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Essentials of Sociology
9th Edition
Chapter 11: Politics and the Economy
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Chapter Overview
Power, Authority, and Violence
Types of Government
The U.S. Political System
Who Rules the United States?
The Transformation of Economic Systems
World Economic Systems
Capitalism in a Global Economy
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Power
Power: Ability to get your way despite resistance
Two Types of Power: Authority (Legitimate Power) and Coercion (Illegitimate Power)
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4. 3 Types of Authority (Weber)
Traditional Authority – Authority based on custom, we will always know who is next in line
Rational-Legal Authority – Authority is based on written rules; we may not know who is next in line, but we know how they will be elected
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5. 3 Types of Authority (con’t.)
Charismatic Authority – a person becomes an authority figure because of his/her outstanding traits
Transfer of authority is problematic
Two ways authority can be transferred:
The authority figure can appoint someone
The authority figure can build and organization out of which comes rational-legal authority; this is referred to as Routinization of Charisma
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Types of Government
Monarchies – King and Queen (e.g., Great Britain) Democracies – Direct and Representative Direct Democracy was the 1st type of democracy formed by the colonists Representative democracy is the type of government the U.S. has today Dictatorship – Rule by one Oligarchy – Rule by a few Dictatorships and Oligarchies are examples of Totalitarianism (total control by the government)
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7. The U.S. Political System
Republicans
Older
Middle to Upper Social Classes
Conservative
Less government
Democrats
Younger
Minority Groups
Women more than men
Liberal
Working classes
More government
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Voting Patterns
Non-Hispanic Whites most likely to vote
Men and women tend to vote for different presidential candidates
The more people feel they have a stake in the system, the more likely they are to vote
Voter Apathy is present in the U.S.: indifference to voting-Why is it so widespread?
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Figure Which Political Party Dominates? Note: Domination by a political party does not refer to votes for president or Congress. This social map is based on the composition of the states’ upper and lower houses. When different parties dominate a state’s houses, the total number of legislators was used. In Nebraska, where no parties are designated, the percentage vote for president was used. Source: By the author. Based on Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009:Table 395.
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12. Lobbyists and Special Interests
Special Interest Groups:
People Who Think Alike on a Particular Issue and Mobilize for Political Action
Lobbyists:
People Paid to Influence Legislation who work for Special Interest groups
Often times, lobbyists are people who are retired from the government
The main criticism of Special Interest groups and Lobbyists are that they buy votes
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PACs in U.S. Elections
PACs are Political Action Committees
They are formed to get around the $1,000 contribution rule
PAC Money Buys Votes
Most PACs Stand for Financial Interests of Specific Groups
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14. Functionalist Perspective
Functionalist Perspective: Pluralism (Diffusion Among Many)
The functionalist perspective believes that the U.S. is ruled by many different groups
There is a check and balance between the main branches of the government: Legislative, Judicial, and Executive
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Conflict Perspective
Conflict Perspective:
The Power Elite/Ruling Class (C. Wright Mills and Dumhoff) rule the government
Figure Power in the United States: The Model Proposed by C. Wright Mills Source: Based on Mills 1956.
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War and Terrorism
Three Essential Conditions of War (Nicholas Timasheff)
Antagonistic Situation – Two or more states confront incompatible objectives
Cultural Tradition of War – Leaders of a group see war as an option for dealing with serious disputes with other nations
Fuel – Heats the antagonistic situation to a boiling point
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17. War and Dehumanization
Moral Cost
Reducing People to Objects
Breeds Callousness and Cruelty
Characterization of Struggle Between Good and Evil
Terrorism - Use of Violence to Create Fear
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18. The Transformation of Economic Systems
Preindustrial Societies: Birth of Inequality
Hunting and Gathering Societies
Pastoral and Horticultural Societies
Agricultural Societies
Increasing Social and Economic Inequalities
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19. The Transformation of Economic Systems
Industrial Societies: Birth of the Machine
Brought Previously Unseen Surpluses
Factories Exploited Labor
More Efficient Machines Led to Conspicuous Consumption
Postindustrial Societies: Birth of Information Age
Service Sector
Vast Surplus of Goods
Extensive Trade among Nations
Wider Variety and Quantity of Goods
Information Explosion
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20. World Economic Systems-Capitalism
Capitalism: Three components
Private Ownership of Means of Production
Market Competition
Pursuit of Profit
Laissez-Faire Capitalism – Government is not involved in decision making
Welfare or State Capitalism – Individuals have certain rights but are overseen by the government –this is the U.S. economy
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21. World Economic Systems-Socialism
Socialism - Three components:
Public Ownership of Means of Production
Central Planning
Distribution of Goods without Profit Motive
Needs Decided by Central Committee
Designed to Eliminate Competition
Everyone Works for the Government
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22. The Convergence of Capitalism and Socialism
Both capitalist and socialist systems have adopted features from the other
The convergence theory refers to the growing similarities shared by capitalism and socialism
i.e. Western banks in China, unemployment compensation in the U.S.
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23. The Globalization of Capitalism
Stagnant Paychecks: the productivity of U.S. workers has increased year after year, yet inflation and cost of living has affected the value of a paycheck
New Economic System and Old Divisions of Wealth: U.S. worker face high insecurities in the workplace with layoffs and plant closings. Many are affected by outsourcing. The wealthy are not really affected by the current recession.
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Figure Average Hourly Earnings of U.S. Workers in Current and Constant Dollars Note: Constant dollars are dollars adjusted for inflation with 1982 as the base. Source: By the author. Based on Statistical Abstract of the United States 1992:Table 650; 1999:Table 698; 2010:Table 629.
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25. The Globalization of Capitalism
The Global Superclass: this term refers to the leaders of the globe’s top multinational companies
This class is very powerful and wealthy
They have access to the top circle of political power around the globe
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