Lecture 9 Flashcards
1
Q
tradition
A
sentiments and beliefs passed from generation to generation. traditional societies are guided by the past
2
Q
rationality
A
deliberate, matter-of-fact calculation of the most efficient means to accomplish a particular goal. modern societies have this view; they focus on their present and future as a guide to how to act and think
3
Q
rationalization of society
A
denotes the historical change from tradition to rationality as the dominant mode of human thought
4
Q
motivations to act
A
- traditonal
- affective
- Wert-rational, which is value-rational and more important in traditional societies
- Zweck-rational, goal-rational action which is calculated and goal-oriented, it is dominant in the modern era
5
Q
dimensions of rationalization
A
- World view, Rise of natural sciences - ‘disenchantment’ of the world, religion rejects magic and science rejects divine powers. Modern technology breaks ties with traditions. There is also secularisation of social life, as religion is becoming less central in society.
- Technical innovations
- Growing wealth and free markets
- Collective action, formalization of the state - bureaucratization of the Western world, which includes constitutions, laws, officials, and general rules. Bureaucratization involves predictable regulations, a reliable money system, and a guarantee for equal treatment.
- Individual action, arts are more based on technique - for religion, charismatic prophets are
‘replaced’ with church.
6
Q
economies
A
may compromise social institutions that organize the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. economies are always interconnected with other social institutions such as families, politics, crime, and media
7
Q
4 factors key to the expansion of economy
A
- agricultural technology
- productive specialization
- division of labor
- permanent settlement
- trade
8
Q
industrial revolution
A
introduced 5 notable changes to the economics of western societies
9
Q
new forms of energy
A
the power of the steam engine far surpassed muscle power
10
Q
the centralization of work in factories
A
factories were impersonal workplaces separate from the home and work from the private sphere to the public sphere
11
Q
manufacturing and mass production
A
the industrial economy shifted most jobs into manufacturing, which turned raw material into a wide range of products
12
Q
division of labor and specialization
A
factories demans a division of labor and specialization so that a laborer has to repeat a single task over and over, and in the end contributes a small part to the finished product
13
Q
wage labor
A
a worker sells their labor to strangers. supervision became routine and intense; incomes were usually pitifully low, and exploitation was common
14
Q
3 key changes the information revolution unleashed
A
- tangible product ideas; the post-industrial era is marked by work that revolves around creating and manipulating symbols, e.g., programmers and financial analysts
- mechanical skills to literacy skill; the information revolution demanded literacy skills
- decentralization of work away from factors; computer technology permits many people to work almost everywhere. in short, new information technology reversed the industrial trend
15
Q
information revolution
A
there was a shift from industrial work to service jobs. this economic change was largely due to the development of the computer and other new technologies
16
Q
primary sector
A
generates raw materials directly from the natural environment
17
Q
secondary sector
A
transforms raw materials into manufactured goods
18
Q
teritary sector
A
generates services rather than good
19
Q
capitalist world
A
is a world with an economic system in which resources and the means of producing goods and services are privately owned
20
Q
3 key features of capitalist world
A
- private ownership of property
- pursuit of personal profit
- free competition, consumer sovereignty, and markets
21
Q
neoliberalism
A
also known as market capitalism, is the ideas that producers compete with one another by providing the highest-quality goods and services at the lowest possible price
22
Q
liberal capitalism (1st phase, 19th century)
A
a free market, a ‘facilitative’ state, and a legal framework that helps maintain capitalism
23
Q
organized cpaitalism (2nd phase, 20th century)
A
involves an administered market and a more directive state
24
Q
disorganised/port-Fordist cpaitalism (3rd phase, post-industrialization)
A
an increase in the service sector, more global and dispersed operations, and a decline of nation-states
25
taylorism
a system of scientific management aimed at maximizing efficiency where tasks are systematically studied to increase productivity. however this approach results in the dehumanization of labor
26
fordism
an economic system based on mass assembly line production, mass consumption, and standard commodities—repetitive work for long periods; machinery has identical components. builds on taylorism but adds social responsibility aspect, where companies ensure worker stability with higher wages and job security
27
keynesianism
an economic approach advocating government intervention in the economy, especially during downturns, through public spending and policies to stimulate demand and maintain employment
28
post-fordism
is a new economic system based on flexibility (rather than standardization) specialization, and tailor-made good
29
the post-fordism process involves
- shifts in production; more flexible systems of production
- more flexible time; part-time, temporary, and self-employed workers
- decentralisation of labor into smaller, less hierarchal units
- the causalization of labor, where works becomes less stable and secure
- just in time rapid production
- movement from standardized goods to goods including options
- replacement of mass marketing and advertising by niche marketing targeted at a specific group
- globalization; a new international division of labor
30
global economy
an economic activity spanning many nations of the world, with little regard for national borders
31
conseqeunces of a global economy
- gloval division of labor
- products pass through the economies of more than one nation
- national governments no longer control the economic activity that takes place within their borders. they also cannot regulate the value of their national currencies
- a small number of businesses operating internationally control a vast share of the world's economic activity
- raising concerns about the rights and opportunities of workers
32
socialism
an economic system in which natural resources and the means of producing goods and services are collectively owned. in its ideal form, it opposes each characteristic of capitalism
33
communism
an economic and political system in which all members of a society are socially equal
34
welfare capitalism
an economic and political system that combines a market-based economy with government-funded social programs and state-controlled key industries
35
state capitalism
an economic and political system in which companies are privately owned, although they cooperate closely with large companies
36
capitalism
seen as the common way of organizing the economy across the world, but some argue that modern capitalism brings increasing social instability, which leads to the downfall of capitalism.
37
primary labor market
a category of work that includes occupations that provide extensive benefits to workers. these jobs require broad education and are thought of as careers
38
secondary labor market
jobs providing minimal benefits to workers. this segment of the labor force is employed in low-skilled, routine assembly line operations and low-level service-sector jobs. it offers low wages and poor working conditions, and long hours
39
professions
are prestigious white-collar occupations that require some formal education
40
4 based characteristics that demonstrate how much an occupation is considered a profession
- theoretical knowledge; professionals possess deep throretical understanding beyond basic technical skills
- self-regulation: professionals often work independently, adhering to ethical standards
- euthority over cleints—their expertise earns client trust and influence
- community-focused professionals prioritize serving society over personal profit
41
self-employment
earning a living without working for a large organization. this diminished with the onset of the industrial revolution; nowadays, it comes with a lack of pension and healthcare benefits
42
underground economy
is economic activity generating income that is unreported to the government as required by law
43
labor unions
are organizations of workers collectively seeking to improve wages and working conditions through various strategies, including negotiations and strikes
44
structural unemployment
unemployment genrated by the economy itself. unemployment rates differ and fluctuate greatly across time int eh US
45
5 major groups more likely to become or remain unemployed
- those who experience redundancies due to economic change
- unemployed women
- long-term unemployed
- older worker who face enforced retirement
- unskilled youth trying to make the transition from school to work
46
deksilling labor
computers replace managerial decision-making with eutomatic processes reducing the need for certain skills
47
making work more abstract
unlike industrial workers who engage directly with physical products, postindustrial workers handle symbolic tasks like financial modeling and software development
48
limiting workplace interaction
as employees spend more time at computer terminals, social interaction decreases
49
increasing employers control
supervisors can now monitor employees in real time, tracking their output continuously.
50
relocating work
computer technology enables businesses to outsource jobs gradually, often to lower-wage regions
51
corporations
organization with legal existence, including rights and liabilities, apart from those of their members
52
transnational corporations (TNCs)
firms that have the power to coordinate and control operations in more than one country, even if it does not own them
53
2 advantages of corporations
- corporation shields them from the legal liabilities of their business, which protects personal wealth
- profits earned by corporations can receive a lower tax rate
54
conglomerates
the result of economic concentration, it is defined as giant corporations composed of many smaller corporations. this allows corporations to diversify themselves and share stocks
55
monopoly (the competitive market consists of)
domination of a market by a single producer, virtually impossible
56
oligopoly (the competitive market consists of)
domination of a market by a few producers
57
government regulation (the competitive market consists of)
intervenes to bolster struggling corporations and protect the public interest
58
bureaucracy
an organizational model rationally developed to perform complex tasks efficiently
59
6 key elements of the ideal bureaucratic organisation (Weber)
- specialization; assigning highly specialized duties to individuals
- hierarchical organization- bureaucracies arrange personnel in a vertical hierarchy of offices. Each person is supervised by someone "higher" in the hierarchy.
- rules and regulations - operations are guided by rationally enacted rules and regulations.
- technical competence - technical competence is required to carry out official duties and to monitor the performance of staff members.
- impersonality - rules take precedence over personal whim. Impersonality encourages uniform treatment for each client and worker - "Faceless bureaucrat"
- formal, written communication - reliance on formally written memos and reports that accumulate into files. These files guide the subsequent operation of an organization.
60
why bureaucracy
Bureaucracy fits within a broader trend of rationalization because it ensures effectivity, equal treatment, implicates democracy, and promotes continuity in an organization. it helps maintain stability, particularly in organizations that started under charismatic leadership, by structuring authority and decision-making processes systemically.
61
bureaucratic alienation
the impersonal bureaucratic environment gives rise to alienation as formal organizations dehumanize workers
62
bureaucratic inefficiency and ritualism
it is challenging for formal organizations to respond to special needs or circumstances. bureaucratic riutalism refers to the proccupation with rules and regulations to the point of thwarting an organization's goals
63
bureaucratic inertia
the tendency of bureaucratic organizations to perpetuate themselves. Organizations continue to exist, even when their purpose has been fulfilled. the organization, in most cases, will redefine its goals to continue to provide a livelihood for its members.
64
bureaucratic abuse of power: oligarchy
an oligarchy is the rule of the many by the few. Bureaucracy shares the characteristic pyramic-like structure in which a few leaders are in charge of vast and powerful government organizations. oligrachy then thrives in the hierarchical structure of bureaucracy and undermines people's control over their elected leaders
65
McDonaldisation
a term decribing the process by which the principle of the fast-food industry come to be applied to more and more feautures of social life
66
4 organizational principles of McDonaldization
- efficiency; organization search to quickly produce products with the least effort required
- calculability; products are designed and mass-produced uniformly, which required deliberate planning
- uniformity and predictability; a highly rational system specifies every course of action and leaves nothing to change, meaning you get the same quality at every establishment
- control through automation; eutomation eliminates the unpredictable human element
67
Georige Ritzer's concerns
echoed Weeber concerns and said that the ultimate irrationality of McDonaldization is that people could lose control over the system and it would come to control us
