Midterm 2 Flashcards
Political Sociology
empirical study of the way social and economic factors affect power and politics`
Theory of Divine Right of Kings
-God selected the King, who we respect because we respect God
Social Contract Theory
-We obey because we consent to a government - Thomas Hobbes, John Locke
Power (Macht)
-any ability to get your way, including violence or money even if complying parties are unwilling
Domination (Herrschaft)
-Probability that others accept commands as valid. Complying parties are consenting
Legitimate Authority
-A reason or motive for obedience: Rational (Legal), Traditional, Charismatic
Rational (Legal) Authority
-legal rational process such as voting
Traditional Authority
-Tradition makes this person the authority such as a hereditary monarch
Charismatic
-This person inspires people to obey with their vision / personality (hitler)
Political Culture
-Broad set of beliefs and values generally held by a country/political entity (America loves guns)
-Associated with Seymour Lipset
Social Exchange Theory
People make the best decisions for themselves, which has formed the authority that exists. Social order is produced by self-interested individuals.
Associated with George Homans
Discourse Ethics
Perspective on morality based on communication. The ideal society is one with free speech.
Associated with Jurgen Habermas
Types of Government (Good/Bad)
The one: (monarchy/tyranny)
The few: (Aristocracy/Oligarchy)
The many: (Constitutional Government/Democracy)
Liberalism
Government is authorized by the consent of the individuals governed
Democracy
Rule by ‘the people’. The will of the People outweighs the needs of the few
Dominant Ideology
Worldview of dominant group - status quo
Reformist Ideology
Suggests small changes that can lead to larger societal changes over time
Counter/Radical Ideology
Questions the base of dominant ideology
Base/Superstructure Model
Marxist model of society claiming institutions are just a superstructure that depends on the underlying ‘base’
Modernization
Transition from traditional to industrial economies
Associated with Barrington Moore
Class of the dominant group determined how societies turned out (large peasant class in Russia lead to communism)
(Ideological) Hegemony
Gramsci’s term for intellectual and ideological control of society by the dominant class. (University encourages us to get a job and work for those in power)
Legitimate Violence
Max Weber’s term for violence by the state (police, military) The state has a monopoly on legitimate violence
Exception
Situation that cannot be covered by law, as it was not foreseen
Friend/Enemy Distinction
Schmit: groups will only survive if they can identify their enemies who could potentially destroy them
Populism
Political movements that claim to speak for the people, often against elites. Us vs them
Myth
Georges Sorel - creating an existential threat (real or not) Us vs Them
Manichaeism
Frantz Fanon - Tendency to view the world as good vs evil
Secularization
Development of non-religious states - removing religion from politics and public life
Talal Asad - modern states vs the world. Modern states are rational while other countries are frantic and religious and backwards
Nation
Idealistically unified image of society - national identity. Belonging to a unit (Canadian)
Nations can have states within them
Nation-State
Ruling institution over an ethnic/cultural group
The State
The whole set of institutions responsible for regulation social relations and steering society as a whole
Politics
The struggle for control of the State
Weber - whoever controls the state has the right of legitimate violence
Cybernetics
Study of society’s conscious mechanism of control ex (state)
Talcott Parsons - State has the function of Goal Attainment in AGIL
Niklas Luhmann - Systems theory: society as a series of interlocking systems. State is cybernetic (it monitors and steers society)
State
Overall centralized political and social apparatus of decision making and administration
Government
Branch of state tasked with making decisions and setting policy
State Institutions
Carry out policy, maintain law & order
Civil Society
The rest of society - not centrally administered like the state
Bureaucracy
Trained/talented (non elected) officials to administer organization
Max Weber - Bureaucratic dalmatian can end up trapping us in an ‘iron cage’ of rigid procedures
Public Sphere
Third space between private and political in which free debate takes place to form public voice
Jurgen Habermas - institutional form of discourse ethics
Lifeworld (Habermas)
The part of life that depends on social discussion.
System
Efficient social structures that automate society and decrease lifeworld in favor of efficiency (mass media is run by profit, not the need for truth.)
Liberal Democracy
Open public sphere; theoretically governed by citizens with protection of right of free speech etc
Authoritarianism
Strong central leader who may rely on force to ensure compliance (Putin)
Totalitarianism
State controls all aspects of social and political life. The state is above the law (Hitler)
Pluralism
No single or unified ruling ideas - try to include many voices. The government protects this diversity (Canada)
Citizenship
Membership in a state that grants rights and liberties protected by institutions of government
Civil Liberties
Freedom of speech, assembly, movement, press - government leaves us alone
Civil Rights
Government empowers us to vote etc - rights that the gov gives us
Economic Class
Possession of material wealth
Social Status Group
Attribution of honor, prestige or privilege
Political Party
Control of legal or political power
Polyarchy
Decisions emerge from multiple sources of power, not just a single state controlling group
Power Elite
Small group at top who have effective control over power (in contrast to polyarchy)
Vertical Mosaic
John Porter’s study of class in Canada
Closure
The way elites maintain position by monopolizing opportunities (men run the government)
Class Consciousness
A class’s awareness of its shared interests as a class
False Consciousness
Misguided beliefs believed by classes that actually advance interests of rulers
Class Politics
Political behavior based on class origin (choosing parties to represent my class)
Terry Clark & Seymour Lipset state that class is declining in significance in politics
Social Structure
Regular, predictable, repeated forms of social relations (student and professor). Social structure makes society efficient and possible.
Deviance
Behavior that contradicts normal social structures or values. Doesn’t always mean open revolts against society, but the deviant is usually aware of being deviant
Conformity
Going along with the norms of society; fulfilling others expectations. Different from compliance as conformity entails accepting norms
Durkheim - society requires us to be similar so that society remains stable
Compliance
Obeying society, even if I don’t agree with it
Social Stigma
Personal characteristic that makes me different from societal norm
Erving Goffman - People try to hide their stigma - covering, passing, selective association. These stigmas are socially constructed
Primary Deviance
The basic act of deviating without identifying as deviant. You know it’s wrong but it’s not major enough to consider myself as a deviant.
Secondary Deviance
The willing or unwilling incorporation of being a deviant as a sense of self. This can lead to more deviant behavior
Anomie
Durkheim’s term for normlessness or lawlessness - a state in which norms have less regulating power over us. In anomie, we feel lost - we have no meaning in society.
Differential Association Theory
Through interaction with others, individuals learn the values, attributed, techniques and motives for criminal behavior
Social Contract Theory
Crime occurs because of a lack of strong social bonds between individuals and society. Specifically, the parent, child discipline structure. A strong bond between individuals and society can decrease crime.
Strain Theory
Society puts pressure on us to achieve certain goals, but doesn’t provide adequate means to all people. Those who are excluded feel anomie and are forced to turn to illegal means to achieve goals.
Conformity
Strain Theory
Accept goals and means
Innovation
Strain Theory
Accept goals; reject means - crime
Ritualism
Strain Theory
Rejects goals, but accept means (I don’t care about money, but I go through the motions of job)
Retreatism
Strain Theory
Reject goals and means - attempt to escape from it all
Rebellion
New goals and means - try to overthrow existing social goals and means totally
Victimology
Study of who becomes victims, and under what circumstances. What groups are victims of crimes? Why? Victims tend to become criminals
Routine Activity Theory
Victimology
How people spend their time. Victims are those whose daily routines place them in dangerous situations. (Residential Schools, prison)
Lifestyle Theory
Victimology
People who engage in high risk activities are more likely to become victims (drug addicts)
Victim Precipitation Theory
Victimology
Something about the victim may encite criminals - regardless of intent. (Native women)
Deviant Place Theory
Victimology
Victims are those who spend time in high-risk places such as poor people living in Chiraq
