1. Citizens, Society, & the State (Cleavages, Civil Society, Media Roles, Political Participation)

3. Social Cleavages Political cleavages are those national, ethnic, linguistic, and religious divisions that exist in a society. These differences often have profound impacts on politics. Cross-Cutting – Occurs when people are torn between different identities – Tends to result in more moderate conflict Complementary (Coinciding) – Factors tend to pull people in one direction – Tends to lead to more conflict and violence

4. Coinciding vs Cross-Cutting Cleavages Coinciding (Reinforcing) Cleavages – Identity divisions that coincide with one another for large numbers of individuals – More likely to be explosive Cross-Cutting Cleavages – Divide society into many potential groups that may conflict on one issue, but cooperate on another – Tend to keep conflict to more moderate levels

5. Flemish-speaking Flanders French-speaking Walonia Wealthier Poorer North South Highly Fragmented Parties GermanFrenchItalian Different Dialects Mixed Religions Economic interests in tourism or banking Belgium Switzerland Coinciding Cleavages Cross-Cutting Cleavages Stable Society

9. Cleavages and Political Institutions How are cleavages expressed in the political system? – Is political party membership based on cleavages? – Do political elites usually come from one group or another? – Do these cleavages block some groups from fully participating in government?

10. BASES OF SOCIAL CLEAVAGES 1.Social Class (Great Britain, less developed countries, India) 2.Ethnic Cleavages- could be religious or language. *Most divisive and explosive.* (Yugoslavia, Liberia, Rwanda, and Angola) 3.Religious Cleavages (Northern Ireland) 4.Regional Cleavages- involves competition for jobs, money, and development projects. (Nigeria) 5.Race 6.Gender

11. Multiple Choice If people who live in one region of a country and share a common ethnicity and religion often have conflict with people in another region who share a different ethnicity and religion, the country is characterized by A.Cross-cutting cleavages B.A consensual political culture C.Coinciding cleavages D.Low levels of political legitimacy E.An active civil society

12. Social Movements Examples include US Civil Rights Movement Social Participants from most to least active: – Zealots – Run-of-the-mill participants – Misers – Opportunists

13. Comparing Citizen/State Relationships

14. Attitudes and Beliefs of Citizens Do citizens trust their government? Do they believe that the government cares about what they think? Do citizens feel that government affects their lives in significant ways? What is political efficacy? – A citizen’s capacity to understand and influence political events

15. Citizenship Designation as official member of the society the state confers often on its permanent population – Birth right? – Dual Citizenship – Naturalization Process by which a noncitizen becomes a citizen

16. Political Socialization How do citizens learn about politics in their country? Do electronic and print media shape their learning? Does the government put forth effort to politically educate their citizens? If so, how much of their effort might you call “propaganda”? How do children learn about politics?

17. There are three different patterns that describe the citizens’ role in the political process: Participants – Involved as actual or potential participants – They are informed and make policy demands Subjects – Passively obey the government and rarely vote Parochials – Hardly aware of government

18. Types of Participation Conventional Participation – Voting, contacting the government, being a member of a political party or interest group – Activities the political elite approve of – In a non-democratic state, many of these activities might be repressed Unconventional Participation – Activities the political elite do not approve of – Might be violent or disturb the status quo – Strikes, boycotts, marches, protests, violence, and terrorism Nonparticipation

20. Voting Behavior Do citizens in the country participate in regular elections? If so, are the elections truly competitive? If not, what is the purpose of the elections? What citizens are eligible to vote, and how many actually vote? Do politicians pay attention to elections, and do elections affect policymaking?

21. Level of Transparency A transparent government is one that operates openly by keeping citizens informed about government operations and political issues and by responding to citizens’ questions and advice. This does not have to be limited to democracies, but low levels of transparency are often found in authoritarian governments, and corruption also tends to be lower in countries where government activities are relatively transparent.

22. Factors that influence political beliefs and behaviors Consider the important cleavages in the country: Do they make a difference in citizens’ political beliefs and behaviors? – Examples: – Does the lower class vote for one political party or another? – Are women’s beliefs and behaviors different from those of men? – Are younger people as likely to vote as older people are? – Do people in rural areas participate in government?

24. Civil Society and Democratic Society Civil society is defined as organized life outside the state. They are not, necessarily political organizations but, rather, a “diverse fabric of organizations” created by people of similar interests. Although groups in civil society are not political, they are an essential part of free societies because people can promote, defend, and articulate what is important to them. “I was in civil society long before I was ever in politics or my husband was ever even elected president.” – Hillary Clinton

25. Civil society gives substance to politics and checks the power of the state. Some see civil society as a precursor to democracy. Many argue that civil life is diminishing because people are becoming more anonymous and detached in society. A global civil society is emerging where citizens have similar concerns as those of other nations and can join together to reinforce individual efforts. DISCUSSION: What is meant by the statement, “people are becoming more anonymous and detached in US society?” 1. Do you agree with the above statement? 2. What are some of the factors that cause society to become more anonymous and detached?

26. Voluntary Associations and Organizations Professional and Business Organizations Trade Unions CharitiesSocial Clubs Environmental Groups Churches Women’s Groups Community Associations Youth Clubs Consumer Groups Arts, Science, Leisure, Sports Clubs Civil Society: arena outside of the state and family (i.e., mainly voluntary organizations and civic associations) that permits individuals to associate freely and independently of state regulation What are some examples of civil society?

27. Linkage Institutions Media Political Parties Elections Interest Groups – Advocacy groups or economic groups

28. PLURALIST INTEREST GROUPS Multiple groups may represent a single societal interest. Group membership is voluntary and limited. Groups often have a loose or decentralized organizational structure. There is clear separation between interest groups and the government. Groups are not formally linked to the political process US Model

29. Advantages Competition between groups force them to come up with strong policy ideas Disadvantages Inefficiency can result from competition, hyper- pluralism Money’s influence

30. DEMOCRATIC CORPORATIST INTEREST GROUP SYSTEMS More organized in their representation of interests. They often, regularly work with the government and are stronger than pluralist interest groups. – Membership in the peak association is often compulsory and nearly universal. – Peak associations are centrally organized and direct the actions of their members. – Groups are often systematically involved in making and implementing public policy. – UK model to a degree, although lessening

31. State Corporatism State brings and even creates interest groups When business, labor, and the government work closely in policymaking This limits the influence of smaller groups Groups have little autonomy Secondary to the state in policy making Mexico under PRI rule

32. State-Controlled System Transmission Belt State creates and controls group No autonomy Common in authoritarian regimes Arm of the state Groups exist to facilitate government control of society Can still be a linkage institution for its agents create support for government policy, AKA Transmission Belt

35. PART FOUR: CITIZENS, SOCIETY & THE STATE

36. Social Cleavages Definition – Categories of identity that create divisions between groups in a society Two Considerations: – What are the bases of social cleavages? – How are cleavages expressed in the political system? Coinciding vs Cross-Cutting Cleavages – Do multiple cleavages lead to more or less division?

37. Bases of Social Cleavages Social Class – Examples? Ethnic Cleavages – Based on different cultural identities, including religion/language – Most divisive and explosive – Examples? Religious Cleavages – Closely intertwined with ethnicity – Examples? Regional Cleavages – Involves competition for jobs, money and development projects – Examples?

38. Comparing Citizen/State Relationships

40. Types of Participation Interest Groups Political Parties Voting Social movements – Organized collective activities that aim to bring about/resist change in an existing group/society

41. Civil Society – Organized life outside the state – Voluntary groups – Help people define and advance their own interest – Usually strong in liberal democracies – Help prevent “tyranny of the majority” Global Civil Society: Nongovernmental organizations (NGO’s) – Doctors Without Borders for example, Amnesty International, Red Cross