Ethel Wood Topic Four: Citizens, Society, and the State Flashcards
Social Cleavages
Divisions derived from politics: religion, ethnic groups, race, and social/economic classes.
Tremendous impact on policymaking
Social Class
Declined in industrial and post-industrial countries; Important basis of cleavages
Ethnic Cleavages
Based on different cultural identities (incl. religion and language)
(1) Most divisive and explosive cleavage.
(2) Ethnic clashes are the main reason for many full-scale civil wars.
Religious Cleavage
Religious conflicts are often linked with ethnicity (whether similar or different)
Regional Cleavages
Differing political values and attitudes characterize people living in different geographical regions – often linked to varying degrees of economic development.
Coinciding Cleavages
When every dispute aligns the same group against each other - COINCIDING CLEAVAGES are likely to be explosive
Cross - Cutting Cleavages
When society is divided into many political groups that may conflict on one issue but cooperate with another.
These tend to keep social conflict to a more moderate level
Bases of Social Cleavages
(1) What mix of social classes, ethnic and racial groups, religions, and languages does a country have?
(2) How deep are these cleavages, and to what degree do they separate people from one another?
(3) Which of these cleavages appear to have the most significant impact on the political system?
Cleavages and Political Institutions
(1) How are cleavages expressed in the political system?
(2) Is a political party membership based on cleavages?
(3) Do political elites usually come from one group or another?
(4) Do cleavages prevent certain groups from participating in the government?
Social Boundaries
The separation of two different groups that may be due to difference in social cleavage.
Political Efficacy
Measures the connection between citizens and their government.
Citizens capacity to understand and influence political events
Attitudes and Beliefs of Citizens
Do citizens trust their government?
Do they believe the government values their input?
Political Socialization
How do citizens learn about politics in their country?
Levels of Political Socialization
Deepest Level: people identify with their nation, ethnic/class group, and religion(s)
Middle Level: people develop attitudes towards politics and the ways that government operates
Narrower Level: people have immediate views of current events or political topics that call their attention
What are a person’s political beliefs are a combination of?
Many feelings and attitudes, including both general and specific identifications.
Subject Activities (type of political participation)
Citizens in an authoritarian government contact their government through SUBJECT ACTIVITIES
(1) Obeying laws
(2) Following military orders
(3) Paying taxes
Democratic Political Participation
Citizens play a more active part in government.
CITIZENS ARE ALLOWED TO VOTE!!!!!, work for political candidates, attend political meetings or rallies, contribute money to campaigns, and join political clubs/parties
Voting Behavior
Do citizens in the country participate in regular elections?
Are those elections fair and competitive?
Factors that Influence Political Beliefs and Behaviors
Social Cleavages: class, gender, age, location
Transparent Government
A government that operates openly by keeping citizens informed about government operations and political issues by responding to citizens’ questions/advice
Social Movements
Organized collective activities that aim to bring about or resist fundamental change in an existing group or society
Social Movements try to influence political leaders to make policy decisions that support their goals.
Civil Society
Voluntary organizations outside of the state that help people define and advance their own interests. Usually strong in liberal democracies where individual freedoms are valued and protected.
Tyranny of the Majority
Tendency in democracies to allow majority rule to neglect the rights/liberties of the minority
Global Cosmopolitanism
A universal political order that draws its identity and values from everywhere
Non-governmental Organization (NGO)
National and international groups independent of any state that pursue policy objectives and foster public participation
Authoritarian Governments and Civil Society
Authoritarian states feel their power is threatened by civil society
