Politics and the Economy in Global Perspective

1. Politics and the Economy in Global Perspective Chapter 13

2. Politics, Power and Authority • Politics is the social institution through which power is acquired and exercised by some people and groups. • Government is the formal organization that has the legal and political authority to regulate relationships among members of a society and between the society and those outside its borders. (sometimes referred to as the “state”

3. Power • Power is the ability of persons or groups to achieve their goals despite opposition from others. • Is this influenced by the media? • Authority is the power that people accept as legitimate. • Coercion is the exercise of power through force or the threat of force

4. Ideal Types of Authority • Traditional (long standing customs) • Kings, Queens, Emperors, religious dignitaries • Charismatic (personality, gain loyalty) • politicians, soldiers, entertainers • Napoleon • Hitler • MLK • Rational–legal (power by law) • elected officials

5. Types of Political Systems • Monarchy - A political system in which power resides in one person or family and is passed from generation to generation through lines of inheritance. • Authoritarianism - A political system controlled by rulers who deny popular participation in government.

6. Types of Political Systems • Totalitarianism - A political system in which the state seeks to regulate all aspects of people's public and private lives. • Democracy - A political system in which the people hold the ruling power either directly or through elected representatives.

7. Functionalist Perspectives: Pluralist Model • The functions of government: • maintain law and order • plan and direct society • meet social needs • handle international relations • Pluralist model…suggests that power in government is widely dispersed throughout many interest groups (government is a arbiter). • Special interest groups (promote interests) • Political action committees (raise funds)

8. Conflict Perspectives: Elite Models • Power in political systems is in the hands of a small group of elites and the masses are relatively powerless. • Decisions are made by the elites, who agree on the basic values and goals of society. • The needs and concerns of the masses are not often given full consideration by the elite.

9. Purpose of a Political Party • Develop and articulate policy positions. • Educate voters about issues and simplify the choices for them. • Recruit candidates, help them win office, hold them responsible for implementing the party’s positions.

10. Voter Apathy • 10% of the voting-age population participates at a level higher than voting. • Over the past 40 years, less than half the voting-age population has voted in nonpresidential elections. • In many other Western nations, the average turnout is 80 to 90% of all eligible voters.

11. 2016 Presidential Election

12. Why Eligible Voters Don’t Vote Conservative argument: • People are satisfied with the status quo, are uninformed and lack an understanding of government processes. Liberal argument: • People feel alienated from politics due to corruption and influence peddling by special interests and large corporations.

13. Government Bureaucracy • Much of the political power in the US is established through the government’s bureaucracy. • Policies are made by committees and subcommittees that are made up of politicians and strong influences from the private sector.

14. The Economy

15. The Economy • The social institution that ensures the maintenance of society and decision making processes through the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. • Goods are objects that are necessary or desired. • Services are activities for which people are willing to pay.

16. The Economy • Land – raw materials. • Labor - the group of people who contribute their physical and intellectual services to the production process in return for wages. • Capital - wealth owned or used in business by a person or corporation.

17. Characteristics of Industrial Economies • New forms of energy, mechanization, and the growth of the factory system. • Increased division of labor and specialization among workers. • Universal application of scientific methods to problem solving and profit making.

18. Capitalism Four distinctive features: • Private ownership of the means of production. • Pursuit of personal profit. • Competition. • Lack of government intervention.

19. Socialism Three distinctive features: • Public ownership of the means of production. • Pursuit of collective goals. • Looks to benefit all • Centralized decision-making. • Few truly socialist systems • Most use a political process (democratic socialism)

20. Mixed Economies • Mixed economies combine elements of both capitalism of multiple systems. • The government steps in to benefit and protect the people • They encourage growth and efficiency • Regulate business structures and practices

21. Large Corporations • Large corporations can exert major influence and power over many. • Towns and cities revolve around their employment. • Governments contract out to many and hire their employees. • Multi Nationals influence political processes in less developed countries.

22. Types of Unemployment • Cyclical - result of lower rates of production during recessions. • Flow with business cycles • Seasonal - result of shifts in the demand for workers based on seasons. • Structural - skills needed by employers do not match skills of unemployed. • Frictional – unemployment experienced while looking for a job.

23. Outsourcing and Globalization • What effects may our society experience as a result of globalization? • Conservative Argument…Free Market • Liberal Argument… Government Policies