midterm Flashcards
What is social power?
A productive capacity of persons to bring about ends
How do we the people have power in a democracy?
The power to vote
What does it mean to have “power-over” someone?
The ability to get someone to do something that they wouldn’t otherwise do
What is Dahls concept of power? (face one)
- A has power over B to the extent that A can get B to do something B otherwise wouldn’t do but for As influence
- ex. Mike can get steve who is taller than him to grab Mike an apple from a tree
- Face one: decision making
According to Dahl, Why do people allow themselves to suffer disadvantages?
- Theyre apathetic and satisfied with the status quo, or theyre preoccupied with other things
- ex. Increase in taxes is disadvantrages but noones has rioted since were happy with status quo of society and pre occupied working
What is the power of Barriers and threats? (face two)
- We can influence someone by influencing the process by which decision-making occurs in several ways ie changing rules of game, making threats, mobilizing bias
- Ex. I may threaten you (or refuse to help pay for something) if you don’t side with me on an issue so you are influenced to do what I want as to not suffer
(non-decision making power)
What is Lukes concept of power (face three)?
- A gets B to do what B doesnt want to do but A doesnt prevent B from acting and doesnt interfere with B, A shapes B in such a way that B does what A wants
- ex. Media, employment, Advertisement
What are social institutions?
Sites where our actions are formed
ex. hospital is where treatment of sick or wounded is formed, school is where education is formed
What is dominant narrative?
- What stories & history tell us compared to what we dont know/ what they dont tell us
- Ex. canada is widely known as a peaceful multicultural place but recently found dead indigenous children residential schools
What happened in the movie El Contracto (tomato)
- Mexican migrant workers work in awful conditions,
- treated like shit by employers who know theyre easy to replace
- payed horribly but dont have a choice since its still better than back in mexico,
- one worker was chocked by a manager reported to higher ups, and it was swept under rug
What is an ideology? (form basis of)
A system of ideals that form the basis of economic, political and policy
What are the 4 core features of Ideologies?
- They must understand the world we live in
- Understand the role and importance of human nature
- Understand the way society ought to be structured
- Useful device to persuade others that your view is correct
What is classical liberalism? (The belief that society arises ___)
- 17th century,
- the belief that society arises out of a need to avoid the challenges of living without a common authority that would resolve problems.
- Advocates for free market, civil liberty less power to govt
What is the classical liberalism perspective on economy?
Government not involved in the economy,
high taxes,
free market
What are the core features of classical liberalism? (4 features) (A/L,RoL,Cg,Sep of P)
- Autonomy/liberty (we are free and equal)
- Rule of law (guides behavior)
- Consensual government (formation of govt is our choice by voting)
- Separation of powers (no one holds all the power)
What is constitutionalism? (classical liberalism)(power limits)
governments legally defined limits of power, where their authority ends
ie govt can only do as much as it is allowed to do within the legal limits of law
What is the harm principle? (classical liberalism)
The principle that the only good reason the government should intervene is to prevent harm to others ie policing
What is conservatism? (3 points)
- Believes in order and stability, (seek order & stability)
- the old ways/laws that are tired and true are better, (prefer familiar to unfamiliar)
- need for strong government for defense against danger from outside and withing (need for guidance and authority)
What is the conservative perspective on economy?
Government limited role in economy Low taxes, free-ish trade
What is Libertarianism?
Commitment to liberty, especially economic liberty, role of government is to enable freedom using exchange behaviour we can make society better
What is the libertarian perspective on economy?
- Low taxes,
- free trade/market,
- privatized healthcare, education, roads
The government is a moral agent the market will fix problems government makes them worse although they might replace tyranny of govt with tyranny of market
What is welfare liberalism?
Protect the vulnerable, Freedom to live a flourishing life through access to important goods,
job of government is to protect us and prevent people from falling behind ie starving, homeless
What is the welfare liberalism perspective on the economy?
- HIGH taxes, Active involvement of government in the economy, cautious trade, public ownership of healthcare, education, transportation
- Redistribution policies to create real equal oppurtunities
What are the 3 Ideologies’ positions on sex work?
Libertarian: support it, do with your body as you please to make money
Conservatives: criminalize it to protect marriage and dissuade men from indecent behavior
Welfare: thinks its exploiting the vulnerable, decriminalization is still better than criminalization
What is income inequality?
Women make 68 cents on every dollar men make, men make more based on their gender not on the amount/quality of their work
What is liberal feminism? (Root cause perceived ___)
- Believes the root cause of gender inequality is percieved female inferiority
- Women are equally talented and given equal chance through policy will succeed
How would a liberal feminist bring about equality (3 points)?
- Changes in law and customary practices
- Promote autonomy and liberty of women
- Once women given equal opportunities will be as successful as men
What is Radical feminism?
- Grew out of disappointment with liberal feminism
- Believes root cause of gender inequality is institutionalized sex marketing
ie men are taught to be aggressive, dominant, providers
women are taught to be thin young and sexually desirable
How would a radical feminist bring about equality (3 points)?
- Equal pay, equal employment
- Active enforcement of rules prohibiting sexual harassment and sexual violence
- Increased family assistance subsidies (food, welfare, unemployment insurance)
What is Marxist feminism?
- Believes the root cause of women’s inequality lies in capitalism
- For women, capitalism facilitates working jobs to the advantage and is supervised by men
- Women provide for the family while men don’t as much and if women divide their time between work and family their pay stagnates (discouraging women from doing both)
How would a Marxist feminist bring about equality (3 points + the obvious 1)?
- Enhance the position of women as workers, equal pay for equal work
- Greater parental and family leave with child care
- More generous taxation and raise the minimum wage to help women and families at lowest level,
- End goal dissolve capitalism
What is the invisible hand theory (free market 1%)
desires of resource suppliers and producers to further their own self-interest will automatically further the public interest ex. The number of cars people are buying fluctuates based on the economy health so companies manufacture more cars to meet demand
What is positive and negative liberty?
- Positive: the ability to fulfill ones purpose ie freedom to do what you want
- Negative: freedom from interference from anyone ie right to privacy
What is Lockian State of Nature?
Locke argues the state of nature a person is to use the power to punish punish to preserve their society
ie use power to keep thinks the way they like it
What is rule of law?
The restriction of power by limiting it to established laws
What is political socialization?
How people develop an understanding of their own political standing through socialization with parents, peers, school, experiences etc
What is political culture?
A set of shared views held by a population regarding its political system
ex. American political culture is defined by freedom, equality and justice while
Canadian emphasizes constitutional law, regional autonomy and freedom of religion
What is young, old and mature democracy?
- young: transitioned from undemocratic to democratic ie iraq america forced democracy
- Old: consolidation of new democratic practices to deep sedimentation to face modern problems
ie America started democratic stayed and adapted democratic - Mature: deepening of democratic practices
ie England becomes more democratic
What are the 5 differences between idealized and actual Democracy?
- Effective participation: everyone affected by policies should have a say (in reality 1% make most decisions)
- Voting equality: each vote has the same weight regardless of class/wealth (voting doesn’t really matter anymore)
- Inclusion of all adults: everyone has a voice
- Enlightened understanding: anyone with adequate knowledge can make an informed decision about how we deploy power
- Control of agenda: those impacted by decisions should be able to debate them
