Ethel Wood Topic Four: Citizens, Society, and the State

Question 1

Social Cleavages

Answer 1

Divisions derived from politics: religion, ethnic groups, race, and social/economic classes.
Tremendous impact on policymaking

Question 2

Social Class

Answer 2

Declined in industrial and post-industrial countries; Important basis of cleavages

Question 3

Ethnic Cleavages

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

Religious Cleavage

Answer 4

Religious conflicts are often linked with ethnicity (whether similar or different)

Question 5

Regional Cleavages

Answer 5

Differing political values and attitudes characterize people living in different geographical regions – often linked to varying degrees of economic development.

Question 6

Coinciding Cleavages

Answer 6

When every dispute aligns the same group against each other - COINCIDING CLEAVAGES are likely to be explosive

Question 7

Cross - Cutting Cleavages

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Bases of Social Cleavages

Answer 8

(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?

Question 9

Cleavages and Political Institutions

Answer 9

(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?

Question 10

Social Boundaries

Answer 10

The separation of two different groups that may be due to difference in social cleavage.

Question 11

Political Efficacy

Answer 11

Measures the connection between citizens and their government.
Citizens capacity to understand and influence political events

Question 12

Attitudes and Beliefs of Citizens

Answer 12

Do citizens trust their government?

Do they believe the government values their input?

Question 13

Political Socialization

Answer 13

How do citizens learn about politics in their country?

Question 14

Levels of Political Socialization

Answer 14

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

Question 15

What are a person’s political beliefs are a combination of?

Answer 15

Many feelings and attitudes, including both general and specific identifications.

Question 16

Subject Activities
(type of political participation)

Answer 16

Citizens in an authoritarian government contact their government through SUBJECT ACTIVITIES

(1) Obeying laws
(2) Following military orders
(3) Paying taxes

Question 17

Democratic Political Participation

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Voting Behavior

Answer 18

Do citizens in the country participate in regular elections?
Are those elections fair and competitive?

Question 19

Factors that Influence Political Beliefs and Behaviors

Answer 19

Social Cleavages: class, gender, age, location

Question 20

Transparent Government

Answer 20

A government that operates openly by keeping citizens informed about government operations and political issues by responding to citizens’ questions/advice

Question 21

Social Movements

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Civil Society

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

Tyranny of the Majority

Answer 23

Tendency in democracies to allow majority rule to neglect the rights/liberties of the minority

Question 24

Global Cosmopolitanism

Answer 24

A universal political order that draws its identity and values from everywhere

Question 25

Non-governmental Organization (NGO)

Answer 25

National and international groups independent of any state that pursue policy objectives and foster public participation

Question 26

Authoritarian Governments and Civil Society

Answer 26

Authoritarian states feel their power is threatened by civil society