Political systems - Week 6 Flashcards
What are politics ?
the methods and tactics of managing a political entity such as a nation or state, as well as to the administration and control of its internal and external affairs
What are political systems?
are social institutions that are based on an established set of practices for applying and realizing a society’s goal
What is government?
the formal, organized agency that exercises power and control in modern society, especially through the creation and enforcement of laws
What is power?
the ability to impose one’s will on others
All political systems are about power, which Max Weber described as the ability to achieve your own ends despite resistance from others
What is authority defined by sociologists?
is the legitimate, non-coercive exercise of power
What are the types of authority ? Traditional? Charismatic? Ration-legal ?
Traditional - is legitimated respect for patterns of government
ex. kings in the Middle Ages, religious leaders in Iran. Usually the people come from poorer or developing countries.
Charismatic- is gained because the leader has extraordinary personal attributes. Often these leaders lead social movements
ex. Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi. Powerful public speaking skills and a believable personality are essential
Rational-legal authority- consists of rules that are written by the government and considered rational by the majority of the population
ex. Positions such as the President of the U.S. are likely to be followed and to yield considerable power
Weber believed that this is the political system that people respect most because it is not based on fear
What is a Monarchy? Absolute monarchies ? Constitutional monarchs?
Monarchy- a political system whereby leadership is based on the idea that leaders are selected by divine right or heritage. Usually a single family rules from generation to generation. Power comes from divine right – the idea that power comes from God. Power was often absolute in monarchies
Absolute monarchies typically have complete authority over their subjects.
Constitutional monarchs are royal figures whose powers are defined by a political charter and limited by a parliament or other governing body.
What are authoritarian regimes? Dictatorship? Totalitarianism?
authoritarian regimes- involve an individual or small group taking power and using repression and other techniques to maintain it
dictatorship is a type of authoritarianism where the leader typically seizes power rather than being selected or elected
Totalitarianism- a type of authoritarian government whereby the government controls everything in people’s lives, and generally those who disagree are punished. This type of government maintains power by fear and punishments
What is a dictator? What is an Oligarchy?
Dictator- a single leader with absolute power
Oligarchy- a small group of very influential people who control government
What is Democracy?
Democracy- a government whereby power is held by the people and exercised through participation and representation
pure democracy- voters make all the rules
representative democracy- citizens elect representatives to make decisions for them
ex. US-To vote in most states one must be 18, mentally competent and free of a felony conviction. In many elections a growing section of the population chooses not to vote
What is alienation?
refers to a person’s sense of powerlessness, meaninglessness and general cynicism toward the political process. Despite being a multiple party system, the US has in practice a two party system dominated by the Democrats and Republicans
What is power elite Wright Mills suggested?
made up of high-ranking political officials, corporate leaders, and military leaders. The power elite frame every major decision
Domhoff agrees and suggests that the power in the US is in the hands of a few white men. They form a corporate coalition that plays a major role in the positions taken by politicians.
How does mass media impact politics ? What are opinion leaders?
mass media also impacts politics. For instance, many people form their beliefs based on information from opinion leaders
opinion leaders-are high-profile people who interpret events and influence the public.
What is military industrial complex?
a combination of the armed forces and defense industries that provide weapons and other materials in the country
The US views itself as a mediator in the world and outspends everyone else in the world in military spending.
Sociological theory and politics ? Functionalists?
functionalists, politics in the US is an ongoing series of negotiations and compromises among interested parties. This model is referred to as pluralism which is a model whereby power is spread amongst the masses. Functionalism would point to the checks and balances in the US between the three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial.
