Equality, Politics, Policy Flashcards
What is the state?
A complex array of governing institutions in a society. It establishes sovereignty over the geographical borders of the political community.
What sort of things are the state in charge of?
Foreign affairs, defense, creating laws/regulations, application of law, citizenship, education, etc.
What is racial profiling?
Over-representation of some groups in police arrest.
What are some components of aboriginals and the state?
Racial project of nation-building. Aboriginals suffered from cultural imperialism. Residential school system.
How do gender (women) and the state intersect?
Women were second class citizens for a long time, violence against women, state regulates birth control practices, conscription for men in both World Wars.
What are some state roles of neoliberalism?
Few taxes, free market to redistribute wealth, free-trade, low or no custom taxes/tariffs, private business. Formal equality.
What are some state roles of welfare state?
More taxes, government redistributes wealth, state regulations, protectionism/trade barriers. Substantive equality.
In spite of formal inequality, Western countries are what?
Made of social structures that privilege certain groups and deprive others.
What are some components of formal inequality?
Formal inequality of opportunity requires that positions that confer superior advantages should be open to all applicants. Meritocracy is the basis of stratification.
What rules apply to everyone in formal inequality?
Everyone is an equal citizen in the eye of the law, enjoys equal rights.
What does substantive equality mean?
Means that individuals are equal in their conditions. They can run the race on an equal footing.
Substantive equality encourages the state to what?
Move beyond and introduce measures to address outcome and indirect impact that can perpetuate disadvantages.
If the state is neutral, everyone is treated the same way (formal equality), what are some components?
Self-help and individual work are the solution, self-reliance, individualism, free market, non-intervention of state.
