Religion/Education/Economics/Gov Flashcards
World Systems Analysis
Capitalist World System gradually took over the world and exists as:
1. Core (technological development and manufacturing)
2. Semi-Periphery (benefits from periphery through unequal exchange relations between core and periphery)
2. Periphery (supply raw materials and cheap labor, and agriculture)
One effect of the expansion of the world-system is the commodification of all things, including human labor.
Periphery has to sell their raw materials to core cheaply, but must buy the core’s manufactured products at relatively high prices.
Bourgeoisie
- Capitalist class who own the means of production (land, factories, etc)
- Maximize profit in competition with other firms, while exploiting the working class in the process.
Proletariat
Working class
Class-consciousness
- A subjective awareness of common vested interests and the need for collective political action to bring about social change.
- The working class must develop this to begin to overthrow the bourgeoisie.
False-Consciousness
- An attitude held by members of a class that does not adequately reflect their objective position.
- May develop an individualistic view to being exploited (“I am being exploited by my boss”).
Liberation Theology
The use of the church in a Political effort to eliminate poverty, discrimination, and other forms of injustice from secular society.
Marx’s view of religion
- Only pacifies the poor so that they can continue to be exploited.
- The dominant religion reinforces the interests of those in power.
- Reinforces existing patterns of dominance and inequality.
- Stops people from seeing their oppression in political terms, thus reinforcing a “false consciousness” that prevents them from taking political action.
Fundamentalism
An emphasis on doctrinal conformity and the literal interpretation of sacred texts.
Components of Religion
- Belief
- Ritual
- Experience
Forms of religious organization
- Ecclesia
- Denominations
- Sects
- New Religious Movement (or Cult)
Ecclesia
- A religious organization that claims to include most or all members of a society and is recognized as the national or official religion.
- Since virtually everyone belongs t it, membership is by birth, not by choice.
- Makes few demands on members.
4 recognized by government.
Denomination
- A large organized religion that is not officially linked to the state or the government.
2 makes few demands on members. - Tolerated by government.
Sect
- relatively small religious group that has broken away from some other religious organization to renew what it considers the original vision of faith.
- Fundamentally at odds with society and do not seek to become established national religions.
- Require intensive commitment from members.
Conflict perspective of Education
- Hidden Curriculum
- Credentialism
- Bestowal of Status
- Tracking
- Correspondence Principle
Hidden Curriculum
Standards of behavior that are deemed proper by society and are taught subtly in schools (obedience, punctuality, etc)
Credentialism
- An increase in the lowest level of education needed to enter a field.
- May reinforce social inequality, due to poor and minorities unable to pay for increasing need for credentials.
Correspondence principle
Schools promote the values expected of individuals in each social class and perpetuate social class divisions from one generation to the next.
Ex. Schools placing blue collar families kids in vocational schools and affluent kids in leadership and academic courses.
Teacher-Expectancy Effect
- Interactionist
- The beliefs teachers have about their students affects their achievements, especially for younger students.
3 basic sources of power in politics
- Force
- Influence
- Authority
3 Types of Authority
Devised by Max Weber. These are just Ideal Types; in reality, a society can be a mixture of more than one type:
1. Traditional
2. Rational-Legal
3. Charismatic
Traditional Authority
Legitimate power is conferred by custom and accepted practice; Authority rests in custom, not personal characteristics. (King, queen, tribal chief)
Rational-Legal Authority
Power made legitimate by law. (Constitution)
Charismatic Authority
Power made legitimate by a leader’s exceptional personal or emotional appeal to followers.
5 Basic Types of Government
- Monarchy
- Oligarchy
- Dictatorship
- Totalitarianism
- Democracy
Dictatorship
A government in which one person has nearly total power to make and enforce laws. Usually seizes power and rules by coercion.
Totalitarianism
Involves virtually complete government control and surveillance over all aspects of a society’s social and political life.
Frequently dictators become totalitarian, but so can monarchies and oligarchies.
Pluralist Model
Many competing groups within the community have access to government, so that no single group is dominant.
Economic Determinism
a theory suggesting that economic forces determine, shape, and define all political, social, cultural, intellectual, and technological aspects of a civilization.
3 sociological views of war
- Global View
- Nation-State View
- Micro View
Deindustrialization
The systematic, widespread withdrawal of investment in basic aspects of productivity, such as factories and plants. Consists of things such as offshoring, moving factories, corporate restructuring, downsizing, and automation.
