Chapter 14 - Politics Flashcards
Power
The ability to control others, even against their will
Authority
what power turns into when most people agree with how the political machine is run
3 types of Authority
- Traditional Authority = the norm in tribal and feudal societies, rulers inherit authority through family or clan ties.
- Legal-Rational Authority = in modern societies, authority derives from respect for the law.
- Charismatic Authority = based on a belief in the claims of extraordinary individuals that they are inspired by a god or some higher principle
Political Revolutions
the overthrow of political institutions by an opposition movement and its replacement by new institutions, take place when widespread and successful movements of opposition clash with crumbling traditional or legal-rational authority
State
consists of the institutions responsible for formulating and carrying out a country’s laws and public policies
Civil Society
the private sphere of social life
Authoritarian States
sharply restrict citizen control of the state
Totalitarian States
citizens lack almost any control of the state
Democracy
citizens exercise a high degree of control over the state. they do this mainly by choosing representatives in regular, competitive elections
Political Parties
organizations that compete for control of government. in the process, they give voice to policy alternatives and rally adult citizens to vote
Lobbies
organizations formed by special interest groups to advise and influence politicians
Mass Media
print, radio, television, and other communication technologies. In a democracy, the mass media help keep the public informed about the quality of government
Public Opinion
refers to the values and attitudes of the adult population as a whole
Social Movements
collective attempts to change all of part of the social, political, or economic order by means of petitioning, striking, demonstrating, and rioting, and establishing lobbies, unions, and political parties
Pluralist Theory
holds that power is widely dispersed. as a result, no group enjoys disproportionate influence, and decisions are usually reached through negotiation and compromise
Elites
defined by Mills as small groups that control the command posts of major institutions
Ruling Class
defined by Marx as a self-conscious, cohesive group of people in elite positions. they act to advance their common interests and are typically led by corporate executives
Power Resource Theory
holds that the distribution of power among major classes partly accounts for the successes and failures of different political parties over the long term
State-Centred Theory
holds that the state itself can structure political life, to some degree, independently of the way power is distributed between classes and other groups at a given time
Post Materialist Theory
claims that growing equality and prosperity in the rich industrialized countries have resulted in a shift from class-based to value-based politics
Under what conditions do some societies become highly democratic?
Citizens win legal protection of rights and freedoms when their middle and working classes become large, organized, and prosperous; and when powerful, friendly, pro-democratic foreign states support them
The most important Canadian federal election of the 20th century
November 21st, 1988
Conservatives
Elite theory
small groups occupying the command posts of the most influential institutions make important decisions that impact and affect all members of society
