politics & the economy_ch11

8/12/2019 Politics & the Economy_ch11

1/17

Copyright (c) 2002 by Allyn & Bacon 1

Essentials of SociologyFourth Edition

Chapter ElevenPolitics and the Economy

Leadership and Work in the

Global VillageThis multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law:

any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network:

preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images;

any rental, lease, or lending of the program.


2/17


Chapter Overview

Power, Authority,

and Violence

Types ofGovernment

The U.S. Political

System

Who Rules the

U.S.?

The Transformation

of Economic

Systems World Economic

Systems

Capitalism in a

Global Economy


3/17


Power, Authority, and

Violence

*Power- the ability

to get your way,

even over the

resistance of others. *Authority -

legitimate power,as

pointed out by Max

Weber

Coercion -

illegitimate power

that people do not

accept as just.


4/17



5/17


Types of Authority

Traditional

authority- based

on custom.

Rational- Legal

authority- based

on written rules.

Charismatic

authority- based

on an individualsoutstanding traits,

which attract

followers.


6/17


Types of Government

*Monarchies- when a king or queen has theright to rule. This form of government wasutilized by early city states.

Democ racies - a system of government inwhich authority derives from the people.

Dictatorsh ip - power is seized by anindividual.

**Oligarchy- when a small group seizespower.


7/17


The U.S. Political System

By the time of the Civil War, two partiesdominated U.S. politics; the Republicans andDemocrats.

Voting increases with age and education,employment, and income.

The most likely voters are those who feel they

have a stake in the political system. Those least likely to vote are poor, younger,

less educated, unemployed Latinos.

Voter Apathy results in indifference and

inaction on the part of individuals or groups in


8/17



9/17


Who Rules the United States?

The Funct ional is t

v iew:

Pluralism- adiffusion of power

among many

interest groups that

prevents any onegroup from gaining

control.

The Con f l ict View :

**The Power Elite-

the top leaders whowield power and

make decisions that

direct the country.


10/17



11/17


The Transformation of

Economic Systems Economy- a system of producing and

distributing goods and services.

The economy has changed over time:

**(1)a subsistence economy

(2)industrial societies

(3)postindustrial societies a global village- the worlds nations linked by

fast communications, transportation, and trade.


12/17


Ominous Trends in the U.S.

Many Americans

find their standard of

living declining. The income

inequality gap has

increased.

Americans are

saving less.

The U.S. used to be

the worlds largest

creditor, now it is thelargest debtor.

Some fear that we

may end up with a

two-thirds society.


13/17


World Economic Systems

Capitalism **Capitalism- (1) private ownership,

(2)market competition, and (3) the

pursuit of profit. The U.S. is an example of welfare or

state capitalism- private citizens own

the means of production, but they do sowithin a vast system of laws. This form

of capitalism tends to lead to inequality.


14/17


World Economic Systems

Socialism Socialism- (1) public ownership of the

means of production, (2) central

planning, (3) the distribution of goodswithout a profit motive.

A central committee decides supply and

demand. It is designed to eliminate competition.

Everyone works for the government.


15/17



16/17


Capitalism in a Global

Economy

The dominance of

capitalism is rooted

in a social inventioncalled the

corporation.

Corporation - a

business that istreated in law as a

person.

Corporate

capitalism- how

corporations now

dominate the

economy.

Multinational

corporations-corporations that

operate across

national borders.


17/17


politics & the economy_ch11

Documents