Nations and Society

Ethnicity, Nationality, Citizenship Ethnicity – specific attributes and societal institutions that make people culturally different from one another Ascription – institutionalizing and “passing down” of these attributes at birth Not inherently political

Ethnicity, Nationality, Citizenship National Identity – institution that binds people together through common political aspirations Implies a demand for freedom through sovereign self-rule Nationalism – pride in one’s people, belief in sovereign political destiny

Ethnicity, Nationality, Citizenship Citizenship – individual or group’s relationship to the state Individual swears allegiance, state provides rights in return Purely political, the basis for patriotism, or pride in the state itself

What Causes Ethnic and National Conflict? Top-Down View Conflict is created by elites Can be prevented by controlling political leaders who are responsible Use of outside force can be effective Bottom-Up View Conflict results from long-standing friction between groups Use of outside force will be useless

Development of Attitudes and Ideology Political Attitudes – views about the pace and scope of change between freedom and equality Radicals – dramatic, revolutionary change Liberals – evolutionary transformation Conservatives – skeptical of any change in existing institutions Reactionaries – seek to restore institutions that formerly existed

Development of Attitudes and Ideology Political Ideology – views about the fundamental goals of politics Liberalism – high priority on economic and personal political freedom Communism – believes people benefit only from economic equality, not freedom Social Democracy – strong emphasis on equality, but reserves a role for private ownership and market forces

Development of Attitudes and Ideology Political Ideology – views about the fundamental goals of politics Fascism – hostile to the ideas of equality and freedom, holds that people and groups can be classified as superior and inferior Anarchism – rejects the notion of the state altogether for the purpose of achieving true equality and freedom

Political Culture Political Culture – basic norms for political activity in a society determines what ideologies will dominate a political regime unique to each country or group

Changes in Political Culture Two arguments: Political culture is subject to change Global culture is “coming together” Modernization Globalization Democratization Post-modern, secular-rational values and self-expressionism will define values and cultures of the future

Changes in Political Culture Two arguments: Political culture is more resistant to change than other institutions Cultural identity will supplant ideology as the “dividing line” in global politics Intense changes in technology, globalization, will force societies to retreat into old identities as a source of constancy and certainty Sept. 11th attacks, Rise of Putin in Russia, evidence of this theory?