UCSP

• Politics


  Activities through which people make, preserve, and amend the general rules under which they live
• Politics


  • Involves the dynamics of conflicts resolution and cooperation
  • Involves the exercise of power
• Power


  The ability to do something in order to achieve a desired outcome
• Person with power


  Has the capability to control people or make them do something that they would not do otherwise
• Political Dynasties


  A succession from rulers from the same line of descent. Relatives who stay in power - specially, members of one family who continuously hold elective political positions - are considered members of a political dynasty.
• Political Clientelism


  Defined by Susan Strokes as "giving if material goods in return for electoral support". The relationship involves two parties: the patron (politician) and the client (voter)
• Nation


  A distinct population of people bound together by a common culture, history, and tradition who are typically concentrated within a specific geographic region
• State


  A political unit that has sovereignty (which means - the legitimate and ultimate authority of the state) over an area of territory and the people within it
• Rationalization and bureaucratization in Western European societies


  • A consequence of industrialization
  • The expansion of economic activities led to the rationalization of economic functions of individuals which in turn paved way for the growth of bureaucracy (which means - rule by officials)
• Political liberalization in Western Europe


  • Emergence of liberal-democratic regimes characterized by a representative form of democracy where political office is gained through formal, competitive elections
• Political culture


  The pattern of orientation to political objects such as parties, government, and constitution, expressed in beliefs, symbols, and values
• Political socialization


  The process through which people generally acquire values and attitudes about politics and political institutions
• Legitimacy


  Rightfulness, the state of being lawful
• Legitimacy


  Confers on an order or command an authoritative or binding character, transforming power into authority
• Legitimacy


  (in political philosophy) A moral or rational principle that is the ground on which governments may demand obedience from citizens
• Types of Authority

  • Traditional authority
  • Charismatic authority
  • Legal-rational authority
• Traditional authority


  An authority based on a system that is "always existed". Some people have this authority because they inherited it or they occupy a position that has been passed on to them.
• Charismatic authority


  Authority based on the presumed special and extraordinary characteristics or qualities possessed by a certain individual
• Legal-rational authority


  The most typical type of authority in modern societies. Power and authority in a legal-rational context are legitimized by a clearly defined set of written rules or laws.
• • According to Max Weber, a well-known German sociologist, that the processes of rationalization and bureaucratization that happened in Western European societies were a consequence of industrialization. The expansion of economic activities led to the rationalization of economic functions of individuals which in turn paved way for the growth of bureaucracy (which means – rule by officials).
• Another significant process that happened in Western Europe was political liberalization refers to the emergence of liberal-democratic regimes that are characterized by a representative form of democracy were political office is gained through formal, competitive elections.
• • Political culture – refers to the pattern of orientation to political objects such as parties, government, and constitution, expressed in beliefs, symbols, and values.
• • People generally acquire values and attitudes about politics and political institutions through the process of political socialization. 
•  The word legitimacy derived from the Latin word “legitimare” meaning “to declare lawful” and is broadly defined as “rightfulness”.
• Social Stratification


  The division of large social groups into smaller groups based on categories determined by economics. Members of society are arranged in hierarchy based on their access to or control over basic economic resources.
• Social Stratification gives rise to inequality
• Common basis of social stratification

  • Wealth
  • Property
  • Access to political power
  • Race and religion
  • Gender
  • Access to material and cultural goods
• Social Exclusion


  The process by which individuals are cut off from full involvement in the wider circles of society. May be due to poor housing, lack of employment, inferior schools, or limited transportation. Leads to lack of opportunities for self-improvement.
• Systems of Stratification

  • Closed
  • Open
• Closed Stratification Systems


  • Impose rigid boundaries between social groups
  • Limit interactions between members who belong to different social groups or occupy different levels in social hierarchy
  • Resistant to change in social roles
• Open Stratification Systems


  • Mainly based on achievement
  • Allow more flexibility in social roles
  • Increased social mobility
  • Better interaction
• Caste System


  A closed stratification system where people are unable to change their social standing. Caste systems promote belief in fate, destiny, and the will of higher spiritual power rather than promotion of individual freedom. People born into caste society are socialized to accept their standing for the rest of their lives. There are no opportunities to improve one's social position.
• Caste System

  • Brahmins (priests & teachers)
  • Kshatriyas (warriors & rulers)
  • Vaishyas (farmers, traders & merchants)
  • Shudras (labourers)
  • Dalits (outcastes - street sweepers, latrine cleaners)
• Class System

  A stratification system based on ownership of resources and the individual's occupation or profession. A social class is composed of people who share the same background and characteristics (income, education & occupation).
• Class System


  • People are free to move from one social class to another and achieve higher status in life through education and employment
  • Openness in class systems results in prevalence of exogamous marriages
• Exogamous Marriages


  Marriages between people from different social classes
• Endogamous Marriages


  Marriages between people from the same social class
• Meritocracy


  A system of stratification that is determined by personal effort and merit. Social standing advancements are determined by how well a person performs his or her social role. However, it remains an ideal and is only implemented in business or industry.
• Society in general still remains strongly influenced by other factors such as inheritance and pressure to conform.
• Theoretical Perspectives on Social Stratification

  • Functionalism
  • Conflict Theory
  • Symbolic Interactionism