Chapter 15: Politics
Sociology: A Down-to-Earth
Approach 7/e
James M. Henslin
Chapter Fifteen: Politics
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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005
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Chapter 15: Politics
What is Politics?
“Power relations wherever they exist,
including those in your own life.”
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Chapter 15: Politics
Micro and Macro Politics
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Micropolitics
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
Exercise of Power in Everyday Life
Macropolitics

Exercise of Power Over a Large Group
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Chapter 15: Politics
Power, Authority, and Violence
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Authority is Legitimate Power
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Authority and Legitimate Violence
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Illegitimate Power is Coercion
Governments Have Exclusive Rights to Violence
The Collapse of Authority

Revolution
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Chapter 15: Politics
Power, Authority, and Violence
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Traditional Authority
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Rational-Legal Authority
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Authority Based on Custom
Authority Based on Written Rules
Charismatic Authority
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Authority Freely and Graciously Given
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Threat Posed by Charismatic Leaders
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Chapter 15: Politics
Power, Authority, and Violence
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Authority as an Ideal Type
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Traditional, Rational-Legal, Charismatic
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Not Ideal or Desirable Necessarily
Transfer of Authority

Orderly from One Leader to Another
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Chapter 15: Politics
Types of Governments
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Monarchies
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Democracies
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Direct
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Representative
Dictatorships and Oligarchies

Totalitarianism
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Chapter 15: Politics
U.S. Political System
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Political Parties and Elections
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Democrats, Republicans, and Third Parties
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Primaries and Elections
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Centrism and Extremes
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Chapter 15: Politics
Democratic Systems in Europe
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Elections are Not Winner-Take-All
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Based on System of Proportional
Representation

Encourages Non-Centrist Parties

Coalition Governments
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Chapter 15: Politics
Voting Patterns
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Non-Hispanic Whites Most Likely to Vote

African-Americans Next Most Likely

Latinos Least Likely to Vote
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Chapter 15: Politics
Voting Patterns
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Social Integration
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Alienation and Apathy
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Gender and Racial-Ethnic Gap in Voting
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Chapter 15: Politics
Lobbyists and Special Interests
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Special Interest Groups are People Who
Think Alike on a Particular Issue and
Mobilize for Political Action

Lobbyists are People Paid to Influence
Legislation
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Chapter 15: Politics
PACs in U.S. Elections
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Elections are Expensive
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Senate Campaign about $5,000,000
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House Campaign about $800,000
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PACs Contribute and are Owed

PAC Money Buys Votes
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Chapter 15: Politics
Who Rules the U.S.?

Functionalist Perspective: Pluralism

Diffusion of Power Among Many

Checks and Balances
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Chapter 15: Politics
Who Rules the U.S.?
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Conflict Perspective: The Power Elite
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Ruling Class
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Top Business, Political, and Military Leaders

Not a Secret Group, Just Similar Backgrounds and
Orientations
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Chapter 15: Politics
War and Terrorism
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Is War Universal?
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Human Aggression and Killing, Yes
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War, No
How Common is War?

Humans Long for Peace but Glorify War

War is Very Common and Frequent
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Chapter 15: Politics
War and Terrorism
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Why do Nations go to War?
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Revenge
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Positions

Power
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Ethnicity

Prestige

Beliefs

Unity
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Chapter 15: Politics
War and Terrorism


Cost of War
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Toll in Lives
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Toll in Dollars
Sowing Seeds for Future Wars
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Chapter 15: Politics
War and Dehumanization

Increased Emotional Distance from Others
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Emphasis on Following Procedure

Inability to Resist Pressures

Diminished Sense of Personal
Responsibility
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Chapter 15: Politics
New World Order?

Globalization of Capitalism

Worldwide Flow of Information,
Goods, and Capital

Economic and Political Units that
Transcend National Boundaries
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