Ch. 17- Politics, Publics and the State Flashcards
Public
a concept that encompasses both civil ideals and institutions.; is composed of “citizens,” who are the critical audience for political events.
Democracy
“rule by the people”; unlike monarchy, where political power is vested in a single individual; it is a system in which power is justified and exercised by the people (or the officers they elect).
Traditional society
loosely organized territory in which power is concentrated in kinship group or family who earn their position by inheritance, and power is exercised according to tradition rather than formal rules.
State
a clearly defined and impersonal political area.
Bureaucracy
a system of formal organization in which power is allocated through a hierarchy of offices and social statuses; people engage in specialized tasks and abide by rules and expectations that are clearly defined.
Power
the ability to mobilize the resources of society in order to attain a particular goal.
State autonomy
the ability of the state to define goals that are independent of social groups, classes, and societies.
Politics
the process by which power is generated, organized, distributed, and used in society; legislative activity.
Authority
the ability to carry out one’s will while maintaining the respect of others.
Legitimation
the way in which authority comes to be accepted and generally supported by those whom it affects; three types: traditional, rational-legal, and charismatic.
Citizenship
a social position with three characteristics: a citizen is entitled to civil rights, such as the right to free speech or the right to own property; second, entitled to political rights guaranteeing the right o exercise political power, through either voting or holding office; third, entitled to social rights affirming the right to an acceptable standard of living.
Civil society
the sphere of social life that is separate from the state, governed by legal norms, and supported by institutions.
Civil repair
the process by which the civil qualities of previously excluded groups (e.g., women and African-Americans) are recognized and civil membership is expanded to include the members of such groups.
Political parties
ideological organizations that are responsible for articulating and forming political interests, developing slogans and candidates, and organizing and funding successful political campaigns in the interest of promoting a particular social order.
Discourse of decline
the frequently articulated argument that civil society and public life are in declined, that people are withdrawing from civic participation, and that society is becoming alienated and individually oriented.
