SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS TARGETS ABILITIES The learning competency is to: Explain the forms and functions of state and non-state institutions. When you have finished this Module, you should be able to: A. identify forms of social, cultural, and political institutions in the society; B. discuss different social, cultural, and political institutions and the issues concerning them; and, C. discuss how these social, cultural, and political institutions affect the lives of people. Welcome back to yet another lesson! This Module, as you have learned earlier is all about how the society is organized. In the previous lesson, you found out that the society is organized according to social relationships and patterns of interactions. Specifically, you learned about social groups and its forms and functions. You also got to unlock some important concepts, like organization and institution, that help us make sense of how the society is organized. What knowledge will you possibly gain in this next lesson? Answer the activity below to elicit prior knowledge. Brace yourself because this topic is quite a volume. ACTIVITY 2-2 You may choose to watch a video on the topic before you dive deeper into the lessons. Scan the QR code on the right. REQUIRED READINGS In Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics by Antonio Contreras, (et al., 2016) refer to the entirety of Chapter 5, “How Society is Organized” for an exhaustive discussion of these institutions. KNOW MORE In the last lesson, we defined what an institution is. To recap, institutions are “well-established and structured relationships between groups of people that are considered fundamental components of a society’s culture” Simply put, institutions are enduring and long-lasting patterns of meeting basic social needs. Resources other than your textbook was used. FAMILY, KINSHIP, AND MARRIAGE (start at page 148) Family is considered the basic unit of society. It varies across cultures and it changes over time. As this institution is present in known human societies, it is fundamental to human existence (Amper et al, 2016). Not only is it important to individuals, but it is also essential to the entire society where community actually originates (Aguilar et al, 2016). Family is considered the basic unit of the society. It is defined as a “social group characterized by common residence, economic cooperation, and reproduction” (George Peter Murdock). Kapistahan by Michael Perez Blanco It is an arena that performs vital functions: socialization, provision of love and affection, reproduction, regulation of sexual behavior, and an economic unit. Kinship is a system of building socially acceptable connections or relations through blood (consanguineal), marriage (affinal), adoption, and others. Photo from LoveMindanao.com Marriage involves a man and a woman entering a family life. It is a sociallyrecognized process wherein the couple issues a public, official, and permanent declaration of intimate union and long-term responsibilities together. POLITICAL AND LEADERSHIP STRUCTURES (start at page 160) Political structures developed through time due to several trends: increased population density, large surplus of resources and wealth, greater social inequality, increased internal and external conflict, and others. In the process, political organizations are created (Atienza et al, 2016). Political organizations are defined by anthropologists as “groups within a culture that are responsible for public decision-making and leadership, maintaining social cohesion and order, protecting group rights, and ensuring safety from external threats” (Atienza et al, 2016). Photo taken from http://clipart-library.com/clipart/263520.htm Political leadership is necessary to organize political communities. A political leader must, therefore, possess authority that is considered legitimate by the members of the community. Power refers to the ability to do something in order to achieve a desired outcome, even if there is resistance or opposition from others. Photo taken from https://toppng.com/raised-fist-symbolclip-art-black-power-fist-PNG-free-PNG-Images_163687 Authority is legitimate power. It is the ability to make binding decisions and issue commands. It is the power vested or placed in someone people agree to follow. For authority to be stable, it has to be legitimate. Photo taken from https://webstockreview.net/explore/responsibility-clipart-authority-responsibility/ Legitimacy is a moral and ethical principle which bestows the one who possesses power the right to exercise such power, like to demand obedience. It is broadly defined as “rightfulness”. It is not just easily acquired by someone who has authority. Photo taken from https://www.dreamstime.com/illustration/legitimacy.html References: (Atienza et al, 2016) (Amper et al, 2016) ECONOMIC INSTITUTIONS (start at page 171) Economic institutions make it possible for us to engage with each other as producers and consumers of goods and services. These institutions make it possible for economic activities to happen, like production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. These institutions make it possible to transform human capital into services that we provide for our comfort and convenience. Nonmarket institutions consist of economic patterns that have no need for cash as an exchange for goods and services. Reciprocity happens when there is an exchange of goods or labor between individuals in a community. Transfer takes place in redistribution of income that is not matched by actual exchange of goods and services. Redistribution is a combination of both reciprocity and transfer where goods collected from members of a community are pooled and redistributed among the same members Photos were taken respectively from https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-illustration-barter-commerce-trade-transaction-economic-concept-exchange-swap-goods-drawing-illustration-vector-image75029629 https://wingsmuseum.org/give/request-donation/donation-icon/ https://www.iconfinder.com/icons/4892795/redistribute_utilize_process_business_outsource_management_global_collaboration_icon Market institutions involve patterns that allow for economic actors like sellers to offer their goods or services (including labor) in exchange for money from buyers. Market system is a type of economic system allowing the free flow of goods between and among private individuals and firms with very limited government interventions. State-market relationships involve the government in the market. The state regulates the prices to protect public interest, regulate the price of the service rendered by wage-earners. In general, the state acts on the protection of the workers and consumers. International trade makes it possible to address the issue of uneven distribution of economic resources within countries, as some countries are better endowed with natural, capital, or human resources. It enables nations to increase total output. Photos were taken respectively from https://www.iconfinder.com/icons/5024860/economic_capitalism_economic_system_free_market_market_economy_icon https://forum.susana.org/167-market-development-in-action/13997-finding-a-new-icon-for-our-grey-category-on-markets-finance-and-governance-conclusion-reached https://iconscout.com/icon/international-trade-1842006 Reference: (Contreras et al, 2016) NON-STATE INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS (start at page 185) Private actors and non-state sectors also perform roles that complement the state and the markets. Non-state institutions are also key players in state or market-related activities. Market or economic organizations include corporations, financial institutions, cooperatives, and unions. They are also responsible for coordinating the other factors of production – land, labor, and capital. Civil society organizations are entities that are nongovernmental, nonprofits, and not-for-profits formed by extremely diverse and numerous groups, like academic and science-based organizations, mass media, religious organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and people’s organizations. Advocacy groups, also called special interest groups, use various forms of advocacy in order to influence public opinion and policy. Members of these groups advance a common political, economic, or social interest those interests through the political process. Global or international organizations operate to influence the development of entire countries. They could serve many functions like collecting information and monitoring trends, delivering services and aid, providing forums for bargaining, and settling. These organizations foster cooperative behavior amongst countries. Development agencies are agencies that outline courses of actions responding to the challenges of development, and providing aid to address issues on climate change, food, security, and financial instability among others in developing countries. Photos were taken respectively from https://www.dreamstime.com/business-marketplace-organization-data-online-market-flat-color-icon-vector-image148482586 https://europeanwesternbalkans.com/2019/04/15/role-civil-society-western-balkans/ https://ssir.org/civil_society_for_the_21st_century https://www.iconfinder.com/icons/1209817/united_business_global_trade_international_organization_charity_icon https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/312718767866661066/ Reference: (Contreras et al, 2016) RELIGION AND BELIEF SYSTEMS (start at page 218) Religion is believed to be interconnected with culture, for they represent vast and complex developments in a society’s cultural belief systems. Beliefs of religious groups affect the behavior of their members, and contribute to social inequality and social change. Church is an institutional organization considered as the most recognized religious organization. It is embodied by a hierarchical structure with a professional class making up the bureaucracy of the church, and a set of rules and regulations governing the organization. Denomination are organizations less formal than the church. Membership is gained by recruitment and conversion of members from other churches and denominations. Sect is considered less formal than the churches and denominations. Sects promote strict religious doctrines which shall be incorporated in all aspects of the member’s life, and reject religious pluralism. Photo taken from https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/religion-icon Cults are composed of small and localized communities led by charismatic figures who exercise absolute control over the members. Their doctrines are usually outside mainstream religious traditions. They are referred to as “new religions” by social scientists. Photo taken from https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/best-cult-movies-documentary-wild-wild-country/ Separation of Church and State is a concept which puts forward that the State cannot dictate a person’s religion, and also cannot intervene or disrupt the religious practices of Filipinos. Likewise, the Church cannot intervene with the political affairs of the State. In the Philippines, this law is inviolable (Article II, Section 6). Photo taken from https://honorscollege.uark.edu/programs/honors-college-seminars/signature-seminars/church-and-state.php Reference: (Contreras et al, 2016) HEALTH SYSTEMS (start at page 231) Wellness and illness are also social, cultural, and political constructs as much as they are scientific. Traditional or alternative health systems still exist even if health systems today are anchored in health sciences. In cultures around the world, health systems have culture-specific syndromes and systems of diagnosis. In the Philippines we have usog and bughat as examples of diagnosis. Usog Leaves in concoction for bughat Photos were taken respectively from http://philurbanlegends.blogspot.com/2013/05/usog-myth-or-real.html http://tensilestrength.blogspot.com/2010/04/binat-bughat-and-other-post-partum.html It is also the concern of every society to make health a human right, and to determine what prevents people from achieving good health and accessing adequate healthcare services. Every society must ensure that the following standards for healthcare systems are observed: 1. universal access 2. availability 3. acceptability and dignity 4. quality 5. non-discrimination 6. transparency 7. participation Reference: (Contreras et al, 2016) Photo taken from https://www.dreamstime.com/medical-health-care-icon-set-sing-symbol-medical-icon-set-vector-medical-service-iconshealthcare-service-image146661862 EDUCATION To be discussed in Lesson #8 Let us take note of this: As societies are not created equal, one society may vary from another in the way it addresses the needs of people. Nonetheless, all societies establish institutions in whatever form they may be to meet people’s basic needs. EDUCATION AS AN INSTITUTION TARGETS ABILITIES The learning competency is to: Examine the functions and importance of education in the society. When you have finished this Module, you should be able to: A. describe education as an institution; B. discuss the major functions of education; and, C. explain how education affects the lives of people in the society. ACTIVITY 3-1 Below is an outline of a schoolhouse with its features. Write a word or phrase in the boxes things that you normally learn from these areas in school. Meanwhile, write the things you normally learn outside the school environment outside the outline of the school house. SCHOOLHOUSE Classroom Sports Complex Chapel As you were answering the activity, I know you were able to gain some ideas about what this lesson could be. As an institution, education formally socializes members of the society, and it also something we, as Filipinos, consider as vital to fulfilling our needs. Let’s find out how. REQUIRED READINGS In Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics by Antonio Contreras, (et al., 2016) refer to pages 208-216, “How Society is Organized” to know more about these institutions. KNOW MORE KEY CONCEPTS EDUCATION is the social institution responsible for teaching basic skills, imparting knowledge, and inculcating values and norms to children in the society. Educational institutions have the primary objective to provide universal education without giving much emphasis to the social status of peoples. Take note of these types of education. A. Formal Education is based in the classroom and is provided by trained teaching and nonteaching personnel. This includes an approved curriculum, a prescribed number of school days, and authentic assessments and outputs. B. Non-formal Education is an organized activity of providing flexible, learner-centered, contextualized, and participatory education beyond the school setting. It is also not agespecific. A common form of this type of this education in the Philippines is the Alternative Learning System. C. Informal Education happens almost everywhere. No set of rules and procedures can confine learning. This type of education may occur through life experiences, casual conversations, and even observations. Photos from https://www.slideshare.net/melchiejandayan/comparison-made-between-the-als-ang-formal-education SAQ 3-1 Why is there a need for formal and non-formal education? Answer in 2-3 sentences. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ In the Philippines, the non-formal and informal types of education are secured by the 1987 Constitution, as stated in the Section 2(4) of Article XIV: “The State shall… encourage non-formal, informal, and indigenous learning systems, as well as self-learning, independent, and out-of-school study programs particularly those that respond to community needs.” Photos from https://www.slideshare.net/melchiejandayan/comparison-made-between-the-als-ang-formal-education Functions of Education Functions of Education transmission of cultural heritage selection of social roles and training in such roles integration and mainstreaming of subcultures and identities source of social and cultural innovations Goals of Education The goals of education to are redound to the benefit of the society and the individual himself or herself. These goals are: Productive Citizenry is anchored in the belief that productive citizens contribute to the general welfare of the community or the country. It is the idea that a citizen must create an environment and opportunities to become productive. SelfActualization according to Abraham Maslow is the “desire for self-fulfillment, … the tendency for him [man] to become actualized in what he is potentially.” Self-actualized people are characterized by the following: 1) acceptance and realism, 2) problem-centering, 3) spontaneity, 4) autonomy and solitude, and 5) continued freshness of appreciation. Issues of Educational Institutions Social inequalities may be reinforced by the educational system through tracking, credentials race, hidden curriculum, and the privatepublic school divide among others. To know more details about this, you may scan the QR code on the right. Primary Education as a Human Right Photos from https://www.theasianschool.net/blog/child-labour-and-right-to-education/ “Education is a right, not a privilege.” Many societies in the world give much importance to education as it is a basic human right and a change for social mobility. It also enables a sense of empowerment and leads to the exercise of other human rights. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has continuously promoted Education For All (EFA), a global movement with the aim to meet the learning needs of all children, youth and adults by 2015 (see the statement of UNESCO on page 215). In Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution, Section 1 states: “The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.” Thus, Filipinos who wish to exercise their right to education may seek solace in the 1987 Constitution.
