Social Terms Flashcards
The Alberta Advantage
Refers to the fact that Alberta is sitting on copious amounts of oil and can provide more for their province than others
Acculturation
The cultural changes that occur when two cultures accommodate, or adapt to each others worldviews
Assimilation
A process that occurs when the culture of a minority group is absorbed by another culture
Ban Ki-Moon
A South Korean diplomat who was also secretary general of the United Nations
Capitalism
An economic system that advocates free trade, competition and trade as a means of achieving prosperity
Communism
An economic and political system whose purpose is to eliminate class distinction. Everyone would work for the benefit of all and would receive help as he or she needs it
Cultural Revitalization
The process of affirming and promoting peoples individual and collective cultural identity
Depopulation
A reduction in population caused by natural or human-made forces
Digital Divide
The gap that separates people who do and do not have access to up to date technology
Ethnocentrism
A way of thinking that centers on ones own race and culture
Foreign aid
Money,, supplies, and other goods, as well as expertise, given by one country to another
Homogenization
The erasing of differences
Hybridization
The combining of elements of two or more different things to create something new
Knowledge Economy
Bussinesses and individuals who use research, education, new ideas and information for practical uses
Legacy
Something that has been passed down by those who have lived in the past
Media Concentration
The gathering of ownership of newspapers and other media organizations in the hands of a few large corporation
Media convergence
The use of electronic technology to intergrate media such as newspapers and books
NGOs
An organization established by groups of people to work towards specific goals. They depend on volunteer work and donations, but they may also recieve grants from governments
Outsourcing
A business strategy that involves reducing costs by using suppliers of producs and services in countries where labor is cheaper and government regulation may be less strict
Sustainable development
Development that meets people needs in the present without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their needs
Sustainable Prosperity
Practising stewardship of the environment and resources so that future generations are able to achieve prosperity
Transnational Corporation
A company that is based in one country while developing and manufacturing or sending products to another country
Accommodation
A process that occurs when people from different cultures come into contact accept and create space for one another
Biodiversity
Variety in plants and animal species
Collective
A group to which a person belongs or identifies with
Cultural content laws
Laws passed by agovernment to prevent a groups cultural identity -Including artists, performers, songs, movies and literature- from being overwhelmed by media of a more dominant culture
Cultural Diversity
Variety in cultures and identities
Economies of scale
Savings achieved by buying, producing and using things in large quantities
GDP/Gross Domestic Product
The value of all the goods and services a country produces. Often used to measure the strength of a countries economy
Economic globalization
The spread of trade transportation, and communication systems around the world in the interests of promoting worldwide commerce
Multiculturalism
An official Canadian government policy founded on the idea that Canada is pluralistic
Pop Culture
The culture of the people. Refers to current trends in social media
Propaganda
Ideas and information spread for the purpose of achieving a specific goal
Role Model
Someone to whom others look as an example to emulate
Universalization
The spread of culture, trends, customs and practices around the world
Apartheid
An Afrikaans word that refers to a policy of segregating and discriminating against non-whites in South Africa
Cultural Mosaic
A society made up of many distinct cultural groups
Cultural Pluralism
The idea that a variety of peoples are free to affirm and promote their customs, traditions, beliefs, and language within a society
Deindustrialization
The reduction or loss of industry
Depopulation
A reduction in population caused by natural or human made forces
Enemy Alien
A label assigned WWI and WWII to people from countries that were at war with Canada. The rights of enemy aliens were sometimes restricted, and some were interned in camps
Gacaca Courts
Community courts established in Rwanda to try low level officials and ordinary people accused of taking part in the Rwanadan genocide
Genocide
The mass killings of humans, especially a targeted group
Grand Exchange
A trading process that began when Christopher Columbus brought seeds, fruite trees, and live stocks to the americas where they were cultivated and became staples
Gross National Income
The amount of money earned by everyone in a country
Historical Globalization
A period that is often identified s beginning in 1492 when Christopher Columbus made his first voyage to the Caribbean and ending after WWI when the USA and USSR emerged as superpowers
Imperialism
One country’s domination over another country’s economic, political and cultural institution
Indian Act
First Passes by the Canadian Parliment in 1876 and amended several times since then, this act continues to define who is and who isn’t a status Indian
Industrial Revolution
The period between 1850 and 1750, when work became mechanized and began to occur in factories
Mercantilism
A policy followed by European imperial powers in the 16th and 19th century. In colonies, trade was strictly controlled to benefit the economy of the imperial power
Residential schools
Boarding schools where first nations children were gathered to live, work, and study. These schools were operated or subsidized by the Canadian government as an important element of the government’s assimilation policy
Consensus
A general agreement
Containerization
The transporting of goods in standard sized shipping containers
Ecological Footprint
The area of earths surface necessary to sustain the level of resources a person uses and the waste they create
Economic Depression
A period of low economic activity accompanied by high levels of unemployment
Flag of convenience
A flag flown by ships when they are registered in a country that is not the country of their owner
Free trade
The trade that occurs when two or more countries eliminate taxes on the goods and services they trade with one another
Global Climate Change
Small but steady changes in temperature around the world
Genuine Progress Index (GPI)
A system that measures the sustainability, well being, and quality of life of a country and its people
Market Economy
An economy in which government regulations are reduced to a minimum and businesses are free to make their own decisions
Privatization
A business strategy that involves reducing costs by using suppliers of products and services in countries where labor is cheaper and government regulation is less strict
Privatization
The selling of a public service such as electricity delivery or health care to a private company so the service is no longer owned by the government
Reparations
The act of making amends for wrongdoings. May include payments made by a defeated enemy whose territory was damaged during war
Sanction
A penalty. Often an economic penalty such as a trade boycott taken to pressure a government to agree to carry out certain actions or follow certain rules
Stewardship
Accepting responsibility for ensuring the earths resources remain sustainable
Sustainability
The degree to which the earth is able to provide the resources necessary to me peoples needs
Sustainable Prosperity
Practicing stewardship of the environment and resources so that future generations are able to achieve prosperity
Trade Liberalization
A process that involves countries reducing or removing trade barriers such as tariffs and quotas, so goods and services can move around the world more freely
Civil Society
A sector of society made up of non-government and non-business groups. Includes community groups,NGOs, faith based groups and universities
Gender Gap
The societal, economic, and political differences that separate men and women
Human Trafficking
A Crime that occurs when people seeking a better life in a new country are preyed upon by criminal organizations that help them to immigrate illegally then force them to work in substandard conditions or in criminal activity
Inalienable
Referring to rights that cannot be taken away or transferred
Ingenuity Gap
The gap between peoples need for new and innovative solutions to problems and their ability to supply those solutions
Labour Standards
Measures that protect workers
Pandemic
An epidemic that spreads around the world and poses a serious threat because of peoples ability to travel farther that ever before
Virtual Community
A community made up of people who may never have met in person but interact via internet
Coltan
A metal found in the Democratic Republic of Congo that is used in phones to control circuits
Context
The circumstances or surroundings
Agribusiness
The group of industries dealing with agricultural produce and services required in farming
Assembly of of First Nations
A Canadian group that is made up of representatives of more than 600 First Nations across Canada. They work together to achieve aboriginal treaty rights, self determination, and rights over natural resources
Bias
Prejudice in favor or against on thing, person, or group
Bilingual
Speaking 2 languages
Boycott
Refusing to buy goods as a protest
Communication Technology
Technology around the world that helps individuals to connect with each other
Canadian Radio Television Commission (CRTC)
A pupils organization in Canada with mandate as a regulatory agency for broadcasting and telecommunications
Culture
The customs, arts social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group
European Union
A union of European countries that have libertines their economies by integrating them with one common currency. They have also eliminated border crossings
Glocal
When something on a global level can also affect things on a local level and vice versa
Gross National Product (GNP)
He total value of goods and services provided by a country in one year
Infrastructure
The basic physical structures and facilities ex. Buildings and roads
Jargon
A collection of terms often used by members of a professional collective
Kyoto Accord
Countries of the world work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
McJob
A low paid job with few opportunities
Marginalize
To treat a person as insignificant
Media
The main means of mass communication
NAFTA
A free trade zone created by the United States and Canada. Mexico was later added
Protectionism
The theory or practice of shielding a country’s domestic industries from foreign competition by taxing imports
Slang
A collection of terms used by the members of a social collect
Tariff
A tax to be paid on imports
Transnational Media Corperation
Media corporations that distribute their media worldwide ex. Disney, ESPN
UN
An organization created after WWI that united countries of the world
WTO
Emerged from GATT, regulates trading among countries
Afrikaner
Dutch people living in South Africa
Beothuk
An indigenous group in Canada that was invaded by Europeans and killed
Berlin Conference
AKA the scramble from Africa. Where countries of Europe met to decide which regions of Africa that they wanted to take control of
Boer
A member of the Dutch who colonized South Africa
Chattel slavery
When slaves and their descendants were private property of their owner
Child labour
Work done by children due to their size and low pay
European diseases
Diseases brought by Europeans during colonization that killed many indigenous populations
Grameen Bank
A bank that provides small loans so that people may start up businesses and repay the money
Hudson’s Bay Company
A company created by Europeans in Canada mainly focused on selling and trading fur
Hutus
Laborers in Rwanda
Tutsis
People who held positions of power in Rwanda
Indentured Labor
A poor person would sign a contract with a colonist that would pay to transport them to a colony who would in turn work for little to no money for 7 years
Internment
Many people known as enemy aliens were sent to these camps during war
Kashmir
A region located where the borders of India and Pakistan meet. Both countries are fighting for ownership
Numbered Treaties
Treaties signed by First Nations and the government in which First Nations agreed to give up land in exchange for money and living on reserves
Silk Road
A trade route that exchanged goods and ideas
Statement of reconciliation
The Canadian government response to past treatment of First Nations people
Triangular Trade
A slave trade route that went from Africa to North America and then raw materials were sent back to Europe
White man’s burden
White colonizers belief that they had to impose their civilization on black slaves
Alternative Energy Sources
Energy sources such as solar and wind power that have fewer environmental impacts and are more sustainable
Clear Cutting
Cutting down vast amounts of trees in one area
Blood/Conflict diamond
A term used for diamonds mined in a war zone and used to finance the war
E-commerce
Refers to businesses such as Amazon that sell products online
Foreign Investment
The purchase of assets in one country by individuals, institutions, or governments in another country
GATT
Created out of the Breton Woods conference, countries that signed the agreement agreed to gradually reduce tariffs and other trade barriers
Gross National Happiness Index
Based on Buddhist values, and focuses on the happiness and well being of the people in the country. Aims to promote cultural values and good government
Great Depression
An economic depression when the stock market crashed and many people lost a lot of money
Green belt Movement
A movement created by Wangari Maathai in which she helped to plant trees in the African rainforest
Human Development Index (HDI)
Created by the UN, measure the quality of life of different countries. Based on life expectancy, school enrollment, and standard of living
International Monetary Fund
Mapped out of Breton Woods, helped to expand trade. To provide short term loans to developing countries
Mixed Market Economy
An economic system in which private and government businesses coexist
Maquiladoras
American Businesses along the strip of US Mexico Border that employ Mexican women at low wages to help support the Mexican economy
Nationalization
The transfer of private ownership to government ownership
Selective Cutting
The cutting of trees to promote diversity by getting rid of old dead ones
Ship breaking
Old ships that are sold to developing countries to be broken down so that they can sell the scrap metal
Standard of living
The degree of wealth and material comfort available to a person or community
Subsidy
A sum of money granted to a public body to assist an industry or business to keep prices low
Tar sands
A large source of greenhouse gas emissions in Alberta that provide energy
World Bank
Created out of the Breton woods conference to increase growth and infrastructure projects
Active consumers
Can mailers who are active in what products they want to buy through protests or boycotts
Active corporations
Corporations that believe good business is important. They support environmental and human rights
Blood oil
Oil that is obtained through violence or bloodshed
Canadian Charter of rights and freedoms
A part of the constitution that protects people rights and freedoms
Collective bargaining
A negotiation of wages and other conditions of employment organized by employees
Effective governance
When people are governed effectively and their quality of life improves
Fair trade
Trade in which fairer prices are paid to producers in developing countries
Global Citizen
All people have the civic responsibility of caring for the world
SARS/Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
A pandemic that originated in China that was not reported to the World Health Organization and spread throughout the world
Universal declaration on human rights
A document released by the UN that reflects rights they believe are universal
Big Oil
Used to describe the worlds largest public ally traded oil and gas companies ex. Shell, BP
Cash Crop
Crop that is produced for its value rather than for use by the grower
Clear Cut logging
A forestry/logging practice in which most of all trees in an area are uniformly cut down
Colonialism
The policy or practice of acquiring control over another country, occupying it with settlers and exploiting it economically
Corporate Citizenship
The social responsibility of businesses and the extent to which they meet legal, ethical, and economic responsibilities
Disparity
A great difference
Equalization Payments
Money made from one province taken by the federal government and given to other provinces
Friedrich Hayek
An economist who believed the government should have little control in the economy
Have no provinces
Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI and Newfoundland and Labrador. The giver allocates equalization payments to them
Jean Chrétien
A former prime Minister of Canada
John Maynard Keynes
An economist who believed that when the economy is not doing well, the government should create programs to hire workers
Jodi Annan
Secretary General of the UN
Organization of oil exporting countries (OPEC)
The worlds largest oil exporting nation to coordinate oil exporting countries
The people paradox
People with less money in developing countries have more children in hopes that they can support them even though they can’t afford them
Planned obsolescence
A policy of producing consumer goods that rapidly become obsolete and require replacing
