CHAPTER 13 – POLITICS AND THE ECONOMY IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE MULTIPLE CHOICE SECTION 1. Which of the following statements concerning programs like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report is false? A. In recent years, more TV viewers have tuned in to these types of shows and away from network newscasts. B. Studies show these programs are far less substantial than the regular nightly TV newscasts. C. Viewers tune in to these shows for both entertainment and information. D. The line between these types of shows and the regular TV newscasts have become blurred Answer: B 2. __________ is the social institution through which power is acquired and exercised by some people and groups. A. Government B. Economics C. Politics D. Religion Answer: C 3. __________ is the formal organization that has the legal and political authority to regulate the relationships among members of a society and between the society and those outside its borders. A. Government B. Economics C. Politics D. The military Answer: A 4. The __________ is the political entity that possesses a legitimate monopoly over the use of force within its territory to achieve its goals. A. government B. state C. bureaucracy D. executive branch Answer: B 5. __________ is the area of sociology that primarily focuses on the social circumstances of politics and explores how the political arena and its actors are intertwined with social institutions such as the economy, religion, education, and the media A. Governmental sociology B. Institutional sociology C. Political sociology D. Cultural sociology Answer: C 6. Which of the following statements concerning the media is true? A. The radio and TV industries earn about $88 billion annually. These two earn more than newspapers, movies, and book publicly controlled. B. All the media outlets in the U.S. are privately owned. C. The top ten newspaper chains control about half of the total U.S. weekday newspaper circulation. D. Viewers can readily distinguish between “reality” shows and “real” news. Answer: C 7. Contributions made outside the limits set forth by federal election laws are called A. participatory contributions. B. non-regulated contributions. C. soft money D. non-partisan money Answer: C 8. Journalists are most likely to identify themselves politically as A. Republicans. B. Democrats. C. Independents. D. non-political. Answer: C 9. __________ is the ability of persons or groups to achieve their goals despite opposition from others. Through the use of persuasion, authority, or force, some people are able to get others to submit to their demands. A. Authority B. Power C. Control D. Leverage Answer: B 10. Regarding power, several factors were identified. Which of the following factors was not cited in the textbook? A. Power is a social relationship that involves both leaders and followers. B. Power is a dimension in the structure of social stratification. C. Persons in positions of power control valuable resources of society. D. The most basic form of power is political influence. Answer: D 11. Sociologist G. William Domhoff argues that the media __________. A. tends to be totally neutral in news coverage B. tends to reflect the biases of those with access to them C. are more powerful than government officials D. are more powerful than corporate leaders Answer: B 12. Although the most basic form of power is physical violence or force, most political leaders do not want to base their power on force alone; they seek to legitimize their power by turning it into __________, which is the power that people accept as legitimate rather than coercive. A. control B. leverage C. authority D. political influence Answer: C 13. People have a greater tendency to accept authority as legitimate if they are __________ dependent on those who hold power. They may also accept authority more readily if it reflects their own beliefs and values. A. economically or politically B. institutionally or economically C. politically or culturally D. culturally or institutionally Answer: A 14. Sociologist Max Weber outlined three ideal types of authority. Which of the following was not an ideal type of authority identified? A. charismatic authority B. traditional authority C. coercive authority D. rational-legal authority Answer: C 15. According to sociologist Max Weber, __________ authority is power that is legitimized on the basis of long-standing custom. A. charismatic B. traditional C. coercive D. rational-legal Answer: B 16. British kings and queens historically traced their authority from God. Members of subordinate classes obey a leader’s edicts out of economic and political dependency and sometimes personal loyalty. This example illustrates __________. A. coercive authority B. rational-legal authority C. charismatic authority D. traditional authority Answer: D 17. Gender, race, and class are closely intertwined with traditional authority. Political scientist Zillah Eisenstein suggests that __________, which is the continual interplay of race and gender, reinforces traditional structures of power in contemporary societies. A. racialized patriarchy B. patriarchal colonization C. ethnic genderization D. gendered ethnicity Answer: A 18. According to sociologist Max Weber, __________ authority is power legitimized on the basis of a leader's exceptional personal qualities or the demonstration of extraordinary insight and accomplishment that inspire loyalty and obedience from followers. A. charismatic B. traditional C. coercive D. rational-legal Answer: A 19. Individuals such as Hitler and Martin Luther King, Jr. would be characterized as what type of leader? A. traditional B. charismatic C. rational-legal D. coercive Answer: B 20. There are several characteristics of charismatic authority. Which of the following was not a characteristic discussed? A. It tends to be temporary and relatively unstable. B. It derives primarily from individual leaders. C. It often becomes legitimized on the basis of long-standing custom. D. It is usually limited to a small number of faithful followers. Answer: C 21. The __________ of charisma occurs when charismatic authority is succeeded by a bureaucracy controlled by a rationally established authority or by a combination of traditional and bureaucratic authority. A. traditionalization B. bureaucratization C. routinization D. modernization Answer: C 22. According to sociologist Max Weber, __________ authority is power legitimized by law or written rules and regulations. A. charismatic B. traditional C. coercive D. rational-legal Answer: D 23. Rational-legal authority is also known as __________ authority, which is based on an organizational structure that includes a clearly defined division of labor, hierarchy of authority, formal rules, and impersonality A. bureaucratic B. routinized C. democratic D. capitalistic Answer: A 24. __________ authority is held by elected or appointed government officials and by officers in a formal organization. However, authority is invested in the office, not in the person who holds the office. A. Charismatic B. Traditional C. Rational-legal D. Coercive Answer: C 25. Although the U.S. Constitution grants __________ authority to the office of the presidency, a president who fails to uphold the public trust may be removed from office. A. traditional B. rational-legal C. charismatic D. coercive Answer: B 26. In a __________, the government bureaucracy is the apparatus responsible for creating and enforcing rules in the public interest. Sociologist Max Weber believed that this authority was the only means to attain efficient, flexible, and competent regulation under a rule of law. A. traditional system of authority B. charismatic system authority C. coercive system of authority D. rational-legal system of authority Answer: D 27. Political institutions first emerged in __________ societies as they acquired surpluses and developed greater social inequality. Elites took control of politics and used custom or traditional authority to justify their position. A. horticultural and pastoral B. agrarian C. industrialized D. hunting and gathering Answer: B 28. A __________ is a unit of political organization that has recognizable national boundaries and whose citizens possess specific legal rights and obligations. A. city-state B. metropolis C. commonwealth D. nation-state Answer: D 29. __________ emerge as countries develop specific geographic territories and acquire greater ability to defend their borders. Improvements in communication and transportation make it possible for people in a large geographic area to share a common language and culture. A. Nation-states B. Commonwealths C. Metropolises D. City-states Answer: A 30. Approximately 190 nation-states currently exist throughout the world, and several political systems are found within them. Which of the following political systems is not found in nation-states? A. monarchy B. communism C. authoritarianism D. totalitarianism Answer: B 31. __________ is a political system in which power resides in one person or family and is passed from generation to generation through lines of inheritance. A. Monarchy B. Totalitarianism C. Communism D. Democracy Answer: A 32. In __________ monarchies, a powerful figure claims a hereditary right to rule (based on membership in a noble family) or a divine right to rule (a God-given right to rule that legitimizes the exercise of power). A. constitutional B. limited C. absolute D. total Answer: C 33. In __________ monarchies, rulers depend on powerful members of the nobility to retain their thrones and are not considered to be above the law. A. constitutional B. limited C. absolute D. total Answer: B 34. In __________ monarchies, the royalty serve as symbolic rulers or heads of state while actual authority is held by elected officials in the national parliaments. A. constitutional B. limited C. absolute D. total Answer: A 35. The royal families in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain, and the Netherlands are present day examples of __________. A. absolute monarchies B. limited monarchies C. constitutional monarchies D. total monarchies Answer: C 36. __________ is a political system controlled by rulers who deny popular participation in government. A. Authoritarianism B. Totalitarianism C. Monarchy D. Democracy Answer: A 37. In dictatorships, power is gained and held by a single individual. Pure dictatorships are rare; all rulers need the support of the military and the backing of business elites to maintain their position. Dictatorships occur in nation-states with __________ political systems. A. constitutional monarchy B. totalitarianism C. authoritarianism D. democratic Answer: C 38. __________ result when military officers seize power from the government, as has happened in recent decades in Argentina, Chile, and Haiti. A. Absolute monarchies B. Military juntas C. Dictatorships D. Direct participatory democracies. Answer: B 39. __________ is a political system in which the state seeks to regulate all aspects of people's public and private lives. A. Democracy B. Totalitarianism C. Monarchy D. Authoritarianism Answer: B 40. __________ relies on modern technology to monitor and control people; mass propaganda and electronic surveillance are widely used to influence people’s thinking and control their actions. A. Monarchy B. Authoritarianism C. Totalitarianism D. Democracy Answer: C 41. One example of a(n) __________ regime was the National Socialist (Nazi) party in Germany during World War II; military leaders there sought to control all aspects of national life, not just government operations. A. totalitarian B. democratic C. monarchy D. authoritarian Answer: A 42. To keep people from rebelling, __________ governments enforce conformity. People are denied the right to assemble for political purposes, access to information is strictly controlled, and secret police enforce compliance, creating an environment of constant fear and suspicion. A. authoritarian B. monarchy C. totalitarian D. democratic Answer: C 43. __________ is a political system in which the people hold the ruling power either directly or through elected representatives. A. Totalitarianism B. Democracy C. Monarchy D. Authoritarianism Answer: B 44. __________ requires that citizens be able to meet together regularly to debate and decide the issues of the day. A. Representative democracy B. Symbolic democracy C. Direct participatory democracy D. Independent involvement democracy Answer: C 45. In the United States, people have a voice in the government through __________, whereby citizens elect representatives to serve as bridges between themselves and the government. A. direct participatory democracy B. representative democracy C. symbolic democracy D. independent involvement democracy Answer: B 46. The U.S. Constitution requires that each state have __________ senators and a minimum of __________ member in the House of Representatives. The current size of the House of Representatives (435 seats) has not changed since the apportionment following the 1910 census. A. four; one B. one; three C. three; two D. two; one Answer: D 47. Representative democracy is not always equally accessible to all people in a nation. The ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920 provided __________. A. full voting rights for African American B. equal rights to people of color C. full voting rights for women D. desegregated public schools in the South Answer: C 48. The pluralist model is rooted in a __________ perspective which assumes that people share a consensus on central concerns, such as freedom and protection from harm, and that the government serves important functions no other institution can fulfill. A. conflict B. symbolic interactionist C. functionalist D. postmodernist Answer: C 49. According to sociologist __________, the purpose of government is to socialize people to be good citizens, to regulate the economy so that it operates effectively, and to provide necessary services for citizens. A. Karl Marx B. Emile Durkheim C. Robert Merton D. Herbert Spencer Answer: B 50. Contemporary functionalists state that there are four main functions of government. Which of the following was not cited as a main function of government? A. maintaining law and order B. planning and directing society C. handling international relations, including warfare D. ensuring intimacy within the family Answer: D 51. According to the __________ model, power in political systems is widely dispersed throughout many competing interest groups. A. pluralist B. elite C. distributive D. ruling class Answer: A 52. __________ are political coalitions made up of individuals or groups that share a specific interest they wish to protect or advance with the help of the political system. A. Political action committees B. Power elites C. Special interest groups D. Ruling class Answer: C 53. Examples of __________ include the AFL-CIO (representing the majority of labor unions) and citizen groups such as the American Conservative Union and Zero Population Growth. A. special interest groups B. power elites C. ruling class D. political action committees Answer: A 54. __________ are organizations of special interest groups that solicit contributions from donors and fund campaigns to help elect (or defeat) candidates based on their stances on specific issues. A. Political action committees B. Pressure groups C. Lobby groups D. Power elites Answer: A 55. Although __________ theorists acknowledge that the government serves a number of important purposes in society, they assert that government exists for the benefit of wealthy or politically powerful elites who use the government to impose their will on the masses. A. postmodern B. symbolic interactionist C. conflict D. functionalist Answer: C 56. According to the __________ model, power in political systems is concentrated in the hands of a small group and the masses are relatively powerless. A. pluralist B. ruling class C. elite D. dominant group Answer: C 57. According to sociologist __________, the power elite is made up of leaders at the top of business, the executive branch of the federal government, and the military. A. Karl Marx B. Robert Merton C. Emile Durkheim D. C. Wright Mills Answer: D 58. In a mass society the dominant type of communication is what? A. interpersonal networks B. the formal media C. cell phones D. family and friends Answer: B 59. According to C. Wright Mills, the media A. were the “watchdogs for the public.” B. reliably reported what the public needed to know. C. were among the first to discover government dishonesty. D. perceived the public to accept the status quo. Answer: D 60. Which of the following is a false statement concerning C. Wright Mills and his view of the media and journalists? A. He presented his views in the book, The Power Elite. B. He argued that media communication involves a limited number of people who communicate to the masses. C. He believed that audiences have an effective way of answering back making mass media a two-way process. D. He would have argued that modern technologies like cell phones and email would have no real impact on how our views form. Answer: C 61. A __________ is an organization whose purpose is to gain and hold legitimate control of government; it is usually composed of people with similar attitudes, interests, and socioeconomic status. A. power elite B. populist group C. political party D. pluralist interest group Answer: C 62. Political parties create a __________, which is a formal statement of the party's political positions on various social and economic issues. A. policy B. regulation C. platform D. principle Answer: C 63. Political __________ is the process by which people learn political attitudes, values, and behavior. A. socialization B. participation C. conformity D. persuasion Answer: A 64. __________ percent of the voting-age population of the United States (age 18 and older) voted in the 2004 presidential election. A. Slightly over 54 B. About 60 C. Slightly over 65 D. Nearly 70 Answer: A 65. According to some __________ analysts, people may not vote because they are satisfied with the status quo or because they are apathetic and uninformed—they lack an understanding of both public issues and the basic processes of government. A. liberals B. Marxists C. conservatives D. authoritarians Answer: C 66. __________ argue that people stay away from the polls because they feel alienated from politics at all levels of government—federal, state, and local—due to political corruption and influence peddling by special interests and large corporations. A. Marxists B. Liberals C. Authoritarians D. Conservatives Answer: B 67. Sociologist Joe Feagin cited several features of the Iron Triangle. Which of the following feature was not cited? A. The Iron Triangle has a revolving door of money, influence, and jobs involving trillions of dollars. B. Most of the relationships in this arrangement are relatively short lived. C. Military contractors who receive contracts from the Defense Department serve on the advisory committees that recommend what weapons they believe are needed. D. Many people move around the triangle from job to job. Answer: B 68. The Iron Triangle is also referred to as the __________, which results in the mutual interdependence of the military establishment and private military contractors. A. military economy B. permanent war economy C. military-industrial complex D. arms industry Answer: C 69. __________ is the social institution that ensures the maintenance of society through the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. A. Education B. The economy C. Politics D. The mass media Answer: B 70. __________ are tangible objects that are necessary (such as food, clothing, and shelter) or desired (such as DVDs and electric toothbrushes). A. Products B. Materials C. Assets D. Goods Answer: D 71. __________ are intangible activities for which people are willing to pay (such as dry cleaning, a movie, or medical care). A. Services B. Goods C. Labor D. Products Answer: A 72. Most workers in preindustrial economies (such as hunting and gathering, horticultural and pastoral, and agrarian societies) engage in __________ production, which is the extraction of raw materials and natural resources from the environment. A. secondary sector B. tertiary sector C. primary sector D. quartiary sector Answer: C 73. Portions of contemporary sub-Saharan Africa have a relatively high rate of exports in commodities, and foreign direct investment is concentrated in mineral extraction. This is an example of __________ production. A. primary sector B. secondary sector C. tertiary sector D. quartiary sector Answer: A 74. In industrial economies, __________ refers to the processing of raw materials into finished goods. A. Primary sector production B. Secondary sector production C. Tertiary sector production D. Quartiary sector production Answer: B 75. Steel workers who process metal ore and autoworkers who then convert the ore into automobiles, trucks, and buses are engaged in __________ production. A. quartiary sector B. tertiary sector C. secondary sector D. primary sector Answer: C 76. A postindustrial economy is based on __________ production, which is the provision of services rather than goods as a primary source of livelihood for workers and profit for owners and corporate shareholders. A. primary sector B. secondary sector C. tertiary sector D. quartiary sector Answer: C 77. __________ includes a wide range of activities, such as fast-food service, transportation, communication, education, real estate, advertising, sports, and entertainment. A. Primary sector production B. Secondary sector production C. Tertiary sector production D. Quartiary sector production Answer: C 78. __________ is an economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production, from which personal profits can be derived through market competition and without government intervention. A. Capitalism B. Socialism C. Imperialism D. Authoritarianism Answer: A 79. Ideal capitalism has four distinctive features. Which of the following is not a feature of ideal capitalism? A. private ownership of the means of production B. pursuit of personal profit C. competition D. increased government intervention Answer: D 80. __________ are large-scale organizations that have legal powers, such as the ability to enter into contracts, and buy and sell property, separate from their individual owners. A. Corporations B. Economic concentrations C. Conglomerates D. Interlocking directorates Answer: A 81. __________ are large companies that are headquartered in one country but sell and produce goods and services in many countries. A. Interlocking directorates B. Economic concentrations C. Transnational corporations D. Capitalist intermonopolies Answer: C 82. __________ is the largest nonfinancial U.S. transnational corporation (ranked by foreign revenues). A. Wal-Mart B. Phillip Morris C. General Motors D. Exxon/Mobil Answer: D 83. A(n) __________ exists when several companies overwhelmingly control an entire industry. A. monopoly B. oligopoly C. shared monopoly D. conglomerate Answer: B 84. An example of __________ is the music industry, in which a few giant companies are behind many of the labels and artists known to consumers. A. monopoly B. conglomerate C. oligopoly D. shared monopoly Answer: C 85. A(n) __________ exists when four or fewer companies supply 50 percent or more of a particular market. A. monopoly B. oligopoly C. conglomerate D. shared monopoly Answer: D 86. __________ include U.S. automobile manufacturers (referred to as the “Big Three”) and cereal companies (three of which own 77 percent of the market). A. Shared monopolies B. Conglomerates C. Monopolies D. Oligopolies Answer: A 87. Corporations with control both within and across industries are often formed by a series of mergers and acquisitions across industries. These corporations are referred to as __________ which are combinations of businesses in different commercial areas, all of which are owned by one holding company. A. monopolies B. conglomerates C. shared monopolies D. interlocking corporate directorates Answer: B 88. Companies such as Time Warner and Viacom have extensive holdings in radio and television stations, cable television companies, book publishing firms, and film production and distribution companies. These companies are referred to as __________. A. oligopolies B. interlocking corporate directorates C. shared monopolies D. conglomerates Answer: D 89. Competition is reduced over the long run by __________, where members of the board of directors of one corporation also sit on the board(s) of other corporations. A. monopolies B. shared monopolies C. conglomerates D. interlocking corporate directorates Answer: D 90. A person who serves simultaneously on the board of a financial institution (for example a bank) and the board of a commercial corporation (such as a computer manufacturing company) that borrows money from the bank, exemplifies a(n) __________. A. interlocking corporate directorate. B. professional conglomeration. C. shared directorate. D. oligopoly director. Answer: A 91. The media have often been referred to as the A. watchdog institution. B. gatekeepers. C. fourth estate D. sixth institution Answer: C 92. According to the text, what is the first step in keeping an eye on the news? A. Increase the number of people watching it. B. Become more analytical about the news one receives. C. Become more aware of events that should receive more coverage. D. Contact one’s legislator to support a “fairness” law regulating the media. Answer: B 93. Postman and Powers make all of the following suggestions about TV news except: A. They are a “show” not a public service. B. We should learn about the interests of those who run a media conglomerate. C. The commercials tell us much about our society. D. They often present less information than shows like The Daily Show. Answer: D 94. The _________ Act legalized military roundups and lengthy detention for any person—including a U.S. citizen—who is deemed to be an “enemy of the state.” A. Military Commissions B. Patriot C. Search and Seizure D. Detention Answer: A 95. __________ is an economic system characterized by public ownership of the means of production, the pursuit of collective goals, and centralized decision making. A. Socialism B. Capitalism C. Communism D. A mixed economy Answer: A 96. “Ideal” socialism has three distinctive features. Which of the following is not a distinctive feature of “ideal” socialism? A. public ownership of the means of production B. decentralized decision making C. pursuit of collective goals D. centralized decision making Answer: B 97. In __________, resources are converted from state ownership to private ownership; the government takes an active role in developing, recognizing, and protecting private property rights. A. monopolization B. privatization C. centralized decision making D. the pursuit of collective goals Answer: B 98. __________ combines elements of a market economy (capitalism) with elements of a command economy (socialism). A. Democratic socialism B. A mixed economy C. Capitalistic socialism D. An oligopoly Answer: B 99. Which of the following nations is not considered a mixed economy? A. Sweden B. Great Britain C. France D. the former Soviet Union Answer: D 100. __________ refers to an economic and political system that combines private ownership of some of the means of production, governmental distribution of some essential goods and services and free elections. A. Democratic socialism B. Socialism C. Capitalism D. Social capitalism Answer: A TRUE-FALSE SECTION 1. Power is a social relationship that involves both leaders and followers. Power is also a dimension in the structure of social stratification. Persons in positions of power control valuable resources of society, including wealth, status, comfort and safety, and are able to direct the actions of others while protecting and enhancing the privileged social position of their class. Answer: True 2. People have a lower tendency to accept authority as legitimate if they are economically or politically dependent on those who hold power. They may also accept authority more readily if it reflects their own beliefs and values. Answer: False Rejoinder: Actually people have a greater tendency to accept authority as legitimate if they are economically or politically dependent on those who hold power. 3. Charismatic authority tends to be temporary and relatively unstable; it derives primarily from individual leaders (who may change their minds, leave, or die) and from an administrative structure usually limited to a small number of faithful followers. Answer: True 4. According to sociologist Max Weber, in traditional authority, the governmental bureaucracy is the apparatus responsible for creating and enforcing rules in the public interest. Traditional authority was the only means to attain efficient, flexible, and competent regulation under a rule of law. Answer: False Rejoinder: The correct type of authority described is actually rational-legal authority. Traditional authority is power that is legitimized on the basis of long-standing custom. 5. A nation-state is a unit of political organization that has recognizable national boundaries and whose citizens possess specific legal rights and obligations. They emerge as countries develop specific geographic territories and acquire greater ability to defend their borders. Answer: True 6. In absolute monarchies, the royalty serve as symbolic rulers or heads of state while actual authority is held by elected officials in national parliaments. Answer: False Rejoinder: Royalty actually serve as symbolic rulers or heads of state in constitutional monarchies. Absolute monarchies claim a hereditary right to rule (based on membership in a noble family) or a divine right to rule (a God-given right to rule that legitimizes the exercise of power). 7. To keep people from rebelling, totalitarian governments enforce conformity: people are denied the right to assemble for political purposes, access to information is strictly controlled, and secret police enforce compliance, creating an environment of constant fear and suspicion. Answer: True 8. Full voting rights were not gained by African Americans until the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. Answer: False Rejoinder: Gender and social class have limited some people’s democratic participation. Full voting rights were not gained by women until the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. 9. The pluralist model is rooted in a functionalist perspective which assumes that people share a consensus on central concerns, such as freedom and protection from harm, and that the government serves important functions no other institution can fulfil. Answer: True 10. Symbolic interactionists acknowledge that the government serves a number of important purposes in society; they assert that government exists for the benefit of wealthy or politically powerful elites who use the government to impose their will on the masses. Answer: False Rejoinder: This is a major tenet of the conflict perspectives—the elite models 11. Participation in politics is influenced by gender, age, race/ethnicity, and, especially socioeconomic status (SES). The rate of participation increases as a person’s socioeconomic status increases. Answer: True 12. C. Wright Mills argued that the major function of the media and journalists was to be a “watchdog for the public.” Answer: false Rejoinder: Mills saw the media as lulling individuals into complacency, persuading the public to accept the status quo. 13. The iron triangle of power is a three-way arrangement in which a private interest group (usually a corporation), a congressional committee or subcommittee, and a bureaucratic agency make the final decision on a political issue that is to be decided by that agency. Answer: True 14. Services are tangible objects that are necessary (such as food, clothing, and shelter) or desired (such as DVDs and electric toothbrushes). Answer: False Rejoinder: The correct term is goods. Services are actually intangible activities for which people are willing to pay (such as dry cleaning, a movie, or medical care). 15. In hunting and gathering societies, the economy becomes distinct from family life. The distribution process becomes more complex, with the accumulation of a surplus such that some people can engage in activities other than food production. Answer: False Rejoinder: This is true for horticultural and pastoral societies. However, throughout history, the production units in hunting and gathering societies have been small; most goods are produced by family members. The division of labor is by age and gender. 16. In pre-industrial societies most workers engage in primary sector production. This involves the processing of raw materials into finished goods. Answer: false Rejoinder: The primary sector, which is characteristic of pre-industrial societies, involves the extraction of raw materials and natural resources from the environment. 17. A post-industrial economy is based on tertiary sector production—the provision of services rather than goods, as a primary source of livelihood for workers and profit for owners and corporate shareholders. A majority of U.S. jobs are in tertiary sector employment. Answer: True 18. Today, many corporations are global in scope. Universal corporations are large corporations that are headquartered in several countries but sell and produce goods and services in only one country. Answer: False Rejoinder: The correct term and definition is transnational corporations—which are large corporations that are headquartered in one country but sell and produce goods and services in many countries. 19. In advanced monopoly capitalism, mergers also occur across industries: corporations gain near-monopoly control over all aspects of the production and distribution of a product by acquiring both the companies that supply the raw materials and the companies that are the outlets for their products. Answer: True 20. Interlocking directorates increase competition by producing dependence. Individuals who serve on multiple boards are often able to forge cooperative arrangements that benefit their corporations but not necessarily the general public. Answer: False Rejoinder: Actually interlocking directorates decrease competition by producing interdependence. Individuals who serve on multiple boards are often able to forge cooperative arrangements that benefit their corporations but not necessarily the general public. When several corporations are controlled by the same financial interests, they are more likely to cooperate with one another than to compete. 21. Government intervention in the 1990s included billions of dollars in subsidies to farmers, tax credits for corporations, and large subsidies or loan guarantees to automakers, aircraft companies, railroads, and others. Overall, most corporations have gained much more than they have lost as a result of government involvement in the economy. Answer: True 22. Although higher education is one of the primary qualifications for a profession, the emphasis on education gives children whose parents are professionals a disproportionate advantage early in life. There is a direct linkage between parental education and income and children’s scores on college admissions tests, such as the SAT. Answer: True 23. Subcontracted work is another form of contingent work that often cuts employers’ costs at the expense of workers. Instead of employing a large work force, many companies have significantly reduced the size of their payrolls and benefit plans by subcontracting. Answer: True 24. In 1990, the United States became the first nation to formally address the issue of equality for persons with a disability. When Congress passed the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), this law established “a clear and comprehensive prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability.” Answer: True 25. Today, about two-thirds of workers with disabilities are unemployed. Answer: True SHORT RESPONSE SECTION 1. Explain the relationship between politics, government, and the state and discuss the focus of political sociology. Answer: Politics is the social institution through which power is acquired and exercised by some people and groups. In contemporary societies, the government is the primary political system. Government is the formal organization that has the legal and political authority to regulate the relationship among members of a society and between the society and those outside its borders. Some social analysts refer to the government as the state—the political entity that possesses a legitimate monopoly over the use of force within its territory to achieve its goals. Political sociology is the area of sociology that examines politics and the government. Political sociology primarily focuses on the social circumstances of politics and explores how the political arena and its actors are intertwined with social institutions such as the economy, religion, education, and the media. 2. Distinguish between power and authority. Answer: Power is the ability of persons or groups to achieve their goals despite opposition from others. Through the use of persuasion, authority, or force, some people are able to get others to acquiesce to their demands. Consequently, power is a social relationship that involves both leaders and followers. Power is also a dimension in the structure of social stratification. Persons in positions of power control valuable resources of society—including wealth, status, comfort, and safety—and are able to direct the actions of others while protecting and enhancing the privileged social position of their class. Sociologist G. William Domhoff argues that the media tend to reflect “the biases of those with access to them—corporate leaders, government officials, and policy experts.” However, although Domhoff believes the media can amplify the message of powerful people and marginalize the concerns of others, he does not think the media are as important as government officials and corporate leaders are in the U.S. power equations. Although the most basic form of power is physical violence or force, most political leaders do not want to base their power on force alone. Sociologist Max Weber suggested that force is not the most effective long-term means of gaining compliance because those who are being ruled do not accept as legitimate those who are doing the ruling. Consequently, most leaders do not want to base their power on force alone. Instead, they seek to legitimize their power by turning it into authority—power that people accept as legitimate rather than coercive. People have a greater tendency to accept authority as legitimate if they are economically or politically dependent on those who hole power. They may also accept authority more readily if it reflects their own beliefs and values. Sociologist Max Weber identified three ideal types of authority—traditional, charismatic, and rational-legal. 3. Compare the development of traditional authority with charismatic authority. Include sociologist Max Weber’s point of view. Answer: According to sociologist Max Weber, traditional authority is power that is legitimized on the basis of long-standing custom. In preindustrial societies, the authority of traditional leaders, such as kings, queens, pharaohs, emperors, and religious dignitaries, is usually grounded in religious beliefs and custom. Members of subordinate classes obey a traditional leader’s edicts out of economic and political dependency and sometimes personal loyalty. However, as societies industrialize, traditional authority is challenged by a more complex division of labor and by the wider diversity of people who now inhabit the area as a result of high immigration rates. Gender, race, and class relations are closely intertwined with traditional authority. Political scientist Zillah Eisenstein suggests that racialized patriarchy—the continual interplay of race and gender—reinforces traditional structures of power in contemporary societies. According to Eisenstein, “Patriarchy differentiates women from men while privileging men. Racism simultaneously differentiates people of colour from whites and privileges whiteness. These processes are distinct but intertwined.” According to sociologist Max Weber, charismatic authority is power legitimized on the basis of a leader’s exceptional personal qualities or the demonstration of extraordinary insight and accomplishment that inspire loyalty and obedience from followers. Charismatic authority tends to be temporary and relatively unstable; it derives primarily from individual leaders (who may change their minds, leave, or die) and from an administrative structure usually limited to a small number of faithful followers. Charismatic authority often becomes routinized. The routinization of charisma occurs when charismatic authority is succeeded by a bureaucracy controlled by a rationally established authority or by a combination of traditional and bureaucratic authority. 4. Define and outline the development of rational-legal authority. Include sociologist Max Weber’s viewpoint. Answer: According to sociologist Max Weber, rational-legal authority is power legitimized by law or written rules and regulations. Rational-legal authority—also known as bureaucratic authority—is based on an organizational structure that includes a clearly defined division of labor, hierarchy of authority, formal rules, and impersonality. Power is legitimized by procedures if leaders obtain their positions in a procedurally correct manner (such as by election or appointment), they have the right to act. Rational-legal authority is held by elected or appointed government officials and by officers in a formal organization. However, authority is invested in the office, not in the person who holds the office. For example, although the U.S. Constitution grants rational-legal authority to the office of the presidency, a president who fails to uphold the public trust may be removed from office. In contemporary society, the media may play an important role in bringing to light allegations about presidents or other elected officials. Examples include the media blitzes surrounding the Watergate investigations of the 1970s that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon and the late 1990s political firestorm over campaign fund-raising and the sex scandal involving President Bill Clinton. In a rational-legal system, the governmental bureaucracy is the apparatus responsible for creating and enforcing rules in the public interest. Weber believed that rational-legal authority was the only means to attain efficient, flexible, and competent regulation under a rule of law. 5. Compare and contrast political systems in a global perspective to include: monarchy, authoritarianism, totalitarianism, and democracy. Answer: Political institutions first emerged in agrarian societies as they acquired surpluses and developed greater inequality. Elites took control of politics and used custom or traditional authority to justify their position. Monarchy is a political system in which power resides in one person or family and is passed from generation to generation through lines of inheritance. Monarchies are most common in agrarian societies and are associated with traditional authority patterns. Absolute monarchs claim a hereditary right to rule (based on membership in a noble family) or a divine right to rule (a God-given right to rule that legitimizes the exercise of power). In limited monarchies, rulers depend on powerful members of the nobility to retain their thrones. In constitutional monarchies, the royalty serve as symbolic rulers or heads of state while actual authority is held by elected officials in national parliaments (such as the United Kingdom), members of royal families primarily perform ceremonial functions. Authoritarianism is a political system controlled by rulers who deny popular participation in government. Today, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are examples of authoritarian absolute monarchies. In dictatorships, power is gained and held by a single individual. Pure dictatorships are rare; all rulers need the support of the military and the backing of business elites to maintain their position. Military juntas result when military officers seize power from the government. Today, authoritarian regimes exist in Cuba and in the People’s Republic of China. Totalitarianism is a political system in which the state seeks to regulate all aspects of people’s public and private lives. Totalitarianism relies on modern technology to monitor and control people; mass propaganda and electronic surveillance are widely used to influence people’s thinking and control their actions. One example of a totalitarian regime was the National Socialist (NAZI) Party in Germany during World War II; military leaders there sought to control all aspects of national life, not just government operations. To keep people from rebelling, totalitarian governments enforce conformity; people are denied the right to assemble for political purposes, access to information is strictly controlled, and secret police enforce compliance, creating an environment of constant fear and suspicion. Democracy is a political system in which the people hold the ruling power either directly or through elected representatives. Direct participatory democracy requires that citizens be able to meet together regularly to debate and decide the issues of the day. In the United States, people have a voice in the government through representative democracy, whereby citizens elect representative to serve as bridges between themselves and the government. In a representative democracy, elected representatives are supposed to convey the concerns and interests of those they represent, and the government is expected to be responsive to the wishes of the people. 6. State the major elements of the functionalist perspective: the pluralist model of power and political systems. Answer: The pluralist model is rooted in a functionalist perspective which assumes that people share a consensus on central concerns, such as freedom and protection from harm, and that the government serves important functions no other institution can fulfil. According to sociologist Emile Durkheim, the purpose of government is to socialize people to be good citizens, to regulate the economy so that it operates effectively, and to provide necessary services for citizens. Contemporary functionalists state the four main functions as follows: (1) maintaining law and order, (2) planning and directing society, (3) meeting social needs, and (4) handling international relations, including warfare. Functionalists suggest that divergent viewpoints lead to a system of political pluralism in which the government functions as an arbiter between competing interests and viewpoints. According to the pluralist model, power in political systems is widely dispersed throughout many competing interest groups. Special interest groups are political coalitions made up of individuals or groups that share a specific interest they wish to protect or advance with the help of the political system. An example of a special interest group is the AFL-CIO (representing the majority of labor unions). Special interest groups help people advocate their own interests and further their causes. Broad categories of special interest groups include banking, business, education, energy, the environment, health, labor, person with a disability, retired persons, and women. Special interest groups are also referred to as pressure groups (because they put pressure on political leaders) of lobbies. Over the past four decades, special interest groups have become more involved in “single-issue politics,” in which political candidates are often supported or rejected solely on the basis of their views on a specific issue—such as abortion, gun control gay and lesbian rights, or the environment. Reforms in campaign finance laws in the 1970s set limits on direct contributions to political candidates and led to the creation of political action committees (PACs) —organizations of special interest groups that solicit contributions from donors and fund campaigns to help elect (or defeat) candidates base on their stances on specific issues. Some PACs represent the “public interest” and ideological interest groups such as gay rights or the National Rifle Association (NRA). Other PACs represent the capitalistic interests of large corporations. 7. Summarize the major elements of conflict perspective: the elite models of power and political systems. Answer: Although conflict theorists acknowledge that the government serves a number of important purposes in society, they assert that government exists for the benefit of wealthy or politically powerful elites who use the government to impose their will on the masses. According to the elite model, power in political systems is concentrated in the hands of a small group of elites, and the masses are relatively powerless. Contemporary elite models are based on the assumption that decisions are made by the elites, who agree on the basic values and goals of society. However, the needs and concerns of the masses are not often given full consideration by those in the elite. According to this approach, power is highly concentrated at the top of a pyramid-shaped social hierarchy, and public policy reflects the values and preferences of the elite, not the preferences of the people. According to sociologist C. Wright Mills, the power elite comprises leaders at the top of business, the executive branch of the federal government, and the military. Mills speculated that the “corporate rich” (the highest paid officers of the biggest corporations) were the most powerful because of their unique ability to parlay the vast economic resources at their disposal into political power. At the middle level of the pyramid, Mills placed the legislative branch of government, special interest groups, and local opinion leaders. The bottom (and widest layer) of the pyramid is occupied by the unorganized masses, who are relatively powerless and are vulnerable to economic and political exploitation. Sociologist G. William Domhoff asserts that this nation in fact has a ruling class—the corporate rich, who constitute less than 1 percent of the U.S. population. Domhoff uses the term ruling class to signify a relatively fixed group of privileged people who wield power sufficient to constrain political processes and serve underlying capitalist interests. Domhoff suggests that the corporate rich influence the political process in three ways: (1) they affect the candidate selection process by helping to finance campaigns and providing Favors to political candidates. (2) through participation in the special interest process, the corporate rich are able to obtain Favors, tax breaks, and favourable regulatory rulings. (3) the corporate rich gain access to the policy-making process through their appointments to governmental advisory committees, presidential commissions, and other governmental positions. 8. Briefly explain C. Wright Mills’ views about the media as a “watchdog for the public.” Answer: When Mills was writing the press was viewed as the “watchdog for the public.” The belief was that journalists reliably reported what the public needed to know in order to stay informed, including any corruption, dishonesty, or ineptness. However, Mills rejected this idea. He argued that the press helped keep the status quo, sort of lulling the people into a state of complacency. He hoped that individuals would develop the ability for critical judgment based on information they received from the media. He argued, however, that this would most likely not occur due to: (1) media communication involves a limited number of people who communicate to a great number of others (“the masses”); and (2) audiences have no effective way of answering back, making mass communication a one-way process. 9. Explain the relationship between political socialization, political attitudes, and political participation. Answer: Political socialization is the process by which people learn political attitudes, values, and behavior. For young children, the family is the primary agent of political socialization, and children tend to learn and hold many of the same opinions as their parents. For adults, political socialization continues through the media, friends, neighbours, and colleagues in the workplace. People’s socioeconomic status affects their political attitudes, values, and beliefs. Individuals who are very poor or are unable to find employment tend to believe that society has failed them and therefore tend to be indifferent toward the political system. Believing that casting a ballot would make no difference to their own circumstances, they do not vote. Democracy is the United States has been defined as a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Accordingly, it would stand to reason that “the people” would actively participate in their government at any or all of four levels: (1) voting, (2) attending and taking part in political meetings, (3) actively participating in political campaigns, and (4) running for and/or holding political office. At most, about 10 percent of the voting-age population in this country participates at a level higher than simply voting, and over the past forty years, less than half of the voting-age population has voted in nonpresidential elections. The United States has one of the lowest percentages of voter turnout of all Western nations. According to some conservative analysts, people may not vote because they are satisfied with the status quo or because they are apathetic and uninformed—they lack an understanding of both public issues and the basic processes of government. By contrast, liberals argue that people stay away from the polls because they feel alienated from politics at all levels of government—federal, state, and local—due to political corruption and influence peddling by special interests and large corporations. Participation in politics is influenced by gender, age, race/ethnicity, and especially, socioeconomic status (SES). The rate of participation increases as a person’s SES increases. 10. Discuss primary sector production that occurs in preindustrial economies. Answer: Preindustrial economies include hunting and gathering, horticultural and pastoral, and agrarian societies. Most workers engage in primary sector production—the extraction of raw materials and natural resources from the environment. These materials and resources are typically consumed or used without much processing. For example, portions of contemporary sub-Saharan Africa have a relatively high rate of exports in primary commodities, and foreign direct investment is concentrated in mineral extraction. Consequently, most of sub-Saharan Africa is highly dependent on primary sector production, which, in turn, is highly vulnerable to the whims of the primary commodity markets. The production units in hunting and gathering societies are small; most goods are produced by family members. The division of labor is by age and gender. The potential for producing surplus goods increases as people learn to domesticate animals and grow their own food. In horticultural and pastoral societies, the economy becomes distinct from family life. The distribution process becomes more complex, with the accumulation of a surplus such that some people can engage in activities other than food production. In agrarian societies, production is primarily related to producing food. However, workers have a greater variety of specialized tasks, such as warlord or priest. Industrialization brings sweeping changes to the system of production and distribution of goods and services. Drawing on new forms of energy (such as steam, gasoline, and electricity) and machine technology, factories proliferate as the primary means of producing goods. Most workers engage in secondary sector production—the processing of raw materials (from the primary sector) into finished goods. For example, steelworkers process metal ore; autoworkers then convert the ore into automobiles, trucks and buses. In industrial economies, work becomes specialized and repetitive, activities become bureaucratically organized, and workers primarily work with machines instead of with one another. With the emergence of mass production, larger surpluses are generated, typically benefiting some people and organizations but not others. A post-industrial economy is based on tertiary sector production—the provision of services rather than goods, as a primary source of livelihood for workers and profit for owners and corporate shareholders. Tertiary sector production includes a wide range of activities, such as fast-food service, transportation, communication, education, real estate, advertising, sports, and entertainment. 11. Define capitalism and describe the four distinct features of “ideal” capitalism, and explain why pure capitalism does not exist. Answer: Capitalism is an economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production, from which personal profits can be derived through market competition and without government intervention. “Ideal” capitalism has four distinctive features: 1. Private ownership of the means of production – capitalist economies are based on the right of individuals to own income-producing property, such as land, water, mines, and factories, and the right to “buy” people’s labor. However, under early monopoly capitalism (1890 – 1940), most ownership shifted from individuals to huge corporations—organizations that have legal powers, such as the ability to enter into contracts and buy and sell property, separate from their individual owners. In advanced monopoly capitalism (1940 – present), ownership and control of major industrial and business sectors have become increasingly concentrated and many corporations have become more global in scope. Transnational corporations—are large corporations that are headquartered in one country but sell and produce goods and services in many countries. 2. Pursuit of personal profit - a tenet of capitalism is the belief that people are free to maximize their individual gain through personal profit. In early monopoly capitalism, some stockholders derived massive profits from companies that held near monopolies on specific goods and services (such as the American Tobacco Company). In advanced (late) monopoly capitalism, profits have become even more concentrated (such as Nike or Dell computer). 3. In theory, competition acts as a balance to excessive profits. When producers vie with one another for customers, they must be able to offer innovative goods and services at competitive prices. In early monopoly capitalism, competition was diminished by increasing concentration within a particular industry (such as Standard Oil Company). An oligopoly—exists when several companies overwhelmingly control an entire industry (such as the music industry). A shared monopoly—exists when four or fewer companies supply 50 percent or more of a particular market (such the “Big Three” U.S. automobile manufacturers). Corporations with control both within and across industries are often formed by a series of mergers and acquisitions across industries. These corporations are referred to as conglomerates—combinations of businesses in different commercial areas, all of which are owned by one holding company (such as Time Warner). Competition is also reduced over the long run by interlocking corporate directorates—members of the board of directors of one corporation who also sit on the board(s) of other corporations. 4. Ideally, capitalism works best without government intervention in the marketplace. Overall, most corporations have gained much more than they have lost as a result of government involvement in the economy. 12. Define socialism and describe its major characteristics. Answer: Socialism is an economic system characterized by public ownership of the means of production, the pursuit of collective goals, and centralized decision making. “Ideal” socialism has three distinctive features: 1. Public ownership of the means of production—in a truly socialist economy, the means of production are owned and controlled by a collectively or the state, not by private individuals or corporations. For example, prior to the early 1990s, the state owned all the natural resources and almost all the capital in former Soviet Union. At least in theory, goods were produced to meet the needs of the people. Access to housing and medical care was considered to be a right. Leaders of the former Soviet Union and some Eastern European nations decided to abandon government ownership and control of the means of production because the system was unresponsive to the needs of the marketplace and offered no incentive for increased efficiency. Since the early 1990s, Russia and other states in the former Soviet Union have attempted to privatize ownership of production. In privatization—resources are converted from state ownership to private ownership; the government takes an active role in developing, recognizing, and protecting private property rights. 2. Pursuit of collective goals—ideal socialism is based on the pursuit of collective goals, rather than on personal profits. Equality in decision making replaces hierarchical relationships (such as between owners and workers or political leaders and citizens). Everyone shares in the goods and services of society, especially necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, and medical care, based on need, not on ability to pay. 3. Centralized decision making – another tenet of socialism is centralized decision making. In theory, economic decisions are based on the needs of society; the government is responsible for aiding the production and distribution of goods and services. Central planners set wages and prices to ensure that the production process works. When problems such as shortages and unemployment arise, they can be dealt with quickly and effectively by the central government. 13. “Keeping an Eye on the Media” discusses whether we get the news that we should. What is the basic conclusion the article draws? Give an example. What is Project Censored? Answer: There are indications that the American public does not get all the news that we should about how are government operates and about the pressing social problems which our nation faces. According to some media analysts, there were 25 top news stories in the last few years which were not adequately covered. One example was the passage of the Military Commissions Act which legalized military roundups and lengthy detention for any person—including a U.S. citizen—who is deemed to be an “enemy of the state.” Project Censored is an organization or more than 200 students and professors who produce the annual “Top 25 Censored Stories.” According to this group, many important stories are either missing from the news altogether or do not receive the attention they deserve. 14. In relation to the social organization of work, compare professions and occupations. Answer: Professions—are high-status, knowledge-based occupations that have five major characteristics: 1. Abstract, specialized knowledge—professionals have abstract, specialized knowledge of their field based on formal education and interaction with colleagues. Education provides the credentials, skills, and training that allow professionals to have job opportunities and assume positions of authority within organizations. 2. Autonomy—professionals are autonomous in that they can rely on their own judgment in selecting the relevant knowledge or the appropriate technique for dealing with a problem. 3. Self-regulation—professionals are theoretically self-regulating. All professionals have licensing, accreditation, and regulatory associations that set professional standards and that require members to adhere to a code of ethics as a form of public accountability. 4. Authority—professionals expect compliance with their directions and advice. Their authority is based on mastery of the body of specialized knowledge and on their profession’s autonomy. 5. Altruism—professionals have concern for others, not just their own self-interest. Certain professions are undergoing a process of deprofessionalization in which some of the characteristics of a profession are eliminated. Occupations such as pharmacist have already been deskilled. Occupations are categories of jobs that involve similar activities at different work sites. Historically, occupations were classified as blue-collar workers—who were primarily factory, and craft workers who did manual labor; and white-collar workers—who were office workers and professionals. Sociologists establish broad occupational categories by distinguishing between employment in the primary labor market and in the secondary labor market. The primary labor market—consists of high-paying jobs with good benefits that have some degree of security and the possibility of future advancement. By contrast, the secondary labor market—consists of low-paying jobs with few benefits and very little job security or possibility for future advancement. 15. Identify the occupational categories considered to be marginal jobs and explain why they are considered to be marginal. Answer: Positions in the lower tier of the service sector are part of the secondary labor market, characterized by low wages, little job security, few chances for advancement, higher unemployment rates, and very limited (if any) unemployment benefits. Typical lower-tier positions include janitors, waitress, messenger, sales clerk, typist, file clerk, migrant laborer, and textile worker. Large numbers of young people, people of color, recent immigrants, and white women are employed in this sector. Marginal jobs differ from the employment norms of the society in which they are located; examples in the U.S. labor market include personal service workers and private household workers. Marginal jobs are frequently not covered by government work regulations, such as minimum standards of pay, working conditions, and safety standards, or do not offer sufficient hours of work each week to provide a living. Today, more than 11 million U.S. workers are employed in personal services industries such as eating and drinking places, hotels, laundries, beauty shops, and household services, primarily maid service. Occupational segregation by race and gender is clearly visible in marginal jobs in personal service industries. Private household workers including launderers, cooks, maids, housekeepers, gardeners, babysitters, and nannies, frequently must travel long distances to get to work, and many rely on public transportation, which can add hours to their workday. Moreover, household work is marginal: It lacks regularity, stability, and adequacy. The jobs are excluded from most labor legislation, employers often pay cash in order to avoid payroll taxes and Social Security, and the jobs typically provide no insurance or retirement benefits. ESSAY SECTION 1. Politics, Power, and Authority Answer: Politics involves the processes and activities through which individuals and groups make collective decisions, exercise power, and allocate resources within societies. Power refers to the ability to influence others and achieve desired outcomes, while authority is the legitimate use of power within a specific context or institution. 2. Political Systems in global perspective Answer: Political systems vary globally and can be categorized into several types: • Democracy: Citizens participate in decision-making through voting and representation (e.g., United States, Germany). • Authoritarianism: Power is concentrated in the hands of a central authority, limiting political freedoms and dissent (e.g., China, Russia). • Totalitarianism: Government controls all aspects of public and private life, often through ideological means (e.g., North Korea). • Monarchy: Rule by a king or queen, often with varying degrees of political power (e.g., United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia). • Theocracy: Political power is intertwined with religious authority and law (e.g., Iran). 3. Apply Functionalist perspective on power and political systems Answer: Functionalist Perspective views political systems as essential for social order and stability: • Integration: Political institutions integrate diverse interests and values into cohesive societal goals. • Function: Governments maintain law and order, provide public goods and services, and regulate economic activities to ensure social harmony. • Legitimacy: Authority is legitimized through norms, values, and legal frameworks that promote consensus and social cohesion. 4. Apply Conflict perspective on power and political systems Answer: Conflict Perspective critiques political systems for perpetuating inequalities and power dynamics: • Power Struggles: Political elites and ruling classes use power to maintain their privileges and control over resources. • Inequality: Political systems reflect and reinforce social inequalities, benefiting dominant groups and marginalizing others. • Resistance: Social movements and protests challenge existing power structures, advocating for change and social justice. 5. Discuss C. Wright Mills’ views on the media Answer: C. Wright Mills critiqued the media as part of the power elite that influences public opinion and political discourse: • Power Elite: Mills argued that a small group of political, economic, and military leaders control major institutions, including the media, shaping public policies and agendas. • Mass Media: The media serves the interests of the power elite by framing issues, controlling information, and influencing public opinion through selective reporting and agenda-setting. • Critique: Mills criticized the media for reinforcing dominant ideologies, limiting critical discourse, and neglecting issues of social inequality and systemic injustice. 6. The U. S. Political System Answer: The U.S. political system is characterized by several key features: • Democratic Republic: The U.S. operates as a federal republic with a representative democracy, where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. • Separation of Powers: Power is divided among three branches of government: legislative (Congress), executive (President), and judicial (Supreme Court), ensuring checks and balances. • Federalism: Authority is shared between the federal government and state governments, each with distinct powers outlined in the Constitution. • Political Parties: Two dominant parties, Democrats and Republicans, compete in elections and shape policy agendas based on ideological differences and public opinion. 7. Economic systems in global perspective Answer: Economic systems globally vary based on ownership, production, and distribution of goods and services: • Market Economy: Private ownership and market forces determine production, pricing, and distribution (e.g., United States, United Kingdom). • Command Economy: Central government controls production and allocation of resources (e.g., China, Cuba). • Mixed Economy: Combination of market mechanisms and government intervention to regulate and support economic activities (e.g., most Western European countries). 8. Contemporary world economic systems – capitalism Answer: Capitalism is an economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production, profit motive, and market competition: • Private Enterprise: Individuals and corporations own businesses and resources, making decisions based on profit incentives and market demand. • Market Competition: Competition drives innovation, efficiency, and consumer choice, shaping economic growth and wealth distribution. • Critiques: Capitalism is criticized for exacerbating income inequality, concentrating wealth among a few, and prioritizing profit over social and environmental concerns. 9. Contemporary world economic systems—socialism Answer: Socialism is an economic system where the means of production are owned or regulated by the state or collective ownership: • Public Ownership: Government or cooperative ownership of key industries, resources, and services to ensure equitable distribution and social welfare. • Social Welfare: Emphasis on social equity, economic justice, and public provision of healthcare, education, and social services. • Critiques: Socialism is criticized for stifling innovation, inefficiencies in resource allocation, and potential for government overreach and authoritarianism. 10. Discuss “Keeping an Eye on the Media.” Answer: Media Oversight involves monitoring and regulating media practices to ensure accuracy, fairness, and ethical standards: • Role of Media: Media serves as a watchdog by informing the public, scrutinizing government actions, and fostering public debate on societal issues. • Challenges: Media faces challenges such as misinformation, bias, corporate influence, and declining trust, impacting its credibility and public perception. • Regulation: Policies and regulations aim to promote media integrity, protect free speech, and prevent media monopolies, balancing freedom of expression with public interest. Test Bank for Sociology in Our Times: The Essentials Diana Kendall 9781337109659, 9781111305505, 9781305094154
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