Connecting Sociology and YOU!

Chapter 11: Economics and Politics

Resource Details:

political sociology: the study of political groups, leadership, and social power.

political participation: actions to support the government or politicians

civic participation: individual and collective action to address issues of public concern

political consumerism: choosing producers and products with the goal of changing ethical or objectional institutional or market practices

global warming: the rise in surface temperature on the planet

climate change: the weather impacts of the rising temperatures

economic systems: frameworks for producing and allocating goods and services within a society

capitalism: an economic and political system based on private control of the production and distribution of goods and services within a free market system

laissez-faire capitalism: a system of free enterprise without government intervention

monopolies: possessing near or complete control of commodities or producing goods and services

socialism: an economic and political system based on cooperative management or citizens\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’ production and distribution of goods and services normally within a democratic govt.

communism: an economic and political system based on the govt\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s ownership and regulation of all of the production and distribution of goods and services

totalitarian: a state-controlled govt holding all authority over public and private lives

democracy: a system of govt in which the power is vested in the people, and free elections are held

absolute monarchy: a system of govt ruled by a monarch who has control of the govt and state

constitutional monarchies: a system of govt in which a monarch is the head of state and is governed by a parliament

power: the ability to exert control over others and achieve goals with or without the support of society

marxist power model: ruling forces formulate public policies that are in the best interest of capitalism and the ruling class

power elite model: power is concentrated among the elite and wealthy, particularly corporations, govt, and the military

dictatorship: a form of govt in which a single person or political entity controls political authority

pluralist power model: power is fragmented and dispersed among groups within a society

lobbyist: individuals who persuade legislators to vote for a specials interest of their group

outsourcing: hiring a subcontractor or outside agency to complete the work formally done by employees within the company

offshoring: which involves corporations transferring jobs overseas

sweatshops: factories that offer their workers low wages and long hours in dangerous working conditions

knowledge workers: employees who design, prepare, or share knowledge

service workers: employees who provide food, physical comfort, shelter, or mechanical support

downsizing: a reduction in the number of employees that work for the corporation