Sociology: Your Compass for a New World Your Compass for a New World Robert J. Brym and John Lie Wadsworth Group/Thomson Learning © 2003

Politics Chapter 11

Power and Democracy WThe Level of Democracy in a Society Depends on How Power Is Distributed. WPower Is the Ability to Control Others, Even Against Their Will. WWhen Power Is Concentrated in the Hands of Few People, Society Is Less Democratic.

Authority W Authority, or Legitimate Power, May Be One of Three Types WTraditional WCharismatic WLegal-rational

State and Civil Society WThe State Is the Set of Institutions That Specializes in the Exercise of Power and Authority WCivil Society Is the Private Sphere of Social Life. WTo a Degree, Citizens Control the State Through WPolitical Parties WLobbies WThe Mass Media WPublic Opinion WSocial Movements

The Institutions of State and Civil Society

Pluralism WPluralists Correctly Note That Democratic Politics Is About Negotiation and Compromise WThey Fail to Appreciate That Economically Advantaged Groups Have More Power Than Disadvantaged Groups

Percent of Political Activities Undertaken by Rich and Poor Americans, 1988 (in %) Percent Source: Verba, Schlozman, and Brady (1997). Activity R P R = rich (annual family income $125,000+) P = poor (annual family income < $15,000) R P

The Political Unity of BigBusiness, U.S.A., 1984 Percent of Electoral Races Source: Clawson, Neustadtl and Scott (1992: 160). divided predominant unified Degree of Business Unity

Elite Theory WElite Theorists Correctly Note That Power Is Concentrated in the Hands of Advantaged Groups WThey Fail to Appreciate How Variations in the Distribution of Power Influence Political Behavior and Public Policy

Power Resource and State-centered Theories WPower Resource Theorists Usefully Focus on Changes in the Distribution of Power in Society and Their Effects WThey Fail to Appreciate That State Institutions and Laws Also Affect Political Behavior and Public Policy  This Is the Focus of State-centered Theory

New Democracies WIn Many New Democracies, Citizens Enjoy Regular, Competitive Elections but Lack Legal Protection of Rights and Freedoms. WCitizens Win Legal Protections of Rights and Freedoms When WTheir Middle and Working Classes Become Large, Organized, and Prosperous WPowerful, Friendly, Pro-democratic Foreign States Support Them

The Three Waves of Democratization, Year Number of liberal democracies First wave Second wave Third wave Sources: Diamond (1996: 28); Huntington (1991: 26).

Electronic Democracy and Postmaterialsm WBelievers in Electronic Democracy and Postmaterialism Think the United States Has Reached a New and Higher Stage of Democratic Development  However, Enduring Social Inequalities Prevent Even the Most Advanced Democracies From Being Fully Democratic

The Class Cleavage in U.S. Presidential Elections, Election Year Index of Class Voting Source: Brooks and Manza (1997b).