charon review

Question 1

Marx’s take on globalization

Answer 1

some individuals do not believe globalization is occurring. There is a change taking place, but these trends have been evolving from atleast the sixteenth century. It is the development of traditional societies becoming modern and modern societies becoming more global. It is the ultimate climax of capitalism marx would argue. Still a world of independent nations.

Question 2

Thomas Friedman

Answer 2

flat world- describes communication revolution (instant) its economic implications, and its ability to increase knowledge. Fall of berlin wall was a pivotal moment since info and democracy could be spread. World becomes a single market, a single economy, a single community. Says with free info like this totalitarianism is impossible. Says it will make a better world.

Question 3

Economic System under globalization

Answer 3

global world economy, single market

Question 4

Capitalism’s Goal

Answer 4

profit to owners (of private business)

Question 5

Role of Government in Capitalism

Answer 5

ideally open competition without government interference. In reality there is no pure capitalism. Government always plays some role in the economic system. Each nation is different in the role and degree of government intervention. Gov serves rich and gives services to general population.

Question 6

Capitalism’s Relationship to Democracy

Answer 6

some argue that capitalism and democracy are intertwined. In reality there are distinctions,. Not the same. Some countries are highly democratic and socialist while others are highly democratic and capitalistic

Question 7

Labor Unions Reaction

Answer 7

in the 1960s, us corporations became global, at first unions didn’t consider the possible loss of job in the us and so they supported free trade. Assumed it would just open new markets. In the 1980s however, us unions realized that free trade would cost American jobs.

Question 8

In an unregulated economy this happens

Answer 8

• extremely low wages

Question 9

The Most Powerful in Economic System

Answer 9

us, uk, france, Netherlands, Scotland, Germany, russiam spain, and japan

Question 10

Who Benefits from the Global System

Answer 10

consumers do, if they have income. Those in giant corporations, stockholders. In the short term workers can get jobs. In the long run, workers get low wages. It is only in certain localized places such as china, india and southeast asia where improvements occur. The rich benefit. Everyone else falls behind. Dictatorial elites benefit.

Question 11

Characteristics of Capitalism

Answer 11

ideally, economic system with private business and no government intervention. Prices determined by market. Open competition. In reality, differing views of government intervention

Question 12

Charon Imagines a World Society?

Answer 12

a society is the largest form of social organization people identify with. Nations are political entities. Often societies are nations. Existence of nations still most important form of society. Populations move and we can interact globally through the internet. Possible in the future. We must feel like citizens of the world.

Question 13

Alexis De Tocqueville and Democracy

Answer 13

Tocqueville, a French social scientist. After traveling the us, he wrote in his book, democracy in America, that the US has was a thriving democracy with great potential. Pointed out our shortcomings including slavery. He showed that the qualities of our society encourage the development of democracy. His lasting importance was to show us that democracy is difficult to achieve, that certain social conditions make it possible and certain patterns support its continued existence.

Question 14

most sociologists avoid

Answer 14

stereotypes

Question 15

Society for Karl Marx

Answer 15

karl marx described society as a system for and by the rich and powerful

Question 16

Judging other Cultures

Answer 16

we should be mindful of our own ethnocentrism and not arbitrarily judge down other cultures (the sociological perspective)

Question 17

Generalization for Humans

Answer 17

once we make categories, we ascribe certain beliefs and ideas to them. Most humans do not make generalizations carefully, resulting in stereotypes.

Question 18

A Stereotype does this

Answer 18

a category and a set of generalization that is judgmental; an attempt to condemn or praise the category. It makes value judgments. Moral evaluation of differences. Ignores fact and doesn’t change with new info. Not created carefully.

Question 19

The Spirit of Social Science

Answer 19

social science is a highly disciplined process of investigation whose purpose is to question many of our uncritically accepted stereotypes and generalizations. Tries hard not to be judgmental of people and categories. Categories and generalizations in social science are rarely if ever absolute. Creates them through carefully gathered evidence. – subject to change. Do not categorize as an end in itself. Categorize panic disorder then find a cure

Question 20

Social Scientists Should Generalize how

Answer 20

social scientists generalize without being too judgmental of people and categories. Sensitive to bias. Purpose to understand. Categories rarely absolute- find all exceptions.

Question 21

Social Scientists and Generalization

Answer 21

generalization treated as a probability not an absolute. Find all exceptions.

Question 22

The Author and Values

Answer 22

part of culture- commitments based on our image of what is good and not good in life and what people regard as important. They are the standards that people use to judge their own acts and the acts of others. Questions involving “should.” Humans tend to believe their own values are true when it is a matter of cultural preference.

Question 23

Charon on Most People and Values

Answer 23

values often contradictory. Judging people is how most people first come across values.

Question 24

Social Interaction and Ethnocentrism

Answer 24

we cant interact with everyone. Interaction is always limited to a small number of people., and one of many societies. Learn values and culture from those people. Just accept it. Without interaction outside our groups, differences become difficult to understand, to accept, and to judge,

Question 25

The Process of Socialization and Ethnocentrism

Answer 25

almost every social organization encourages ethnocentrism. Socialization teaches us to be loyal. Groups will try to keep individuals together and have them feel good about their culture. Since we are loyal, we are taught we are better→ethnocentrism

Question 26

Punishing Violators Does this

Answer 26

there are always people who disagree with or violate culture- punishments show all members of society that individuals can only go so far. Society shows members the consequences of violating rules, values and morals. As we condemn and punish, we reaffirm the rightness of our culture, making ethnocentrism more legitimate and necessary

Question 27

Ethnocentrism and Oppression

Answer 27

How do people who oppress others (such as slave traders) live with themselves? Oppression brings ethnocentrism: ethnocentrism brings oppression. Ethnocentrism encourages war, murder etc. it is also the result of such actions. Ethnocentrism becomes a rationalization for evil.- they are not as good as we are.

Question 28

. Everyone is the Same?

Answer 28

we are different because we cant interact with everyone, we have different histories, and every organization faces its own problems and situations.

Question 29

. Are Human Differences Important

Answer 29

yes, because we want to retain our identities and be unique. We try to maintain our differences.

Question 30

One has influence over another according to Charon

Answer 30

We do make others different. Influence is often unintentional. Influence difficult to achieve in exactly the way someone intended. Our actions will often have a harmful effect on others. People almost always forget what they are taught because it isn’t useful to them.

Question 31

Mikhail Gorbachev

Answer 31

it is almost impossible for individuals to impact social patterns, but occasionally in history, they do. Once people are in power, they try to maintain the system. He, however made a big difference and criticized it, the economy and the military. His influence was even greater than he imagined. Russia will never be able to back to its old institutions.

Question 32

Mikhail Gorbachev and making a difference

Answer 32

he will go down in history as some one who made a difference. Without him the world still would have changed, but it would not have changed as fast and to such a degree.

Question 33

Society is Most Likely to Change This Way

Answer 33

slowly, without being able to attribute to one individual or group

Question 34

Important Trend in Society

Answer 34

population trends, urbanization, increased use of technology, secularization, globalization and computerization etc. a social trend is a change that arises from the actions of many individuals who act in a similar direction and produce a cumulative effect on society. In the long run they are the most important sources of social change.

Question 35

According to McDonaldization Theory this is Happening

Answer 35

Weber emphasizes a social trend he calls rationalization of life- instead of tradition we seek to accomplish goals and as a result have become more rational and calculative. We are no longer committed to value oriented behavior

Question 36

The Sociological Perspective and Misery

Answer 36

Misery is a chronic state of suffering and unhappiness. Though it is subjective and there are many causes, conditions of misery do exist in society. Social conditions cause it

Question 37

What is a Cause of Human Misery in the text?

Answer 37

social inequality, destructive social conflict, socialization and alienation

Question 38

Where a Class society exists this can happen 160

Answer 38

great inequality manifests itself. People pass down education or inheritance. Rich stay rich while poor stay poor.

Question 39

Social Inequality and Misery

Answer 39

society built on 3 kinds of inequality: political, economic and social. A belief system arises to justify it.

Question 40

Poverty and Crime

Answer 40

only way to make it. Some people don’t accept the position in society they were trained to accept and turn to crime to advance that position

Question 41

Jobs at the Lowest Level of Society

Answer 41

as people are exploited they work at bad jobs and are barely able to survive in poverty. Their self respect is damaged. Poor are defined as lazy, stupid. Lack self worth

Question 42

Perception of Lowest Positions

Answer 42

people in lowest positions perceived as undeserving, and lazy, non whites are seen as less capable, women as submissive and stupid, sexual objects. Beliefs used to justify inequality.

Question 43

Social Institutions and Inequality

Answer 43

inequality produces institutions that do not serve all people satisfactorily. Few of them are meant to solve the problems of human misery except when misery touches the lives of the powerful

Question 44

Early Childhood Socialization does this

Answer 44

teaches us ideas and values to live by. Gives us language, mind and self. Not always successful

Question 45

The United States and Inequality

Answer 45

in 2005, the top 1% received 50.34% of the income, whereas the bottom 1/5 received 3.42. income of wealthy is rising much faster than other classes. Inequality among races.

Question 46

Division of Labor Does this

Answer 46

results in people getting paid different amounts. They work different kinds of jobs

Question 47

Those Who Win Act this Way

Answer 47

continues to dominate. Builds a long lasting system of inequality.

Question 48

Power

Answer 48

people with more power can more easily dominate others.

Question 49

Weber’s term

Answer 49

life chances- all the benefits/privileges that a social actor receives because of his life or her position in society or social organization. – housing-income etc

Question 50

Schools Generally Socialize this Way

Answer 50

teaching people to accept their social positions. People sorted into academic tracks. Poor students learn obedience, and hierarchy while richer ones learn leadership and innovation.

Question 51

People outside the law

Answer 51

some don’t accept their social positions, even though they were socialized to do so. They turn to crime or become revolutionaries. People feel threatened by them and try to stop change from occurring. We have instruments of control and violence such as police to stop them.

Question 52

Charon’s take on Social Inequality

Answer 52

does not believe it is inevitable. It’s a matter of how much inequality is tolerated and good for society.