1. Politics and Government
Sociology, Tenth Edition

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

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
Routinization of charisma
The transformation of charismatic authority into some combination of traditional and bureaucratic authority
Sociology, Tenth Edition

4. Evolution of Political Systems
Hunting and Gathering
Like family: specialized roles
Agrarian Societies
Small elite gaining power
Political States
Restricted governing
Modern Nation-States
Modern technology brought about larger-scale political systems referred to as nation-states
Sociology, Tenth Edition

5. Sociology, Tenth Edition
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
Sociology, Tenth Edition

6. 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
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
Sociology, Tenth Edition

7. Global Map 17-1 Political Freedom in Global Perspective
Sociology, Tenth Edition

8. Sociology, Tenth Edition
Other Forms
Authoritarianism
A political system that denies popular participation in government
Totalitarianism
A highly centralized political system that extensively regulates people’s lives
Sociology, Tenth Edition

9. Sociology, Tenth Edition
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
Sociology, Tenth Edition

10. Sociology, Tenth Edition
Theoretical Analysis
Pluralist 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
Sociology, Tenth Edition

11. Sociology, Tenth Edition
Critical Evaluation
Research evidence can be cited that supports all there perspectives. In conclusion what we can say is:
Nearly all are allowed to participate in the political process, but large numbers don’t
Major parties and their candidates tend to be supported and support capitalist interests of the powerful few
Third parties are marginalized and excluded from major debates
Sociology, Tenth Edition

12. Sociology, Tenth Edition
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
Sociology, Tenth Edition

13. 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
Sociology, Tenth Edition

14. Quincy Wright’s Five Factors That Promote War
Perceived threats
Threats to people and territory
Social problems
Internal problems and frustration
Political objectives
Show of force and protecting one’s own property
Moral objectives
Rallying people around morality
Absence of alternatives
Limited options
Sociology, Tenth Edition

15. Figure 17-4 Deaths of Americans in Eleven U.S. Wars
Sociology, Tenth Edition

16. Sociology, Tenth Edition
Militarism
The worlds nations spend $1 trillion annually
$ for every person on earth
The politics of war
Military industrial complex – the close association between the federal government, the military, and the defense industry
Follow the money and the careers of pentagon officials after they leave the military as see where the two end up
Nuclear weapons
25,000 warheads worldwide
Nuclear proliferation – the acquisition of nuclear-weapon technology by more and more nations
Sociology, Tenth Edition

17. 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
Sociology, Tenth Edition