than building up military. Sociology, Eleventh Edition