politics, states and the economy

2.  Distinguish between authority and coercion.
 Know the basic features of capitalism and
distinguish between capitalism, socialism, and
democratic socialism.
 Describe the basic features of political democracy.
 Contrast the functionalist and conflict theory views
of the state.

3.  POLITICS
◦ DEF: The process by which power is distributed
and decisions are made.
Max Weber (1958a)-POWER
DEF: The ability to carry out one person’s or
group’s will, even in the presence of resistance or
opposition from others.

4. ◦ Power is an important part of many types
of relationships that covers a broad
spectrum of interactions.
◦ AUTHORITY— DEF: power that is regarded
as legitimate by those over whom it is
exercised.
◦ - Also accept the authority’s
legitimacy in imposing sanctions
 COERCION - DEF: Power that is regarded
as illegitimate by those over whom it is
exerted.

6.  Remember authority is the legitimate
exercise of power.
 Legal Rational Authority is derived from the
understanding that specific individuals have
clearly defined rights and duties to uphold
and implement rules and procedures
impersonally.

7. ◦ Traditional Authority is rooted in the
assumption that the customs of the past
legitimate the present—that things are as
they always have been and basically
should remain that way.
◦ - A particular family or group has
always ruled the society

8.  Charismatic Authority is derived from a
ruler’s ability to inspire passion and devotion
among followers.
 Weber noted that a charismatic leader—who
often emerges during a period of crisis—can
emerge when/if followers:
◦ Perceive a leader as somehow supernatural
◦ Blindly believe the leader’s statements
◦ Unconditionally comply with the leader’s directives
◦ Give the leader unqualified emotional commitment.

9.  DEF: State is the institutionalized way of
organizing power within territorial limits.
◦ Functions of the State (for society)
◦ establishing laws and norms
◦ providing social control
◦ ensuring economic stability
◦ setting goals
◦ protecting against outside threats.

10.  Remember states are a method of
organizing power within an area.

11.  AUTOCRACY
Ultimate authority and rule of the government rest
with one person, who is the chief source of laws
and the major agent of social control.
TOTALITARIANISM
◦ One group has virtually total control of the nation’s
social institutions.

12.  Under totalitarian rule, several elements
interact to concentrate political power.
◦ A single political party
◦ The use of terror
◦ The control of the media
◦ Control over the military apparatus
◦ Control of the economy
◦ An elaborate ideology

13. DEMOCRACY
◦ Comes from the Greek words demos, meaning
“people,” and kratia, meaning “authority.”
◦ Refers to a political system operating under the
principles of constitutionalism, representative
government, majority rule, civilian rule, and
minority rights.

14.  Constitutionalism - means that
government power is limited.
 Representative government - The
authority to govern is achieved through, and
legitimized by, popular elections.
◦ Majority Rule – Due to size the populace
cannot rule directly, the state must have the
support of the majority of them through the vote

15.  FUNCTIONALISTS
◦ Maintain that the state emerged because society
grew so large and complex that only a
specialized, central institution could manage
society’s increasingly complicated and
intertwined institutions
◦ CONFLICT THEORISTS
◦ The state emerged to allow the ruling class to
protect their position in society. This is evidenced
by early state laws that protected person and
property of the upper class.

17. DEF: An economic system based on private
ownership of the means of production, and in
which resource allocation depends largely on
market forces.
Capitalism has four features (Adam Smith):
- Private property
- Freedom of choice
- Freedom of competition
- Freedom from government interference.

18.  Economic system in which the sources of
production—including factories, raw materials, and
transportation and communication systems—are
collectively owned.
 The economy is generally planned by a central
authority instead of relying on market forces.
 The government controls what, and how much, of
various commodities are produced

19.  Convergence of capitalist and socialist economic
theory in which the state assumes ownership of
strategic industries and services, but allows other
enterprises to remain in private hands.
 This convergence can start from the capitalist
side (Britain, Europe) or from the socialist side
(Russia, China)

20. CAPITALIST CRITIQUE OF SOCIALISM
◦ There is no Incentive to Increase
Production
◦ Waste of Resources
◦ Over-regulation and Inflexibility
◦ Corruption of Power
◦ MARXIST CRITIQUE OF CAPITALISM
◦ Capitalism causes workers to be alienated
from their labor and their jobs
◦ It produces a small group of well-to-do
people
◦ The profit motive in capitalism forces ever
greater cost cutting – including labor

21.  TWO PARTY SYSTEM
 VOTING BEHAVIOR
 ROLE OF THE MEDIA
 SPECIAL INTERESTS

22.  TWO PARTY SYSTEM
 - Can limit minority participation/representation
 - Requires alliances within parties instead of
between parties, this can dilute core values
 - Requires parties to tilt towards the middle of
the political spectrum for support
 - As a result candidates, especially presidential,
often change their stance for general elections
 VOTING BEHAVIOR - TABLE 15-1 (pg 356)

23.  The Role of the Media
◦ In the beginning stages of presidential nomination
campaigns the media decides how much coverage to give
to a candidate (EX: Ron Paul)
◦ The media decide which of many possible interpretations to
give to campaign events.
◦ The media exercise discretion in how favorably candidates
are presented in the news.
◦ Newspaper editors and publishers may officially endorse a
candidate.

24.  SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
 Lobbying/Lobbyists – Individuals who
represent interest groups
◦ Attempts by special-interest groups to influence
government policy.
 Political Action Committees (PACS)
Special-Interest groups
◦ They are organized for the purpose of raising and
spending money to elect and defeat candidates.