Lecture 2, Thursday, September 6

WHAT KIND OF SOCIETY IS THE UNITED STATES?

3 Steps to answer the question3 Steps to answer the question

1.1.What are the main What are the main dimensionsdimensions in terms of in terms of which societies vary?which societies vary?

2.2.What are the main What are the main categoriescategories or or typestypes on on each dimension?each dimension?

3.3.Which of these types best describes the Which of these types best describes the United States?United States?

1. Technology2. The economy3. Economic Inequality4. Political Institutions5. Role of the Military6. Gender relations7. Social cleavages8. Immigration9. Culture10. Violence

Ten Dimensions on which Societies Vary

Other Dimensions?

Some points to emphasize

Technology: how do technologies vary?

1. Productivity2. Cost

Key theme: The US has achieved extraordinary levels of productivity

that open up huge new human possibilities, but the use of this productivity to enhance overall wellbeing is undermined by our institutions.

The Economy:Basic Definition of “Capitalism”

1)1) Production is for the market Production is for the market

2)2) Enterprises are privately owned and run for Enterprises are privately owned and run for profits. profits.

3)3) People who do not own enterprises earn their People who do not own enterprises earn their living by working as employees for privately living by working as employees for privately owned firms.owned firms.

What kind of capitalism?What kind of capitalism?

U.S. Capitalism = HYPER-CAPITALISMU.S. Capitalism = HYPER-CAPITALISM

powerful corporationspowerful corporations weak unionsweak unions relatively weak public regulation of marketsrelatively weak public regulation of markets very low taxationvery low taxation very high levels of economic inequalityvery high levels of economic inequality

Economic InequalityEconomic Inequality

Key themeKey theme: The US has the highest levels of economic

inequality of all developed economies.

Consequences:• Around 21% of children are poor in the US• Richest 1% of households have 190 times

more wealth than the median household• Things have gotten much more unequal in the

past three decades

Political InstitutionsPolitical InstitutionsThe U.S. has a democratic form of

government, but it is a relatively thin democracy

Key theme: As a society we spend more on political competition

than any other, and yet this yields only a thin

form of democracy. Why?

The Military and Global PowerThe Military and Global Power

Key Theme:The United States is a relatively militaristic society

and has generally adopted a militarily aggressive policy internationally. The U.S. has intervened militarily in more countries since WWII than any other nation.

GenderGender

Key theme: We are living in the midst of the most dynamic

and rapid transformation of gender relations in human history.

Social CleavageSocial Cleavage

Key theme: Racial inequality and racial cleavage remains a

deep and serious reality of American life in spite of the very real progress in the last half century.

CultureCultureCulture = shared patterns of beliefs and values

Important aspects of U.S. Culture: Pluralism and tolerance of diversity Individualism Community Religiosity Commercialism & consumerism Other aspects?