1. Politics and Government
Macionis, Sociology, Chapter Seventeen

2. Politics & Government Politics Government Power
The social institution that distributes power, sets a society’s agenda, and makes decisions
Government
A formal organization that directs the political life of a society
Power
The ability to achieve desired ends despite resistance from others

3. Authority Power People Perceive As Legitimate, Not Coercive
Traditional
Power legitimized through respect for long established cultural patterns
Rational-legal
Power legitimized by legally enacted rules and regulations
Charismatic
Power legitimized through extraordinary personal abilities that inspire devotion and obedience

4. The Monarchy RULE BY A SINGLE FAMILY OVER GENERATIONS TYPICAL OF ANCIENT AGRARIAN SOCIETIES
Absolute Monarchy
Rulers monopolizing power based on divine right
Modern Example: Saudi Arabia
Constitutional Monarchies
Modern-day monarchies
More figure head than ruler
Political principles rule
Elected official actually rules
Modern Example: Great Britain, Spain, Denmark, etc

5. Democracy Linked to Rational-legal Authority
Democracy – A political system which gives power to the people as a whole
Representative Democracy – Authority in hands of elected leaders, accountable to the people
The U.S. Is not truly democratic (power-elite)
extensive use of unelected bureaucratic officials
rich have more political clout than poor
Capitalist societies claim to be democratic because of personal liberties while socialist countries claim to be democratic because of economic equality

6. Other Forms of Government
Authoritarianism
A political system that denies popular participation in government
Totalitarianism
A highly centralized political system (concentrates all power) that extensively regulates people’s lives

7. Lobbies Special Interest Groups
Political alliance of people interested in some economic or social issue
NRA, AARP, AFL-CIO, ACLU, Christian Coalition
Political Action Committees
Organizations formed by special interest groups, independent of political parties, to pursue political aims by raising and spending money

8. Theoretical Analysis Pluralist model The power-elite model
Power is dispersed among many competing interests groups
The power-elite model
“Real” power is concentrated among the very rich in America
Can the wealthiest in America ever encounter pressure to not act in their own best interests?
Marxist model
Power is divided along the lines of a political economy
Bias is rooted within the nation’s social institutions
Revolution is the only answer

9. Political Revolution
Political Revolution – The overthrow of a political order in order to establish another
Coup d’etat – one leader disposing another
Political Revolutions have common traits
Rising expectations
Tend to happen when quality of life is improving
Unresponsive government
Government unwilling or unable to reform
Radical leadership by intellectuals
Revolution is often “university centered” students play crucial role
Establishing new legitimacy
Guarding against the counterrevolution

10. Characteristics of Terrorism
Acts of violence, or the threat of violence, employed by an individual or a group as a political strategy
Define violence as a legitimate political tactic while bypassing established channels of negotiation
Used by governments as well as individuals
State Terrorism – use of violence generally without the support of law, by government officials
Democratic countries are especially vulnerable to terrorism
It is a matter of definition, one person’s terrorist is another's freedom fighter

11. Reducing Chances For War and Increasing Chances Of Peace
Deterrence
Balance of power between societies
High-technology defense
Strategic defense initiative
Diplomacy and disarmament
Keep talking about reducing arms
Resolving underlying conflict
Increase spending on promoting peace rather than building up military

12. View life through the eyes of a happy, optimistic child
“Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles, it empties today of its strength.” Author Unknown