Chapter 3 - Nations and Society

Question 1

Society

Answer 1

Broad term referring to human organization, a collection of people bound by shared institutions that define how human relations should be conducted. Differs in how individuals define themselves and relationships to one another, to government, and to the state.

Question 2

Ethnic Identity

Answer 2

aka ethnicity. Emphasis of a person’s relation to other members of society. A set of institutions that bind people to a common culture. Includes language, religion, geographic location, customs, appearance, and history. Not inherently political, can develop political aspect through nationalism.

Question 3

Ascription

Answer 3

The passing down of ethnic identity from generation to generation.

Question 4

National Identity

Answer 4

An institution that binds people together through common political aspirations. Namely, self-government and sovereignty. Inherently political.

Question 5

Nation

Answer 5

A group that desires self-government through an independent state.

Question 6

Examples of National identity

Answer 6

Revolt of a colony for independence. Secession of nations.

Question 7

Citizenship

Answer 7

Purely political identity. Developed explicitly by states and accepted or rejected wholly by citizens. Individuals’ relation to the state. Citizens swear allegiance to the state in return for rights.

Question 8

Patriotism

Answer 8

Pride in one’s state. Pride in political system and seeking to defend/ promote it.

Question 9

Good example: Palestinians

Answer 9

Strong national identity, but cannot be patriotic.

Question 10

Nation-state

Answer 10

Sovereign state encompassing one dominant nation that it claims to embody and represent.

Question 11

Ethnic Conflict

Answer 11

Conflict between ethnic groups that struggle to achieve certain political or economic goals at one another’s expense. Afghanistan group conflicts.

Question 12

National Conflict

Answer 12

Seek to gain (or prevent another from gaining) sovereignty, clashing to form an independent state. US vs UK revolutionary war.

Question 13

Political Attitudes

Answer 13

Views of the necessary pace and scope of change in the balance between freedom and equality. Usually divided into spectrum of left to right. Divided into radicals, liberal, conservative, and reactionary.

Question 14

Radicals

Answer 14

Dramatic revolutionary change of the existing political, social, or economic order.

Question 15

Liberals (attitude)

Answer 15

Favor evolutionary change that can be made within the system to reach goals.

Question 16

Conservatives (attitude)

Answer 16

Question whether any change is necessary in existing institutions.

Question 17

Reactionaries (attitude)

Answer 17

Seek to restore political, social, and economic institutions. Restoration of values and return to previous regime.

Question 18

Political Ideologies (attitude)

Answer 18

Defined as sets of political values held by individuals regarding the fundamental goals of politics. Differs from attitudes in that these are focused on the ideal relation between freedom and equality and the proper role of political institutions. What is the ultimate goal?

Question 19

Liberalism (ideology)

Answer 19

High priority on individual political and economic freedom

Question 20

Liberal Democracy

Answer 20

System of political, social, and economic liberties, supported by participation, competition, and contestation. Greatest amount of individual freedoms will achieve greatest collective prosperity.

Question 21

Communism

Answer 21

Rejects individual freedom for collective equality. State controls all economic assets.

Question 22

Social Democracy (Socialism)

Answer 22

Draws from ideas connected to both communism and liberalism. Accepts a strong role for private ownership while maintaining economic equality. Strong capacity and autonomy needed.

Question 23

Fascism

Answer 23

Hostile to the idea of individual freedom and rejects equality. Individuals are used to benefit the state. State expresses the national will.

Question 24

Anarchism

Answer 24

The belief that the state hinders individual freedom and equality. That left to their own devices, individuals would create a better, more equal, and prosperous society.

Question 25

Fundamentalism

Answer 25

Ideology that seeks to unite religion with the state or make faith the sovereign authority. Theocracy.

Question 26

Political Culture

Answer 26

Society’s norms for political activity.

Question 27

Culture

Answer 27

If society is collection of individuals bound by institutions, culture is the content of the institutions that help define a society.