Lectures

Question 1

Define social structure and institutions

Answer 1

–Social Structure—Patterned social relations that endure for a period of time
•Example: Economic residential stratification, patriarchy (male in position of power)
–Institution—Social structures enforced by formal rules and sanctions (a structure with laws)
•Example: Legal institutions, McGill, capitalism, the state (3 main studied ones : economy, politics, religion)

Question 2

What are the 4 components of the scientific methods

Answer 2

(1) Question: Who is most likely to use the Tim Horton’s drive thru?
(2) Observation: collect information using senses on who uses drive thru and who buys at counter
(3) Analysis: use reason to interpret data you collected, develop explanations that help to explain the data
(4) Testing Initial Findings: (Refute claims, further define them) Interview people to ask why they go through the drive thru

Question 3

Why does sociology have difficulty to provide insight into how the social world works

Answer 3

•(1) Limited use of controlled experiments (which would usually the best way to gain insight, chemistry for example) - but it can be used with treatment groups for example because you are able to compare and find differences due to the treatment that you’ve given. It can be done but it is very difficult to look at larger patterns of social relations. There is also a lot of ethical issues which are encountered in controlled experiments.
•(2) No Social Laws, great complexity (social relations are very complicated and cant be explained by one universal law like gravity)
–Multi-causality very common in social sciences. For example, democracy has a lot of different causes which makes it very complicated to come up with a single explanation.
–People act differently in the same situation. Unlike atoms, humans have different behaviour in different conditions
–Diverse Motives: Wink example (can be a great variety of motives leading to someone winking [flirting, dirt in eye, something in the room, example…]

Question 4

Why did sociology emerge

Answer 4

•Linked to two main factors/social processes
•Scientific Revolution: promoted attempts to increase knowledge about everything, which promoted the use of scientific method
•Rapid Social Change: Industrialization, capitalist development, state building, revolutions,
nationalism, democratization, etc. Which lead individuals to question the world around them and the social world they were living in

-Goal to apply scientific method to understand the world around them
–Caused many people to try to understand changes
–Goal was to gain knowledge that could allow us to control change
–Individual sociologists (people trying to get understanding of social relations) existed prior to this, but both of these were needed for it to become a discipline

Question 5

What are the two views in political sociology

Answer 5

Interrelational and Power View - not necessarily competing

Question 6

Depict the interrelational view

Answer 6

•Interrelationship between social structures and formal politics
-Interrelationship between social structures and politics
•Effects of social structures on politics
–Effect of economy on democracy
–Effect of demography on revolution
•Effects of politics on social structures
–Effects of states on development
–Effects of democracy on ethnic violence
•Basic Claim: Formal politics is very important, we need to understand its social causes and effect. Focus on what shapes politics and the effect of politics

Question 7

What does the definition of politics mainly focus on (3)

Answer 7

1. Collective Decision-making
2. Enforcement/implementation of decisions
3. Distribution of valuable goods

Question 8

What are the 3 core elements of politics

Answer 8

–Government: Trudeau (its cabinet and all)
–Regime: Parliamentary Democracy (who makes the decision, how are they made, rules of the game)
–State: Various political organization (used by the government to enforce its policies)

Question 9

Depict the power perspective

Answer 9

-Politics is all about power so in order to understand it, one needs to look at power relations, all power plays out
•Analyzes the bases of power in society and its effects on the allocation of major resources
•Power pervades all sorts of social relations, not just formal politics
–Firms, unions, student organizations, the family, religions, classrooms, etc.
–All social relations involve power, therefore politic

Question 10

What is similar between power and interrelational perspectives

Answer 10

–Both analyze power relations and recognize that all types of social relations are interdependent

Question 11

What is different between power and interrelational perspectives

Answer 11

–Formal Politics: Inter-relational focuses on formal politics, but the power view does not necessarily look at it (example power looks at the family)
–Power: Power view pays more attention to it (from the power perspective, power is at the base so it much more looked at)
–Goal: Inter-relational view focuses on understanding (academic and scientific), power view commonly more activist and pursues social change (for example a critical sociologists)
–Discipline: Inter-relational dominant in poli-sci, power more common in sociology

Question 12

What are the main differences between political science and political sociology

Answer 12

•General differences between disciplines:
1.Interrelational (p-s) vs. Power (socio)
2.Topic - they look at different topic
( p-s are much more likely to study parties while socio will rather look at patriarchy)
3.Parties vs. patriarchy, policy vs. inequality
4.Rational Choice vs. Power
5.Region: the whole world (Socio) vs. Europe and N. America(p-s)

Question 13

What are the two reasons we study thinkers

Answer 13

•Reasons: (1) Brilliant thinkers with unique and valuable perspectives and (2) have had a lasting influence on the sub-discipline

Question 14

Depict Marx’s biography and general info

Answer 14

Born and raised in Germany and a trained philosopher
Spent his life trying to apply his ideas to the real world
Original critical sociologist, trying to promote a socialist revolution
Spent much of his life in exile in London, the global hub of capitalism
Collaborated with and supported financially by Friedrich Engels, a capitalist
Ideas are unless unless put into action

Question 15

Depict Marx as a sociologist

Answer 15

•Marx is considered one of the first sociologists
–Believed that we could analyze social relations empirically to gain an understanding of how they work
•Positivist: Believed we could discover social laws that govern all social relations
He was an extreme sociologist, believe we could use the scientific to make sociology something like physics, creating laws we could manipulate
•Critical: Marx believed he had stumbled upon the main laws governing human relations
–Tried to change the world according

Question 16

Depict Marxism ideology

Answer 16

•Marx created an ideology, or system of ideas and ideals
–His ideology has inspired people around the world, making Marx one of the most influential
figures ever
–Ideology focuses on the need to overthrow capitalism and create a more equitable economic
system
•Today, we’ll ignore his ideology and consider his social theory

Question 17

Depict Marxism theory

Answer 17

•Theory: suppositions that are supposed to explain something
- Why things are the way they are.
•Marx creates an elegant and simple theory that is supposed to explain nothing less than the historical transformation of all societies
•Marxist theory based on two basic components
–Dialectic and Materialism (dialectic materialism)
–According to Marx, the combination of the two allows us to explain nearly all of human history

Question 18

Depict Marx dialectic

Answer 18

•Dialectic: Belief that any force creates an opposing and opposite force, both interact, and this
interaction creates a new force, which in turn creates a new opposing force.
–Theory of Historical Change borrowed from Hegel
-Idea of change, can apply to how any change can occur
-3 parts : antithesis, synthesis (in between, becomes a new form) , thesis
-Suggesting that chance is driven by conflicts, dialectical style of conflict

Question 19

Depict Marx materialism

Answer 19

•Materialism: Economic production is the material basis of society
Economy as the base and all other aspects are the superstructures
All structures dependant and shaped by the economy
So if you want to understand any social relation (example family) , you need to look at the economy

Question 20

Depict dialectic materialism in action

Answer 20

•Marx combined the dialectic and materialism to come up with an elegant theory that lies at the heart of Marxism
–Claims that the economy produces dialectical conflict that drives the evolution of human societies
•Mode of Production: material technologies used to exploit the environment to make possible societies
•Relations of Production: relations that govern the mode of production, involve control of property and humans (relations between different actors within the modes of production that govern how the system of production works)
•Basic Claim: Dialectical conflict in the relations of production results in a new mode of production

Question 21

Dialectical conflict in the relations of production results _______________

Answer 21

in a new mode of production

Question 22

Name and describe the historical stages of economic development

Answer 22

Marx though that economic development was a universal theory
•Hunter-Gatherer Society (mode of production= “garden of eden”, very equitable according to Marx, no private property, relations of production were collective ownership so no conflict (at least none that would lead to dialectical change) but then there was a change)
•Slave Society (extreme transformation, from equality to complete inequality, some individuals literally owned others, very exploitative)
•Feudal Society (also very exploitative and unequal, based on serfs having to work for the nobles, inequitable mode of production according to marx, caused a lot of conflict which resulted in a new mode of production)
•Capitalist Society (present mode of production, less exploitative than slave and feudal, it is extremely efficient, there is owners which hire individuals, the capitalist get most of the profit and are able to benefit from it which is highly unequal, Marx believed it was gonna cause conflict to lead to an other mode of production)
–Marx marvelled at its efficiency
–Believed it was exploitative, alienated workers
•Communist Society (going full circle, equitable society, everybody owns the mode of production, getting the true value of your labor, to Marx this was a much better society, but he did not talk about exactly how it was going to work)

Question 23

Depict the criticism of marxist theory

Answer 23

•Extreme Positivism: Few believe there are such things as social laws that are universally
True
•Materialism: Many believe that Marx paid too much attention to the economy and not
enough attention to other social institutions and ideas. Too determinist. We need to look at religion, ideas, politics .. as they also shape social relations

Question 24

Depict the Relevance of Marx Today

Answer 24

•There are very few orthodox Marxists left in Canada today, but Marx has left an indelible legacy in political sociology
•Neo-Marxists have transformed orthodox Marxism in important ways—focus more on ideas. Accept a lot of elements of marxist theory but have adapted them and focus more on the influence of ideas
•Marxism influenced non-Marxist political sociology
–Exemplifies both the Interrelational and Power views of political sociology
•Our readings throughout the semester will show at least four influence

Question 25

Explain Marx’s view of power

Answer 25

•Marx also exemplifies the power view
•Marx was interested in the causes and forms of power and realized it took different forms
–Resources (economic resources allow power and these resources can also create power, if people want the resources , they will do whatever you want for them)
–Coercion ( money resources needed for coercion, example the army)
–Control of Ideas: false consciousness (when people are unaware or incorrect about the nature of their interests, the workers are not interested in the revolution because they perhaps had this false consciousness, capitalism socializes people and workers think that capitalism its the best system - need for intellectual elites to break down the false consciousness
•Marxist theory suggests economic resources make possible both coercion and control of ideas
So when you have the modes of production, you have all that power
•Critical Sociology: Marx wanted to use knowledge to change capitalist society
–The ultimate critical sociologist

Question 26

Depict Marx view of the state and the uncertainty

Answer 26

•Marx was among the first to look at states (political organization that government controlled)
•Marx was interested in the state as an organization of power that was used by capitalists to dominate society
-States are organizations of power - so he was looking at the state as very influenced by the economy (looking at the way the economy shaped the state)
-State is an area of debate amongst Marx- to what extend the state is determined by the economy
•Uncertain whether Marx thought state was instrumental or relatively autonomous
–Instrumental: simply the instrument of the capitalists (the elite is pulling the strings of the state, extremely materialistic view)
–Relatively Autonomous: Able to act contrary to capitalists at time but must support capitalists in the long-run ( in the short-run, the capitalist don’t control the state like a puppet, without resources the state is powerless but if the elite needs to follow the interests in order for the state to work)

Question 27

Depict Marx view of revolution

Answer 27

Marx was trying to promote a revolution so he paid a lot of attention to revolutions
•Marx believed revolutions would inevitably overthrow capitalism and created a theory of their determinants
•What causes revolution ? What do revolution involve ?
Material hardship (Motive for workers to revolutionize) :
–Immiserization of workers
–Centralization of capital (eventually less and less people owning resources)
–Falling profits (capitalist is based of competition which will lead profits to decline, less money to go around to buy off the proletariat)
–Economic crises
People were poor, angry and frighten and needed to do something about it
•Class consciousness (Not revolting because of individual interest)
-Workers joining together to overthrow
–Urbanization, communication, political organization
–We’ll see some of this later when we look at it

Question 28

depict weber and his life

Answer 28

• German, 1860-1924
• Degree in law but extensively studied economics, history, classics, and more
• One of the world’s greatest geniuses
• Periods of severe mental illness
• Along with Marx, the most influential of the founding political sociologists

Question 29

contrast weber and marx

Answer 29

•Values and Research
–Marx—Critical sociologist, a revolutionary
–Weber—Objective and value-free sociology (empirical goal, not influenced by values because it would bias the research), more conservative politically
•Empirical Work
–Marx wrote mainly about theory
–Weber wrote mainly empirical analyses (middle range theory, not trying to explain everything)
•Theory
–Marx—Grandiose theory, explains everything
–Weber—Mid-level theory, thought big theory inaccurate
•Epistemology
–Marx Positivist
–Weber Interpretivist (cant come up with social laws because of the complicated nature of things, all we can do is analyze)

Question 30

depict weber as a political sociologist

Answer 30

•In my view, the most influential political sociologist
•Interrelational View: Looked at how politics influenced other social structures and vice versa
–Thinks all social structures influence one another, against Marxist materialism - the economy doesn’t explain everything
•Power View: Even more than Marx, investigated forms and bases of power
–Weberian work focuses on power
•Concepts: Developed important concepts that remain central to the sub-discipline (within his concepts, you can see his theory)
•Difficult to present Weber in 50 minutes because it’s so varied, lacks a core theory

Question 31

depict weber’s view of power

Answer 31

-one of the first to think about what power is - he looked at social power
•Defined as the ability, within a social relationship, of realizing one’s will even against resistance
•Saw power as having several sources
–Economic, military/muscular, control of organizations, contacts, etc.
–Work suggests main bases were economy, politics, and culture

Question 32

depict Political Authority: Ideal Basis of Legitimate Domination

Answer 32

•Weber was interested in how rulers wield power
•He recognized that rulers rarely have to use overt power—or even threaten to use it—to get people to follow their orders. Rarely have to actively use threat. Why do people follow them then?
•Found that people followed orders when they believed rulers have a legitimate right to rule (they had the right to assert the rules over the population- its the population’s duty to abide)
–Legitimate authority
•Authority is therefore a hidden and very useful type of power- invisible source of power

Question 33

depict weber’s 3 types of authority

Answer 33

•3 types of authority
•Charismatic Authority: Charisma, unique powers of individual are the basis for their domination of others (unique attributes and characteristics (knowledge, great experience..) allowing access to power), people follow them without questioning them
•Traditional Authority: tradition is used to justify the rule of some over others
•Legal-Rational Authority: rules justify domination - rules in place explain who can rule, how they can rule and if the ruler is following these guidelines, their authority is legitimate
–Weber saw this as the most rational form of authority, emerged in Europe with the rise of
bureaucracy and rational law

Question 34

what did weber mean by ideal type

Answer 34

•These types of authority are ideal types, which are a basic element of Weberian sociology
- So these types were analytical tools to explain patterns of relation within society
•Ideal types: abstract typologies that are not meant to conform to reality and that are used to compare units to highlight reasons for similarities and differences
•Analyze the extent to which real cases conform to one or more ideal types
•Thought you could learn a lot by using ideal-typical comparisons
- no place in the world matches completely to any of these ideal types- they are therefore for for comparative purpose

Question 35

depict bureaucracy, its 5 component and why was it so important to weber

Answer 35

•Bureaucracy is another famous ideal type of Weber
•Organization in which rules are the basis of individual action, rules are rationally organized to unify actions
•Organizational technology able to harness the effort of thousands of people - allowing groups to accomplish things no one could achieve on their own
•Components:
–Meritocracy (organized rationally, the people in positions have the characters, knowledge and skills best suited to fulfill the duties)
–Hierarchical chain of command (strong chain important for supervising and communicating)
–Positions with formal duties (positions are created and people are brought in to fulfill those positions not the opposite)
–salary-based compensation
–record keeping (need to know what has been done and what is going on)
•Bureaucracy involves coordinating people and getting them to pursue organizational interests instead of personal interests
–All the components of bureaucracy help with these tasks by promoting coordination and control
•Although an ideal, Weber believed organizations in Western Europe were getting increasingly close, moving towards to the ideal during his lifetime
•Viewed it as a major reason for the rise of powerful states, capitalist development, and colonial
expansion
-bureaucratization explained a lot of phenomenons Weber was witnessing, it is the bureaucratization that made possible the observed social change
•Part of process of rationalization

Question 36

depict the dark side of bureaucracy

Answer 36

•While marvelling at bureaucracy (important, many benefits), Weber also dreaded it (also negative effects)
•Dehumanization: makes us simply follow rules, don’t think for ourselves, are controlled by the bureaucratic machine (taking away all agency, all ability to think for ourselves)
•Iron Cage: bureaucracies control everything, we’re unable to act freely, always constrained by bureaucratic red tape
–Movies: Gilliam’s Brazil, Kubrik’s Dr. Strangelove, Kurasawa’s Ikiru

Question 37

depict webers view of stratification and compare it to Marx’s

Answer 37

•Differs from Marx in two main ways
•(1) Basis of Strat: Marx focused exclusively on class, but Weber considered three things
–Class: Strat based on possessing resources (allowing people with more resources to be on top)
–Party: Strat based on power (some people are more organized politically than others)
–Status: Strat based on culture/ideas (norms that define who should be on top and bottom)
•(2) Class: Marx based class on position within production system, Weber focused on position within market (buyer vs. seller, lender vs. borrower)
–Weber suggests greater divisions and competition among economic elite (unity of the class is much less than Marx suggested, based upon your position within the market, there are competing interests within classes)

Question 38

What are the 3 types of power according to Lukes

Answer 38

-First Face of Power
•Coincides with pluralist view of power
–Individuals and groups use available resources and skills to pursue their interests against opposition
•Power is therefore based on the resources that they are able to mobilize
–Examples: money, political connections, intelligence, physical strength, will, etc.
-very simple, most evident

The Second Face of Power
•Institutional rules that affect whose interests are pursued
–Recognizes that institutions are powerful and biased
•Who is able to participate in decision-making
•Who sets the agenda
-individuals who are able to put their interests on the agenda and able to exclude others from putting their interest on the agenda are powerful (which explain who gets their interests pursued)
•Differs from the 1st face of power in that rules are basis of power instead of resources
-people usually this face of power (even the ones who are advantaged)
–Conflict isn’t necessarily in the open, hidden
–Allows people with power to maintain it

The Third Face of Power
•Most controversial of the three
•Power exerted by controlling the beliefs and perspectives of individuals (Mind control- somebody is able to exert control onto what one thinks)
–Very hidden, not necessarily controlled by anyone
•Occurs when there is a mismatch between objective interests (need for food) and subjective interests (what you think you need- sometime what people think they need is not good for them)
–False Consciousness: subjective interests oppose objective interests (people thinking that capitalism is good for them)
–Lack of Consciousness: don’t recognize interests (lack of racial consciousness)
•Examples of false consciousness and lack of consciousness?

Question 39

Depict the different definitions and views of power

Answer 39

•A central focus of political sociology
•Power is difficult to define, but we all have a clear idea of what it is
•Talcott Parsons: capability to do something
•With this definition, power commonly isn’t very meaningful
–I have the power to jump up and down right now
•Max Weber: capability to do something despite resistance from others
–Refers to this as social power, which is relational
–Dominant view in political sociology

Question 40

depict the 3 faces of power in marxist theory

Answer 40

• 1st: Sees economic resources as the principal source of power
• 2nd: Control of economic resources makes possible control of institutions
• 3rd: Control of institutions makes possible the control of ideas

Question 41

who is poggi

Answer 41

•Gianfranco Poggi: Expands on Weber’s writings to come up with a Weberian theory
of the social bases of power
–Influential sociologist at the University of Trento in Italy, formerly of the U of Edinburgh
–Social theorist best know for his work on the state
•Describes how Weber’s categories of stratification are also different bases of power

Question 42

who is Lukes

Answer 42

•An influential political sociologist who has written the most influential modern work on power
–Power: A Radical View (1974)
•Was writing at a time when the pluralist view of power was dominant
–Pluralism: Suggests power is evenly distributed among many groups and that democracy must
respond to diverse interest groups (all groups are able to participate)
•Ideal/optimistic view of democracy
•Sees resources as the unique basis of power
•He critiques this and describes three types of power

Question 43

what is poggi’s view of stratification

what is poogi’s definition of power

Answer 43

•Poggi notes that power enforces stratification, quoting Weber:
–“Classes, status groups and parties are phenomena of the distribution of power within a
collectivity.”
–Societies don’t become stratified naturally; the powerful enforce stratified social systems (they are therefore sources of power themselves)
•Poggi suggests that each type of stratification is based on a different type of power
–Economic power, political power, cultural power

power is the probability within a social relation of realizing one’s own even against resistance regardless go the basis on which this probability rests.

Question 44

what are the 3 power sources according to poggi

Answer 44

Class/Wealth
•Class: Power and stratification is based on the material resources one controls
–Money, land, food, etc.
–Exchange resources to get what you want from others
–Basis of power if material wealth
•Marx: Describes how this can affect all three faces of power

Status/Custom
•Ideological/normative power: Culture or ideology defines what is most important/proper
–Age, piety, athleticism, wealth, facial tattoos, conspicuous consumption, etc.
•The people who conform most to cultural norms/ideologies get respect and privileges
–A source of power
•Different from resources, promotes more 2nd and 3rd faces of power
-Culture benefitting individuals at the expense of others - defining what is proper and improper (those who can be deemed as proper, will have power)

Party/Command
•Rulership is the basis of this type of power
•Involves the threat or execution of severe punishments in order to get what you want (able to implement some sanction in some way)
–The state uses rulership to get people to pay taxes
–Parents use rulership to get their kids to “behave”
•Coercion is clear element of the first face of power but can be used to establish the 2nd and
3rd faces as well
Lukes= types of power
Poggi/Weber = sources/basis of power

Question 45

depict variation in sources of power

Answer 45

•Like the types of legitimate authority, Weber suggests that places vary according to which source of power is dominant
–Economic has become increasingly important
–Culture more important in theocracies
–Coercion vital in places experiencing war
•Exploring/analyzing variation in this helps us better understand patterns of social relations

Question 46

depict of sources of power can be complementary

Answer 46

•Weber noted that all three bases of stratification commonly complement one another
–Wealth allows people to influence culture and thereby gain status-based power
–Wealth is an important basis of rulership
•Poggi notes that people with different bases of power fight about which one ‘trumps’ the others
–Capitalists emphasize wealth, cultural elites emphasize status, rulers emphasize command and
coercion

Question 47

Depict Emile Durkheim

Answer 47

• French, 1858-1917
• Founder of sociology as an academic discipline (and anthropology)
• Differed from both Marx and Weber by focusing on consensus, not conflict

Question 48

How did Durkheim see society

Answer 48

•Durkheim believed society is more than simply the aggregation of its components
–Societies are real entities, organisms
•Although inherently different from individual organisms
–Society is something in and of itself, it runs through all of us, we’re its actors
-its something that we need to understand, we all come together, we are all part of this
•Like Gaia Theory, the Borg
•Societal Determinism: Society precedes individual, shapes us in ways that allow the perpetuation of society
-we are shaped by society and then shape society
•Purpose of sociology is to analyze society, looking at social facts

Question 49

Depict Social Facts in Durkheim’s view

Answer 49

-social characteristics and not individual characteristics

“ways of acting, thinking, and feeling, external to the individual and endowed with a power of coercion, by reason of which they control him”

Question 50

What is the importance of social ties for Durkheim ?

Answer 50

•Structural-Functionalism: Analyzed societies as a whole, looked at the functions social relations fulfill in order for the society to survive
- How do society survive ?what are the functions of institutions in order for societies to survive ?
•Consensus: focuses on the ‘glue’ that holds societies together, not conflict that tears them apart
-Interested in the factors that allow people to interact peacefully and cooperate to make society survive- social solidarity
•Durkheim used several concepts to look at consensus
•Social Density: physical pattern of who is in the presence of whom, for how, long, and with how much space between them (the network of people interact with mapped)
-Need for high social density for societies to survive
•Moral Density: Shared norms, values, outlooks, identity
–Affected by social density
–Collective Conscious
-Moral density leading us to think/act as a collective, creating a larger than individual consciousness
–Rituals: heighten shared awareness of social unity (where people gather together and focus attention on unified community symbol)
-Every life is also full of small scale/micro rituals that hold society together

Question 51

Why was Durkheim critiqued for his view of society

Answer 51

•Durkheim has been accused of worshiping society
*example worshiping totem (symbolizing them), rituals as venerating the collective
-for Durkheim, this worshiping is good. However, recent sociologist have been focusing on the darker side of this collective consciousness as it could create “otherness”, “nationalism”, manipulation
–More important than the individual
–Integration is always beneficial because it promotes peace and mutual understanding
•More recently, sociologists and anthropologists have noted that a collective conscious and attempts to create consensus can have a darker side
•What might be a negative side of it?

Question 52

Explain Lynching as domination through white unity

Answer 52

•Lynching was a ritual that helped create common awareness of unity among the white population
From a Durkheim perspective they were a ritual creating more unity ?
•Unity through exclusion and destruction (of individual of where seen as other or threat)
–Unified whites by physically and ritually excluding blacks
–Spectacle lynching symbolized the destruction of a communal enemy by the community
•Strengthened collective conscious by destroying the ‘other”- which represented a sense of “threat”

Question 53

what was the influence of Durkheim on political sociology

Answer 53

•Durkheim has been a more minor figure in political sociology than either Marx or Weber
–Durkheim doesn’t look at power/conflict, and this is a central element of the sub-discipline
•Still, he looks at how social relations affect politics, and his focus on consensus has influenced two particular areas of political sociology
–Identity politics
–Civil society

Durkheim and Identity Politics
-His work on consciousness influenced Political Sociology
•Durkheim theorized that the human mind has two levels, switching regularly from one to the other
–Individual Level: Focused on you as individual, considers your particular needs and interests
–Collective Level: Focused on your “community,” considers the needs and interests of the community
-Durkheim implied that human brain was wired that way
-How do we go from one to the other ? Rituals and symbols
•Rituals and symbols play important roles switching you from your default level (individual) to the collective level
•Considerable research in psychology and neuroscience supports this theory of the mind
•This offers enormous insight into the issue of identity politics

Community and Politics
•Politics is about collective decision-making and the implementation of policy for the collective
–Who is part of the collective? Who is not?
•Nation-State: Emerged as dominant political model over the past few centuries and defines who is part of the “nation,” who the state is supposed to serve
•Durkheim offers considerable insight into why politics always involves delineating the collective
•Symbols and Rituals: He also offers great insight into why states constantly exploit each other
–Shows why states sometimes exclude and remove “others”
-Shows how nation are build while ignoring the conflict part but it remains important theory to understand states

Question 54

Depict Durkheim view on civil society

Answer 54

•Durkheimian theory informs discussions of civil society
–Focuses on consensus instead of conflict
–Considers how interactions contribute to norms of civility, looking out for the well-being of the group
–Views as vital for democracy ( looking at out at how civil society influences democracy)
-people coming together is important for the survival of society and allows to create collective consciousness
•Although Durkheim has influenced the study of civil society, most analyses of civil society draw their pedigree to an earlier French intellectual: Alexis de Tocqueville

Question 55

Discuss Alexis De Tocqueville and his theory

Answer 55

• Early political sociologist
• Not given as much attention in Sociology, more in poli-sci
• Born into aristocracy but after French Revolution
• Most influential works on causes of revolution (which he was quite skeptical about) and how civil society promotes democracy

Tocquevillian Theory
•Tocqueville is most famous for his work on democracy in the United States
•He visited the United States in the 1830s when it was the only formal democracy in the world (although women and racial minorities couldn’t vote)
–Wanted to know how the US became democratic
•Answer: Vibrant associational life, suggests civil society is vital for democracy
•Reason: Dem. requires a counterweight to the state
–Keeps elected official from becoming despotic
-For Tocqueville, the state is something to be feared- democracy is risk but the active organization provide a counter weight to the state in ways that the state as to pay attention to them. Europe would not work because of a lack of density of civil associations
•Different from Durkheim: Looks at conflict and power
-civil society as a basis of power that keeps politicians accountable. Durkheim thought they brought norms and collectivity but for Tocqueville it was a source of power.

Question 56

Depict Michel Foucault

Answer 56

Power and Michel Foucault
•French Sociologist, 1926-1984
•Extremely influential Postmodern theorist
•His work focuses on the rise of more hidden forms of “modern” power
•Focuses largely on science and disciplines as constantly exerting power- increasingly influential while people don’t realize

Question 57

Depict Foucault and Power

Answer 57

•Foucault: Power “can be identified better by what it does than what it is”
-More interested in the effect of power, the patterns shaped by power, looking at theses power and explaining them
–Power forces us to act in certain ways
–Like Weber, Foucault focuses on the “powers” that promote patterns of social relations
•Sees power everywhere
–We usually don’t even realize it, but we’re being forced to act in certain ways
•Power isn’t necessarily controlled by anyone
–Has a life of its own, although people started it
-Power becomes institutionalized, it becomes social
•Analyzes the lineages of power (how they became invisibles forms of power)

Question 58

Depict Power and Modernity is Foucault’s view

Answer 58

•Throughout history, Foucault saw power as overt and coercive
–People knew when power was exerted over them
•Believes this changed with modernity
–Science and bureaucracy became hidden bases of enormous power (with both of these exerted hidden power on individuals which was not recognized)
–Scientific understandings and bureaucracies forced people to conform to what science says is proper
•Asylums for people who think and act differently *
•Police can do about anything because of the bureaucratic/legal rules that support them
•His work on the “disciplines” is central to this
Not specifically to the benefit to anyone but often happens to favourite some people

Question 59

What is Foucault notion of Disciplines

Answer 59

•Definition: Social institutions that endow individuals with capacities and inclinations
–Example: Education, hospitals, prisons, professional assoc.
•Important source of merit & legitimacy in modernity
•Effect: Controls individuals (conformity that patterns social relation)
–Gives skills/outlooks necessary to participate in society
–Causes individuals to act and perceive the world in certain disciplined ways (because of legitimacy)
–People follow the directives of professional disciplinarians
•We are constantly disciplined through the disciplines in modern society

Question 60

Depict the Panopticon

Answer 60

•Numerous disciplinary institutions remove our agency, force us to be disciplined without overt coercion
-prisoners behave when they think that they are watched - society, according to Foucault, works like that
–No conspiracy theory; no one controls all.

Question 61

depict Knowledge and Power according to Foucault

Answer 61

•One thing that makes the disciplines so powerful is that they are backed by “knowledge”
•Foucault paid much attention to the system of knowledge production and power
–Saw science as ultimate basis of power within a number of modern institutions
•“To formulate knowledge is always an act of power rooted in struggle, and power relations are always created and suspended in webs of knowledge and rules for the production of truth”
•Influence of Knowledge:
–“Knowledge precedes and enables the formation of consciousness, action, and desire”
-Power shapes what people think they need and want

•Says “experts” are able to present knowledge in ways that benefit some, hurt others
•We therefore need to be critical and assess the effects of “knowledge” on power and vice versa
–Goal: demystify how knowledge production works so we can weaken it, free people from the scientific panopticon
-not simply an objective needs, they are power relations involved in knowledge production. Need to consider it to free people from.
•Foucault says we need to ask: Whose interests do “true statements” serve? How are they embedded within and creating power relations?

Question 62

Depict Foucault and the far right

Answer 62

•Foucault was a radical leftist, but the far right seems at times to support his agenda more
–In Europe and North America, right-leaning parties question scientific knowledge much more
–Right commonly describes science as biased and suggests that there are “alternative truths”
•Foucault probably rolling over in his grave
–Causes some to question what Foucault is saying and consider what would happen if we disempowered experts and science
–Foucault: Would likely say we shouldn’t reject science and experts
•We should question the powers they serve

Question 63

Provide a basic depiction of democracy

Answer 63

•Along with power, one of the most central concepts of political sociology
•Democracy is a general type of regime
-government, political organization (state), regime
•Regime: the formal rules about who rules and how they rule (rules of the political game)

Question 64

Provide a working definition of democracy (3 characteristic)

Answer 64

•Huber, Rueschemeyer, and Stephens suggest democracies share three main characteristics:
•(1) regular free and fair elections on the basis of universal suffrage
–Regular (once every 4 years for example to hold leader accountable, allow change..), free (no constraints on them preventing people to vote for their favourite candidate..) , fair (no bias), universal suffrage (not only a small segment able to vote, everybody should be able to vote)
•(2) responsibility of the state apparatus to the elected representatives (elected officials need to be in power, example: not the military in power)
•(3) guarantees of freedom of expression and association
•Why are such freedoms important? If people are forbidden candidates and public to express their views, gather together and debate .. the election wont represent the democratic will of the population
difficult to pin point when a state becomes “democratic enough”

Question 65

Depict democracy from past to present

Answer 65

•Hunter-Foragers: Evidence that highly democratic, in that all can participate in decision making
-Democracy is not “new”
-More autocratic form of government emerges once population grows
•Based on H, R, & S’s definition, first formal democracy occurred in Athens in 507 BC
–Although only a tiny fraction of the population could vote (slaves, women, non-citizens, and non-landowners could not vote)
•England arguably the earliest modern democracy
–Bill of Rights in 1689 (although many restrictions)- beginning to promote an institutional parliament democracy (shift of power from monarchy to parliament)
–Influenced American colonies
•Democracy began to spread in the mid-19th century and grew rapidly after WW1 (explosion of democracy in the 20th century)
-75 countries in the world today that have a complete democracy (Canada, Northern Europe)

Question 66

Depict democracy in Canada + history of suffrage

Answer 66

•Canada is considered by almost everyone as democratic
–(1) Regular and free elections
–(2) State supports elected officials
–(3) Freedom of expression and association
•Question: When did Canada become democratic?

History of Suffrage in Canada
•1900 – Property qualifications began to be removed (poor are now able to vote)
•1918 - Women gain full voting rights in federal elections
•1919 - Women gain the right to run for federal office
•1948 - Racial exclusions are removed from election laws
•1955 - Religious exclusions are removed from election laws
•1960 - Right to vote is extended unconditionally to First Nations people
•1970 - Voting age lowered from 21 to 18
•1988 - Supreme Court of Canada rules mentally ill patients have the right to vote
•2002 - Prisoners given the right to vote

*Canada has an history of exclusion- its though to say when it became fully democratic

Question 67

Robert Dahl’s On Democracy

Answer 67

•Despite all of these advances, Robert Dahl suggests that Canada remains far from a real
democracy
•He claims elections, rule by elected, and rights don’t make a democracy- they are simply characteristics that help to promote
-According to Dahl, “democracy” is all about people being able to influence political decisions equally, it is an ideal very difficult to obtain
•According to Dahl, democracy requires no less than political equality
–People need same ability to influence collective decision-making
–Suggests five requirements for real political equality

Question 68

Dahl’s 5 Components of Democracy

Answer 68

•(1) Effective Participation: everyone has equal opportunities for making their views known
–People aren’t prevented from speaking their mind
–Everyone has the same capacity to get their voices heard
*in Canada; some people are able to get their views a lot better (radio, celebrity..)
•(2) Voting Equality: Everyone must be able to vote, and all votes must be equal
*its easier for some people to vote and not all votes are worth the same (rural area worth 15% more than urban area)
•(3) Inclusion of all Adults: All adults must have the right to participate in politics
–Raises questions: What age does adulthood start? Why exclude non-adults? Exclude murderers?
•(4) Control of the Agenda: Everyone must be able to affect the political agenda
–Related to Lukes’ second face of power
*In Canada; a “lobbier” would have more power to affect the agenda
•(5) Enlightened Understanding: Everyone must have equal opportunities to learn about the relevant policy options and their likely consequences
–Requires that everyone has a high level of education, especially in the social sciences

Question 69

Democracy and Reality according to Dahl

Answer 69

•Dahl’s definition is ideal—there is no real democracy in the world according to this definition
–Countries in the world approach democracy to different extents
•Claims countries should strive to come closer to the ideal (we need to recognize that we are not perfectly the ideal but that we need to improve)

Question 70

Dahl’s vision of the benefit of democracy

Answer 70

•People rarely question the benefits of democracy
–Just accept it and assume it’s good
•Dahl thinks it is very important and merits big efforts to democratize
–Documents many important benefits derived from democracy
–Some more controversial than others
-Dahl has very high view of democracy

Question 71

10 benefits of democracy according to Dahl

Answer 71

• (1) Avoiding Tyranny (rules from democracy help to prevent)
• (2) Protecting essential rights
• (3) General Freedom
• (4) Self-determination (being able to influence the rules you think are best)
• (5) Moral autonomy (need to act based upon your own morals but the general freedoms free you from constraints and lead you to act according to your own morals)
• (6) Human development (health care, education ..)
• (7) Protecting personal interests (through these rights and the rules of the game people are able to look out for themselves better)
• (8) Political equality
• (9) Peace
• (10) Prosperity

Question 72

Depict Democracy and Inequality

Answer 72

•Dahl says democracy is all about political equality
•Impossibility because some people have more political power than others
•Structured Inequalities: General and persistent inequities
–Several in politics—underrepresented, interests disregarded, deemed second-class citizen
•Class: the working class was originally excluded from democratic regimes, commonly underrepresented
•Race and Ethnicity: Some communities do not have the same rights, severly underrepresented
•Sexual Orientation: LGBTs commonly face political exclusion and discrimination
•Gender: arguably the most important in terms of #’s

Question 73

Gender and Democratic Participation

Answer 73

-Politics is largely a gendered affair, dominated by men
•Presently, main gendered inequality in politics concerns representation (previously suffrage)
-You would expect to see more female in politics because the population is female
•Canada: Agnes Macphail: 1st female federal MP (1921-1940)
•Today, 26 percent of federal MPs are female (a record)
•Only one former female Prime Minister (Kim Campbell)
•Wasn’t elected as Prime Minister (Brian Mulruney stepped down and appointed her)
•Globally, 17.5 % of female representatives are women
•Any guesses which country has the greatest female representation?

Question 74

Gender, Politics, and Empowerment (+supply side arguments)

Answer 74

•Paxton, Kunovich, and Hughes: Consider why women are underrepresented in democracies
-Rwanda has more female representative but thats about it
•Present three general theories that try to explain it
•Supply-Side: Suggests women are less willing to run for election
•Too many family obligations
•Aversion to aggressive work that takes them away from their families
•Socialized to pursue other “female” occupations
•Spouses, family, and friends discourage
-these supply side factors limit female candidates

Question 75

Depict Demand-Side Theories in terms of gender and politics

Answer 75

•Suggest a low demand for female politicians is what explains their under-representation
–Popular biases against females, viewed as poor leaders
–Old Boys Network: Part of candidate selection process
–Evidence: Female candidates are less likely to win
-So a bias amongst the public but also within the networks
•Find that certain things overcome these norms
–Communism: Autocratic leaders select more female politicians
–Proportional Representation: More likely to elect women than majority systems
–Left-Leaning Parties and Female Leaders: More likely to run female candidates
–Quotas: Create artificial demand for females

Question 76

Depict cultural explanations in terms of gender and politics

Answer 76

•Many researchers find regional and religious links to female underrepresentation
–Affect both supply and demand
•Region: Certain regions have more female representatives, others less. Some regions are more acceptant than others.
•Religion: Catholic, Orthodox, and Muslim regions have fewer female representatives
•Norms: Places with peoples who accept patriarchal values have lower female participation
-cultural base that can inform the presence of female

Question 77

Depict the patriarchy in terms of gender and politics

Answer 77

•Political inequality is an example of patriarchy
•Definition: Social relations in which men hold power and women are largely excluded from it
-Upheld by patriarchal norms
•Patriarchy affects all social institutions, not just politics
–Family, religion, economy, education, etc.
*99% of important CEO are men in Canada, so evidence is there that patriarchy is present and wide spread
•Disagreement about whether patriarchy is universal
–Some believe it has always been the norm, although variation in the extent of patriarchalism
–Others believe there was much greater variation before and that patriarchy only became the norm more recently
–Some combine these two views
•Both views coincide with biological & sociological views

Question 78

Biological View of Patriarchy

Answer 78

•Claims that patriarchy is in our genes
•Size: Men are generally larger and stronger than women
–Historically, power was based on coercion, gives men advantage
•Evolutionary Psychology: suggests that men are naturally more aggressive and confrontational
–More testosterone
–Makes them more likely to participate in contentious politics, act coercively, get their way

Question 79

Critique of Biological View

Answer 79

•Many disagree with genetic argument, claiming that there are and have been societies with considerable female empowerment
–Biology can’t explain variation in female empowerment
•Physical strength has no longer main basis of power (power no more coercive)
•Men aren’t necessarily more aggressive by nature, but there is a double standard: aggressive women are perceived much more negatively than aggressive men

Question 80

Sociological View of Patriarchy

Answer 80

-Social relations end up shaping power, these relations vary from places to places
•Political sociologists generally suggest that patriarchy is a social construct
–Social structures empower men more than women
–Don’t really consider the extent to which biological differences account for power differentials
•Lukes’ three faces of power, Poggi, and Foucault all suggest ways females are disempowered
•Strength: Helps to explain variation in patriarchy over time and place

Question 81

The Weakness of Sociological Explanations

Answer 81

•Biggest Problem: Has more difficulty explaining why patriarchy is normal, if not universal
•Two sociological approaches to this problem:
•(1) Combine sociological and biological arguments
–Suggests that patriarchy is the norm but that there is great variation in its extent due to social relations (seen as bias that has been manipulated)
•(2) Deny the universality of patriarchy, note that it only recently became the norm
–Generally look for factors that “spread” patriarchy

Question 82

Gendering Social Structures and how it explains patriarchy

Answer 82

-Biological differences engender patriarchy only when certain social factors are present
•Proliferation: Three major arguments, two combine with biological differences
–Intensive Agriculture: Some claim use of plow made men economically dominant
•Greater physical strength made them main producers
–War argument: Once warfare becomes common, men gain power because of strength and female pregnancy and breastfeeding
–Colonialism argument: Colonialism spread Patriarchy
•Suggests colonial powers imposed patriarchal norms and institutions

Question 83

Stevenson: Colonialism and Gender in Canada

Answer 83

•Stevenson: First Nations woman and scholar considers colonialism and patriarchy in Canada
•Pre-colonialism: Indigenous women had considerable economic autonomy and power based on their economy autonomy, they controlled the production of various crops , they were therefore more influential in decision making (relations not necessarily equitable but more equitable than today)
•Colonialism: Disempowered indigenous women in a variety of ways
–Ended polygamy and strengthened marriage, which removed the economic autonomy. Women tied to marriage much more tightly, removing their liberties
–Indian Act: Gave greater legal rights to men
–Ended matrilineal and institutions empowering women
•Sees missionaries as having played important role *by creating/justifying oppression
-Colonialism and the implemented institutions that allowed patriarchy- which could explain how patriarchy was spread around the world

Question 84

The Causes and Constraints of Democracy

Answer 84

• An enormous literature in political sociology explore the determinant and deterrents of democracy
• They consider a few potential determinants
• Globalization (spreading the norm of democracy)
• Civil society ( society that helps to constraint the state and listen to the population )
• Education
• British Colonialism (Spreading certain norms and values)
• Missionaries (promoted education and civil society and led to higher levels of democratization)

Question 85

Democracy and Power

Answer 85

• Although political sociologist consider all types of determinant, most focus on power, find that democracy requires equality
• generally consider factors promoting more equitable power relation
• Last 2 readings suggest that patriarchy is a particular power configuration that onset democracy by limiting the influence of women
• Our next 2 reading take this power perspective but focus on other sources of power
• organization and capitalist development

Question 86

Organization, Power, and Democracy

Answer 86

• Considerable work has been done on how bureaucratic organizations affect democracy
• Pluralism : Needed for organization interests (for democracy to work, all the interests need to organize themselves to be influence int he political realm, need for bureaucracy)
• Elite Theory: Basis of elite power and domination (bureaucracy is the base of concentration of power which hurts democratization)
• Foucault : a powerful discipline that disempowers people, removes their power and limits their participation (removes power from the people, refrains them to participate)

Question 87

-Positive Effect of Bureaucracy and -Negative Effect of Bureaucracy on democracy according to Weber

Answer 87

• Positive Effect of Bureaucracy
• Great social leveler: based on merit, not birth, opposed to tradition/aristocratic power
• Organizing Democracy: Organizations needed to make mass democracies function properly Organization of election needs bureaucracy because it is so complex (locations to vote, disseminating ballots, supervising elections, electoral list, protection ballots, counting the votes.. )
• Negative Effect of Bureaucracy
• Based on radical opposing principles
• Bureaucracy based on hierarchy and authority (superiors tell you what to do and it is legit)
• Democracy based on equality
• Dehumanize people, limit participation
• Iron cage: people just follow rules, lack self motivation and moral autonomy (which is necessary for democracy)
• Allows organization elites to control politics

Question 88

Michels and Oligarchy

Answer 88

• Focused his work on the impact of bureaucratic organization on democracy
• Iron law of Oligarchy
• FGerman, 1876-1936
• Student of Weber
• Founding figure of the Elite Theory
• Discriminatied again in Germany because a socialist
• Eventually became dishearten and went to work for Mussolini

Question 89

Michels and Organizations

Answer 89

• Michels came up with the ILO through his participation in the German Social democatic Party
• Most democratic party in Germany at the time
• Michels a very active and idealistic member
• Michels experiences made him very disillusioned
• Members were not able to infuse party platform
• Believed the party leaders were selling out the establishment
• If they themselves are not democratic ? How can they promote democracy ? He blamed the bureaucracy

Question 90

Elite Theory

Answer 90

Elite Theory: Theory of the state suggesting that a
small elite controls the reigns of power
–Marx: Saw these elites as capitalists
–Elite theory pays considerable attention to how economic elites are able to influence the state
•Michels: One of the most influential elite theorists but didn’t focus on influence of capitalist elites (focused on organizations)
–Saw organization as the means of immense power, concentrates power in the hands of a few
–Iron Law of Oligarchy

Question 91

Iron Law of Oligarchy (ILO)

Answer 91

•I mentioned previously that there aren’t social laws
–Some say ILO is as close to a social law as is possible
•Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical
Tendencies of Modern Democracy (1911)
•Michels: “It is organization which gives birth to the dominion of the elected over the electors, of the mandataries over the mandators, of the delegates over the delegators. Who says ogranization says oligarchy.”
•Because of this, Michels concluded that it is the leader of the organization that is most important
•Saw Mussolini as an effective, charismatic leader

Question 92

•Described 6 mechanisms that promote ILO

Answer 92

• Described 6 mechanisms that promote ILO
• 1. Bureaucracy provides rules and regulations that enforce hierarchy (Weber) - based on the rules where people on the bottom don’t question the top
• 2. Bureaucratic elites control the formal means of communication within the organization (they are able to portray their views and block opposition views, they are able to tell the members what is important- which is anti-democratic)
• 3. Knowledge of rules (organization based on the rule of rules and not everybody knows these rules, if you are the only one to know them you can enforce them in your advantage, keeping the opposition from being a threat)
• 4. Leadership skills of elites (some leaders become leaders because they have skills and being a leader helps you to gather these skills)
• 5. High status of organizational leaders (leaders want to maintain their positions, having high status within the party. And they use the first 4 points to do so)
• 6. Lack of time and interest of non-elites

Question 93

Elite Theory and Democracy

Answer 93

•Michels was one of the first people to use a power elite theoretical perspective to consider how
bureaucratic organizations concentrate power and affect democracy
–Potentially the most influential
•His main rival in terms of influence was C. Wright Mill, who we will read for Friday
–A lot of similarities, but Wright Mill is more optimist

Question 94

Who is C. Wright Mills

Answer 94

C. Wright Mills
•American, 1916-1962
•Arguably US’s most influential sociologist
•Influenced by both Weber and Marx

Question 95

Individual vs Social Problems, provide an example

Answer 95

•Wright Mills was an activist sociologist who wanted to use knowledge to make the world a better place. Come up with understanding to change the world and make it a better place.
–Marx: Influenced by Marx in this way, and in that he focused on inequality and elite domination
–Weber: Influenced by Weber in that he focused greatly on politics and power and didn’t accept materialism
-Mills is very interested in the political process
•His work sought to highlight social problems in the hopes of correcting them
–Individual Problem: A problem caused by individual characteristics/choices/actions
–Social Problem: A problem that individuals suffer but that is promoted by the social environment

Social Problem: Example
•Individual Problem: One individual within a community is unemployed
–Lost job because they didn’t follow boss’s orders, not looking for a job
•Social Problem: Half of the community is unemployed
–No jobs available, people are trying really hard to get jobs but can’t find any
•Mix: When there is high unemployment, people with individual problems have a very hard time getting a job

Question 96

The Problem with Social Problems

Answer 96

The Problem with Social Problems
•Wright Mills believed that there were more and more social problems
–Modernity was creating institutions that affected our lives more and more
•Individualism: Despite this, individualism grows with modernity (individual living their life in their interest, based on their actions and choices)
–Creates false impression that we control our lives
•Combination: Wright Mills thought social problems and individualism combined to promote considerable angst
–Viewed sociology as the cure to this angst
–Wrote The Sociological Imagination for this

Question 97

The Sociological Imagination (1959) and its components

Answer 97

The Sociological Imagination (1959)
•One of the most influential sociological books ever
•Definition: The ability to connect seemingly impersonal and remote historical forces to the incidents of an individual’s life
–Against all-powerful individualism, notes how the social world shapes you
–Sociological imagination allows us to see how social problems affect us, not simply our faults
–Useful tool : allows us to better understand ourselves and others
-Looking at the effects of the environment and how it shapes individuals

Components of the Sociological Imagination
•The sociological imagination considers the interplay between 3 things
•(1) History: how a society came to be, how it is changing, and how history is being made (considering its effects)
•(2) Social Structure: how the various institutional orders in a society operate, which ones are dominant, how are they held together
•(3) Biography: particular individual characteristics

Question 98

Gives an example The Sociological Imagination

Answer 98

Example: Missing Aboriginal Women
•Individual Problem: Sees missing women as defective in some way, made bad choices with dire consequences
–Drug addict, prostitute
•Sociological Imagination forces you to consider if this is a social problem
•History: Disempowering of Aboriginal women
(Stevenson), cultural genocide and marginalization
•Social Structure: Poverty and discrimination, live in areas of with high crime
•Biography: Poor, low self-esteem, drugs
•History Social—> Structure —>Biography
-Seeing this seemingly individual problem in the sociological imagination light, it appears as a social problem

Question 99

Depict the structure-agency debate

Answer 99

Structure-Agency Debate
•Mills thought both are important, neither is dominant
–Structure—guides us, shapes our options
–Agency—our actions make up society, shape history, our actions shape history
*There are inequalities in agency
•Sociological Imagination—Believes one’s agency depends on history, social structure, and biography
–Murdered Aboriginal woman had very little agency to deal with social problems
•Thought modernity gave great power to some but disempowered most, some more than others
–These people with all the power make history and exert considerable control over the lives of others
-With modernity, growing levels of agency Inequality
–His empirical work focused on this inequality

Question 100

Depict The Power Elite

Answer 100

•Concerned with the bases of power inequality in the United States in the 1950s
–Believed had very negative effects on the extent of American democracy, disempowered the masses
•Saw organizations as the key
–Michels: Empowered a select few, which allowed them to dominate organizations and their members
–Organizational Society: Societies are increasingly dominated by organizations
•Organizational elites dominate society- who have a great amount of power

Question 101

Organizations and Social Power

Answer 101

•Mills believed the most powerful organizations in the US in the 1950s exerted great control over individual lives
•A few hundred power elites controlled these
•Mills saw 3 main types of elites
1.‘Corporate Chieftains’
—CEOs of major corporations
2.‘Political Directorate’
—Officials who command the state hierarchies
3.Warlords’
—Military Generals
•Each had enormous agency, able to make decisions affecting millions

Question 102

Interlocking Directorate of social power

Answer 102

•Suggests that the three components of the power elite are intertwined, not autonomous
–Status Community—go to same schools, have same friendship networks, have same elite outlooks
–Interdependence—all three segments of the elite are interdependent
–Transferability—elites from one segment can become elites of another segment
•Outcome: Cohesive elite community, able to look out for elite interests
–Promotes a social and political oligarchy

Question 103

Mills and Democracy

Answer 103

•Mills gives a very bleak perspective on the possibility of democracy in the US in the 1950s
–People thought they controlled government, but they really didn’t
–Power elites run government for elite interests
•Mills thought his argument was only relevant for the US in the 1950s
•Do you think it still hold for the US? For Canada?

Question 104

Give an overview Organizations and Democracy

Answer 104

•As the elite power view notes, organizations are a source of enormous power, prevent political equality
–Michels: Organizational structure concentrates power
–Wright Mills: Major organizations dominate society - what does it mean to have a society dominated by organization
•Many, however, think it is overly pessimistic, conspiracy theory
•Our readings for Monday by Huber, Rueschemeyer, and Stephens accept the basic claims of Michels and Mills but think they exaggerate greatly
–Not as worrisome as Wright Mills and Michels let o

Question 105

Depict Huber, Rueschemeyer, and Stephens’ Capitalist the book

Answer 105

Development and Democracy
•Our article summarizes a 400-page book
•Book provides case studies of over 30 countries to explore factors affecting democracy
•Use minimalist definition of democracy focusing on elections, state responsibility to elected officials, and political rights and liberties
•The book recognizes a contradiction between the quantitative and qualitative work on democracy in terms of the impact of capitalist development (which comes up into two different arguments)

Question 106

Depict Quantitative Literature on Democracy

Answer 106

Quantitative Literature on Democracy
statistical relationship
-GDP going up, Democracy going up
-authors interested in capitalist development
-Places with higher levels of capitalist development usually have a higher level of democracy
-need to understand the mechanism

Quantitative Continued: Seymour Martin Lipset and Barrington Moore
•Lipset and Moore both claim that the relationship between capitalism and democracy is causal
–Class-based argument: Propose that capitalism strengthens the middle class (as they are the ones who gain more power and benefit from capitalistic development)
•Civil Society: Argument generally focuses on middle class and civil society
–Middle class upholds liberal norms of freedom and equality
–Middle class is civically active, pursues political inclusion
•Moore: “No bourgeoisie, no democracy.”

Question 107

Depict Qualitative Literature on Democracy

Answer 107

Qualitative Literature on Democracy
•Qualitative work provides detailed case studies of countries, analyzing factors that promote and impede democracy in particular cases
•Findings of many studies oppose Lipset and Moore
–Find that the bourgeoisie and the middle class are frequently against democracy
•Look out for their own interests, opposed to the participation of lower classes
•Hardly in favour of “civil” society- lack of “civic norms”
–Conclude capitalism doesn’t promote democracy
-Empowering the middle class endures/prevent democracy

Question 108

depict Huber, Rueschemeyer, and Stephens view on quantitative vs qualitative

Answer 108

•Accept aspects of both research traditions
–Quantitative: Believe the relationship between capitalism and democracy is too strong to ignore (so capitalism must promote democracy in SOME way)
–Qualitative: Believe that the qualitative research provides convincing evidence that the bourgeoisie and the middle class were not the driving force behind democracy
•Research Question: What explains the relationship between capitalism and democracy? Robust middle class cant be the answer ?

Question 109

Depict Huber, Rueschemeyer, and Stephens power perspective

Answer 109

Power Perspective
•Like Dahl, H, R, & S believe that democracy requires a relatively equitable distribution of
power
–If not, those with power will dominate politics because all opposition is impotent
–Don’t need perfect equality for democracy
•Believe the major bases of power are (1) the state , (2) the international system (power relations influenced by international power relations), and (3) classes (capitalist development is shaping classes in a systemic way that influences power relations promote democratization)
- capitalist development is shaping these bases in a systemic way which influences power relations promote democratization ?
–Analyze how capitalism affected all three

Question 110

What is Huber, Rueschemeyer, and Stephens view of state and international actors in terms of their power and democracy

Answer 110

State and International Actors
•State: No systematic effect based on capitalism
–When controlled by dominant classes, used as an instrument to limit democracy, promote elite interests
–When not dominated by economic elite, able to support democracy
-Nothing they found in analyzing the state about systemic change allowing democracy
•International Actors: Can have positive or negative effects on democracy
–Negative: Supporting dictators, strengthening elites
–Positive: Protect human rights, weaken elites
–Capitalism did not affect either systematically

Question 111

Classes, Capitalism, and Democracy in Huber, Rueschemeyer, and Stephens view

Answer 111

•H, R, & S claim that capitalist development readjusts the power of classes in ways promoting democracy
•Landed Elites: Lose power, must give up their control of politics (historically opposed to democratization but what happens to them during capitalist development ? They lose their power)
–Boon for democracy
•Capitalists/Bourgeoisie: Gain considerable power, but pursue partial democratization
–They want power but are fearful of allowing the workers to participate in politics
-They promote democracy for themselves, they don’t want to to expand suffrage beyond themselves, they don’t want the lower classes involved in politics
-so they were a mixed bag for democracy

Question 112

The Importance of the Working Class in Huber, Rueschemeyer, and Stephens argument

Answer 112

The Importance of the Working Class
•H, R, & S claim that the working class is key
–Capitalism strengthens the working classes
•Cohesion: under capitalism, live together in cities, work in close quarters with one another
•Organizations: workers formed labour unions and labour-friendly parties to pursue their interests (Unions and parties help to empower the class , they were vital for democratization)
•Similarities and Differences with Marx:
–Both focus on class conflict and power
–Marx thought both cohesion and org. vital to empowering workers
–H, R, & S show that this promoted democracy, not revolution

Question 113

Depict Organization and Democracy in Huber, Rueschemeyer, and Stephens view

Answer 113

Organization and Democracy
•H, R, & S believe Michels and Wright Mills offer important insight but conclude that organizations actually make possible democracy
-Organization = basis of power and authoritarian BUT they play an important role in promoting democracy by empowering the lower class
•Labor unions and party organizations empower the working class, allow them to push for political incorporation
•Yes, these organizations are oligarchic, but . . .
–they still look out for the interests of members (unions still looking out for the interest of the workers- which will still promote democratization)
–Choice between different unions and parties helps keep organizational elite responsive
•Suggests that the Pluralist perspective is important *
•Question: What would Michels and Wright Mills say? Who’s interest would be served ?

Question 114

Depict the Origins of “Civil Society”

Answer 114

•Despite only becoming popular relatively recently, civil society is an old concept
•Two different origins of civil society, both provide different perspective of what it is
–Both linked to liberal philosophy
•Liberalism: ideology emphasizing the importance of protecting individual rights and liberties (so they are able to be who they are and act how they want without worrying about others)
–Historically, focused on politics, not economics
•Two different perspectives influenced by two great thinkers
–Locke and de Tocqueville

Question 115

Depict the Lockian view

Answer 115

•John Lock: social contract, suggested that communities willingly came together to form
government, vital to its functioning (governments are formed by populations coming together, society is vital for politics, suggests active participating of population)
•Suggests that the government will have the same characteristics of the population ( as well as keep looking out for it)
–Democracy will work when the population has certain norms that support it
–Civil people make for civil government
-The king is made up of small individuals

Question 116

depict 2nd View: Tocquevillian

Answer 116

2nd View: Tocquevillian
•Alexis de Tocqueville: believed communities were necessary to be counterweight to the state
•Societies need to be self-organizing to withstand state power, tame the state and get it to serve their interest
-Need for civil society in order to counter the power of the state, need for people to self organize and help to contain the state and get it to serve its interest
-Actors controlling the state, preventing it from being too powerful

Question 117

compare the Tocquevillian and the Lockian views

Answer 117

•Differences:
–Locke says government is people, Tocqueville says people restrain government
–Locke says it is cultural (civil society is based on the norms, values and understandings) , Tocqueville says structural (involves associations)
–Locke focuses on civility, Tocqueville on power (need for civil to contain power)
•Similarities:
–both views generally believe associations and norms are strongly related
•Norms of civility promote associationalism, and associationalism promotes civility
–Both view civil society as beneficial

Question 118

who is John A. Hall

Answer 118

•James McGill Chair of Comparative Historical Sociology at McGill
•Political sociologist and prolific scholar
–20-some books
–Specializes in social theory and social change
–Writes on nationalism, states, development, and civil society
•We read a chapter he wrote for a book entitled The Importance of Being Civil
–Gives his own view of what civil society is

Question 119

Hall’s View of Civil Society

Answer 119

•Hall’s definition of civil society: “a form of societal self-organization that allows for cooperation with the state while permitting individuation”
•Societal Self-Organization*: Active associations (civil society allows individuals to organize)
•Individuation: refers to the protection of individual rights and freedoms (if not present, cant organize. Important to be allowed to be yourself, to express yourself freely)
–Why there’s a link between civil society and fashion
•Civility: Individuation requires civility
–“recognition of difference and diversity”
•Cooperation with the State: Civil society can’t be at war with the state, must work with it (so that it allows individuals to self-organize, need for a system of rules favourable towards democracy )
–Depends on certain type of state, state-society relations
-Civil society allows democracy to work but at the same time, without democracy, there is no freedom within society for people to self organize. Dependent on politics not only influences it.

Question 120

What are, accorind to hall, the 3 main reasons civil society developed in Western Europe

Answer 120

•Hall suggests civil society is rare and only develops in particular circumstances
•Thinks the only place where it developed on its own was Western Europe
–Three main reasons
•(1) Religion: Religions can’t be too powerful or they organize society
–Don’t allow for its self-organization
–Limit individuation
Religion enforces its doctrine and model, promoting conformity and eliminates the ability of indication and self- organization

•(2) State: Civil society requires states, but the states cannot be too powerful (they want to keep the power for themselves, monopolize power )
–States needed to provide a rule of law, protect rights and liberties
–States that are too powerful and authoritarian don’t allow for the self-organization of society
-Under what kind of conditions would the state be able to allows self-organization ?

•(3) Economy: Capitalism promoted civil society
–Weakened traditional forms of control, privilege
–Provided resources*
–Helped limit power of state and religion (counterweight)

Question 121

Depict The Rise of Civil Society in Western Europe

Answer 121

•A confluence of factors contribute to its rise
•Religion: Christianity commonly opposed theocracy
–Teachings of Jesus opposed to theocracy (which prevented it in some cases compared to other religions)
–Reformation promoted religious diversity (helped to weakened the power of catabolism and the power of religion over peoples lives)
–Protestantism emphasized individualism (access to god was individual, no pope.. etc)
*protestantism areas saw themselves grow the first vibrant civil societies
•State: Feudalism created openings for societal organization in cities (claiming lands outside state control, pockets in which actors not under the control of the elites or the state) , especially in Northern Europe (since the state usually wants to monopolize power, something has to happen for the state to let self-organization)
–Rule by law strengthened in these areas (emerge of legal systems that protect the right and freedoms of individuals)
–Promoted greater social autonomy
*free cities saw themselves grow the first vibrant civil societies
•Capitalism: Rose in Western Europe and strengthened non-state actors ( strengthened the urbanites and gave them power, allowing them to demand certain types of concessions)
*Tilly argued that warfare AND capitalism allowed the formation of states
-Concessions transformed the state in terms of rights and liberties and protection now exchanged instead of the Mafia state