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social institutions

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major spheres of social life or societal subsystems organized to meet human needs.

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economy

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the social institution that organizes a society's production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

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agricultural revolution

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agricultural technology, specialized work, permanent settlements, and trade

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Industrial revolution

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1. new sources of energy 2. centralization of work in factories 3. manufacturing and mass production 4. specialization 5. wage labor

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postindustrial economy

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productive system based on service work and computer technology

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the information revolution

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1. from tangible products to ideas 2. from mechanical skills to literacy skills 3. from factories to almost anywhere

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primary sector

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part of the economy that draws raw materials from the natural environment agriculture, raising animals, fishing, forestry, and mining- largest in low income nations, 25% of economic output of low income nations is in primary sector, compared to 10% in middle income nations and 1% in high income countries.

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secondary sector

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part of the economy that transforms raw materials into manufactured goods. refining petroleum into gasoline, turning metals into tools and automobiles. Just about all of the world's countries have a significant share of workers employed in the secondary sector. Accounts for nearly the same share of economic output in low income nations as in high income countries.

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tertiary sector

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part of the economy that involves services rather than goods. Accounts for 50% of economic output in low income countries, 55% in middle income countries, and 75% in high income countries. More than 80% of the U.S. labor force is service work, secretarial and clerical jobs, food service, sales, law, health care, advertising, and teaching.

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global economy

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economic activity that crosses national borders. five major consequences 1. global division of labor- different regions of the world specialize in one sector of economic activity. 2. an increasing number of products pass through more than one nation 3. National governments no longer control the economic activity that takes place within their borders. 4. A small number of businesses operating internationally now control a vast share of the world's economic activity. The 1,500 largest multinational companies account for half of the world's economic output. 5. the globalization of the economy raises concerns about the rights and opportunities of workers. The global expansion of capitalism threatens the well being of workers throughout the world.

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capitalism

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an economic system in which natural resources and the means of producing goods and services are privately owned. Three features: 1. Private ownership of property 2. Pursuit of personal profit 3. Competition and consumer choice (laissez faire economy) justice amounts to marketplace freedom

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socialism

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an economic system in which natural resources and the means of producing goods and services are collectively owned. rejects the three characteristics of capitalism in favor of three opposite features: 1. collective ownership of property 2. pursuit of collective goals 3. government control of the economy justice is meeting everyone's needs in an equal manner

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welfare capitalism

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an economic and political system that combines a mostly market based economy with extensive social welfare programs. Greece, Sweden, Denmark, Italy

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state capitalism

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an economic and political system in which companies are privately owned but cooperate closely with the government. Japan, South Korea, Singapore

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GDP

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gross domestic product, the total value of all goods and services produced within the nation's borders each year. the output of capitalist countries in the late 1980's was 13,500 socialist countries was 5,000.

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Economic Equality

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capitalist economies generate a higher standard of living but with greater economic inequality, socialist economies generate a lower standard of living but with more equality.

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personal freedom

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capitalism emphasizes the freedom to pursue self interests socialism emphasizes freedom from basic want

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reasons for change

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1. Capitalist economies were far more productive than their socialist counterparts. 2. Soviet socialism was heavy handed, controlling the media and restricting individual freedoms. 2010 highest growth nations were Turkey, Belarus, and Moldava. Countries moving towards socialism include Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. The people want more equality.

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Statistics

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141 million people 59% age 16 and over, are working. 64% of men, 53% of women, 57.8 of African American men, 68.9 of whites and 73.7 of Hispanics. 54 of African American women, 55.3 of whites, and 53.2 of Hispanics. 59.9% of Asians are unemployed.

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labor unions

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organizations that seek to improve wages and working conditions through various strategies, including negotiations and strikes. Decline of unions Shrinking industrial sector Service jobs are unlikely to be unionized

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profession

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a prestigious white collar occupation that requires extensive formal education. Occupation is considered a profession to the extent that it demonstrates four basic characteristics: 1. Theoretical knowledge 2. Self regulating practice 3. Authority over clients 4. Community orientation rather than self interest

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self employment

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earning a living without being on the payroll of a large organization. More likely to have blue collar than white collar jobs.

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unemployment

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since 1980, the 500 largest U.S. companies eliminated more than 5 million jobs while creating even more new ones. the number of unemployed exceeds 20 million. The rate for African Americans is twice the rate for whites. the median length has increased to 21.6 weeks, the mean length is 40.9 weeks Underemployment is also on the rise, 30% of part time workers are there unvoluntarily.

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jobless recovery

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1. companies are finding ways to operate with a smaller workforce, 2. more companies have opened factories and office hubs abroad 3. the U.S. economy is not growing fast enough- for every new job available, there are 5 people looking for work 4. U.S. workers are too expensive and not highly skilled enough

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diversity

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the population of African American laborers is expanding faster than whites. Asian Americans is even faster.

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information technology

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1. computers are deskilling labor 2. computers are making work more abstract 3. computers limit workplace interaction 4. computers increase employers' control of workers. 5. computers allow companies to relocate work

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corporation

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an organization with a legal existence, including rights and liabilities, separate from that of its members

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conglomerates

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giant corporations composed of many smaller corporations

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interlocking directorates

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networks of people who serve as directors of many corporations

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monopoly

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domination of a market by a single producer

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oligopoly

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domination of a market by a few producers. the huge investment needed to enter a major market is beyond reach of all but the largest companies. competition means risk, which big business tries to avoid.

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government intervention

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1. claim the market has incentives to produce only what is profitable 2. the market has certain self destructive tendencies only yhe government can curb 3. the market magnifies social inequality.

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politics

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the social institution that distributes power, sets a society's goals, and makes decisions.

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power

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the ability to achieve desired ends despite resistance from others

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government

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a formal organization that directs the political life of a society.

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authority

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power that people perceive as legitimate rather than coercive

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traditional authority

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power legitimized by respect for long established cultural patterns

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rational legal authority

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sometimes called bureaucratic authority, power legitimized by legally enacted rules and regulations

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charismatic authority

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power legitimized by extraordinary personal abilities that inspire devotion and obedience.

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routinization of charisma

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the transformation of charismatic authority into some combination of traditional and bureaucratic authority.

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monarchy

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a political system in which a single family rules from generation to generation. commonly found in agrarian societies, today, 26 nations have royal families.

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constitutional monarchies

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monarchs are symbolic heads of state

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democracy

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a political system that gives power to the people as a whole

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authoritarianism

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a political system that denies the people participation in government Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Ethiopia

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totalitarianism

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a highly centralized political system that extensively regulates people's lives Vietnam, North Korea

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global politics

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the United Nations, founded in 1945 has had limited political power. Multinational corporations represent a new political order, politics is dissolving into business. The Information Revolution has moved national politics onto the world stage. nongovernmental organizations seek to advance global issues

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welfare state

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a system of government agencies and programs that provides benefits to the population. 1 in 6 people is a government employee, the budget is 3.7 trillion, or 11,964 for every person in the country

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political spectrum

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1/4 of adults fall on the liberal "left" side, 1/3 on the conservative "right" side, 40% are moderates. liberals support extensive government regulation and a larger welfare state with the goals of meeting everyone's basic needs and reducing income inequality. conservatives want to limit the hand of government and maximize individual liberty social liberals support equal rights, social conservatives support traditional gender roles. African Americans, Latinos, Asians, and Jews are more liberal, also so are women people in urban areas are Democrat, while those in rural areas are Republican

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special interest group

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people organized to address some economic or social issue D.C. has 12,220 lobbyists political action committees are formed by special interest groups to raise and spend money in support of political aims, channel most of their funds to candidates most likely to support them. More than 4500 special interest groups. strong in nations where political parties tend to be weak

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voter apathy

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women are more likely to vote, as are people over 65, non Hispanic Whites, homeowners, parents of young children, people with extensive schooling and good jobs, people earning more than 75,000

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criminals

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people in jail can't vote except Vermont and Maine. 30 states don't allow voting while on probation after committing a felony, 35 while on parole. 2 states ban voting after completed sentences. Convicted felons show a preference for Democrats

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pluralist theory

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an analysis of politics that sees power as spread among many competing interest groups

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power elite theory

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an analysis of politics that sees power as concentrated among the rich coined by C. Wright Mills, the economy, the government, and the military

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marxist political economy theory

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an analysis that explains politics in terms of the operation of a society's economic system. sees bias rooted in institutions, especially the economy

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political revolution

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the overthrow of one political system in order to establish another 1. Rising expectations 2. Unresponsive Government 3. Radical leadership by intellectuals 4. Establishing new legitimacy

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terrorism

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acts of violence or the threat of violence used as a political strategy by an individual or group.

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Johnson

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terrorism has four distinguishing characteristics: 1. terrorists try to paint violence as a legitimate political tactic. A weak organization's strategy against a stronger enemy. 2. terrorism is used not just by groups but by governments against their own people (state terrorism) 3. democratic societies reject the terrorism in principle, but are vulnerable because of broad civil liberties. 4. terrorism is a matter of definition.

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war

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organized, armed conflict among the people of two or more nations, directed by their governments. more than 1.3 million Americans have been killed in armed conflict five factors: 1. perceived threats 2. social problems 3. political objectives 4. moral objectives 5. the absence of alternatives

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military industrial complex

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the close association of the federal government, the military, and defense industries.

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pursuing peace

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1. deterrence. 2. high technology defense 3. diplomacy and disarmament 4. resolving underlying conflict

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the underground economy

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Most of us occasionally participate in the underground economy in small ways Much of the underground economy is due to criminal activity Largest segment: people who fail to report legally earned income on their tax returns

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new information technology

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Computers are de-skilling labor Computers are making work more abstract Computers limit workplace interaction Computers increase employers' control of workers Computers allow companies to relocate work

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nuclear weapons

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Nuclear proliferation-Acquisition of nuclear weapons technology by more & more nations The costs and causes of militarism Military-industrial complex-Association of federal govt, military, & defense industry Regional conflict as reason for militarism

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mass media

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The power of the mass media to provide selective information to a worldwide audience Means television & other media are almost as important to the outcome of a conflict as the Military that is doing the actual fighting

Sociology Chapter 12 Economics and Politics – Flashcards

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