INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY: POLITICS AND POWER SO310 Political Sociology Lecture 1.
Politics Politics is a social process through which people and groups acquire, exercise, maintain,...
-
Upload
willis-armstrong -
Category
Documents
-
view
214 -
download
0
Transcript of Politics Politics is a social process through which people and groups acquire, exercise, maintain,...
Politics• Politics is a social process through which
people and groups acquire, exercise, maintain, or lose power over others. (Sociology)
• Politics is the art or science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs.
• Politics is the activities or affairs engaged in by a government, politician, or political party.
“All politics is local”--Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr.
“Politics have appealed to me since I was at Oxford because they are exciting morning, noon, and night”-- Jeffrey Archer
Political Systems
• Authoritarian—power is monopolized by a small elite (or a single leader) who govern without constitutional limits and who recognize responsibility only to themselves rather than the general public
• Democratic—power is based on popular participation in decision making, where ultimate authority is vested in people
Authority and Power
• Authority is legitimate power that has widespread social approval and is obeyed because people believe that those who exercise it have a right to do so--or because people see no need or way to change it– Traditional—based on custom or habit– Legal-rational—based on rules, regulations, and
procedures– Charismatic—based on a leader’s personal
qualities– Expertise—derived from the possession of
specialized knowledge
Institutions
• Institution perpetuate ideologies, often, without conscious, explicit, or reasoned methodology, power and procedures become traditional—makes things seem natural—makes things invisible
Issues
• Issues influenced by politics do not stay confined to one area of the “pie;” they are complex—like humans– Abortion: Can be influenced by or
exercise influence upon all of these areas• Family• Religion• Work• School• Government• Media
Political Spectrum
• Continuum • Measures social or economic
issues• In the USA, these positions (in
totality) vary by state
Range of Political Ideas
• Far Left —Left—Middle—Right—Far Right• Extreme Liberal--------------Extreme
Conservative• Political Attitudes Change over Time
– Mid 1960s, majority of population leaned left• Civil Rights• Women’s Rights
– 1980s, majority shifted to right• Anti-ERA movement• Moral majority
Left Right
Variations in Political Ideas• By Time• By Region
– Massachusetts and Minnesota• Liberal
– Indiana and Texas• Conservative
• By Ethnicity and Religion– Jewish Liberal– Asians Conservative
• By Gender– Women are more liberal than men, especially
female feminists, and become more liberal as they age; men become more conservative as they age.
Social Liberals• Lean to the left (side of the continuum)• Shape their own lifestyles• Want freedom to decide on moral
questions• Favor expanding opportunities for
women• Pro-Choice• Propose [equal] rights for gay men and
lesbians
Social Conservatives
• On the right (side of the continuum)• Respect the traditional family
– Marriage forever– Children are valued but subordinate– Men at work, women at home
• Criticize too much individualism• Favor Pro-Life• Look to the past, to tradition, for answers
Economic• Decisions about how a society should distribute its
material resources– How much control government should have– How much social inequality there should be
• Liberals favor government regulation of the economy to reduce inequality– Free-market, laissez-faire is BAD– Higher minimum wage and high taxes on rich to pay
for social services for the poor• Conservatives want limited government role
– Market sets wage levels– Want lower tax rates so people keep more of their
earnings and take responsibility for themselves
Existing Political System
• Both Liberal and Conservatives want changes to occur within the current system
• Radicals, those “off the spectrum,” want change of the system, itself– Extremely liberal or extremely conservative
Demographics of Representation
• Blacks in the 108th Congress – 39 in House: 39 Democrats; 0 in Senate
• Hispanics in the 108th Congress– 25 in House: 5 Republicans, 20 Democrats; 0 in Senate
• Asians and Pacific Islanders in the 108th Congress– 5 in House: 5Democrats; 2 in Senate: 2 Democrats
• American Indians in the 108th Congress– 2 in House: 1 Democrat, 1 Republican; 1 in Senate: 1
Republican
• Women in the 108th Congress– 62 in House: 21Republicans, 41 Democrats; 14 in
Senate: 5 Republicans, 9 Democrats– Of these 62, approximately 12 are also Black and 7 are also
Hispanic
Abortion Controversy
• Liberals: Legal access to abortion is the key to women having control over their bodies (economy, career, etc.) during childbearing years and for their entire life.– Establishes independence from men when
they (women) have more income earning opportunities.
Abortion Controversy
• Conservatives: Killing of unborn children; the issue is a matter of life and death– Nothing to do with economics or
independence
Mild Statistics
• A typical woman receiving an abortion:– Is in her 20s– Has already had one– Is probably white (58%)– Is unmarried (81%)
Social
– Political debates about moral judgments about how people should live
Feminism Abortion Homosexual Marriages Death Penalty
–Liberals –Favor expanding opportunities for women–Pro-choice–Greater rights for homosexuals
–Conservatives–Want women to stick to , embrace, and enjoy traditional roles–Pro-Life–Homosexuals should choose traditional roles–Endorse Death Penalty
Politics by Demographics
• High Education, Good Wealth lead to “good” social position– Tend to be Liberal, more tolerant of difference in
lifestyles
• Little Education, Little Wealth tend to have “lower” social position– Tend to be conservative on social issues– Tend to be liberal on economic issues
• Very little difference in the way men and women vote or make decisions. • Social position determines political ideology.