Chapter 13

1. Chapter 13 Politics and the Economy in Global Perspective

2. Questions for you… How are the social institutions of politics and the economy related? What are the advantages and disadvantages to capitalism, socialism or communism as forms of economic operating systems? How would you rate the state of the current economy?

3. Chapter Outline Politics, Power and Authority Political Systems in Global Perspective Perspectives on Power and Political Systems The U.S. Political System

4. Chapter Outline Economic Systems in Global Perspective Work in the Contemporary United States Politics and the Economy in the Future

5. 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.

6. How Much Do You Know About the Media? True or False? Websites are becoming increasingly profi table because visitors often click on ads and purchase products from website sponsors.

7. How Much Do You Know About the Media? False. Studies show that not as many website visitors are clicking on pop-up ads or purchasing products from website sponsors as originally had been projected by website producers who hoped to make a profit from providing information and entertainment online.

8. How Much Do You Know About the Media? • True or False? • In the United States, no media are publicly owned.

9. How Much Do You Know About the Media? • False. • Although most media outlets are privately owned, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR) are funded by government support, grants from nonprofit foundations, and donations from viewers and listeners.

10. How Much Do You Know About the Media? • True or False? • The Internet has displaced newspapers as the number-one source of news in the United States.

11. How Much Do You Know About the Media? False. The Internet is the number-two source of news in the United States. Television remains the number-one source in 2010.

12. How Much Do You Know About the Media? • True or False? • Almost all movies in the United States are distributed by six large studios.

13. How Much Do You Know About the Media? • True. • Six major studios—Columbia, Paramount, 20th Century-Fox, MCA/Universal, Time Warner, and Disney—distribute not only the films they produce but also most of the films made by independent producers.

14. Ideal Types of Authority • Traditional • Kings, Queens, Emperors, religious dignitaries • Charismatic • politicians, soldiers, entertainers • Rational–legal • elected officials

15. Weber’s Three Types of Authority

16. Political Systems in Global Perspective Political institutions emerged when agrarian societies acquired surpluses and developed social inequality. When cities developed, the city-state became the center of political power. Nation-states emerged as countries acquired the ability to defend their borders.

17. Nation-states Approximately 190 nation-states currently exist throughout the world. Today, everyone is born, lives, and dies under the auspices of a nation-state. Four types of political systems are found in nation-states: monarchy, authoritarianism, totalitarianism, and democracy.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. Functionalist Perspectives: Pluralist Model • The functions of government: • maintain law and order • plan and direct society • meet social needs • handle international relations

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. Polling Question • Are you registered to vote? • Yes • No • Not eligible

25. Polling Question • Did you vote in the last election? • Yes • No • Not eligible

26. 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.

27. 2008 Election: State by State

28. Polling Question • How would you characterize your political views? • Far left • Liberal • Middle-of-the-road • Conservative • Far right

29. The Iron Triangle of Power

30. The Economy The social institution that ensures the maintenance of society 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.

31. Polling Question • Which of these statements about the environment and the economy do you most agree with? • Protecting the environment should be given priority even at the risk of slowing down economic growth. • Economic priority should be given even if the environment suffers to some extent. • No opinion

32. The Economy 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.

33. 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.

34. Characteristics of Industrial Economies Introduction of wage labor, time discipline, and workers’ deferred gratification. Strengthening of bureaucratic organizational structure.

35. Characteristics of the Postindustrial Economy Information displaces property as the central preoccupation in the economy. Workplace culture shifts away from factories and toward diverse work settings, the employee, and the manager. The conventional boundaries between work and home are breached.

36. Polling Question Increased efforts by business and industry to improve environmental quality might lead to higher prices for the things you buy. • Would you be willing to pay higher prices so that industry could better protect the environment? • Yes • No

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

38. Socialism Three distinctive features: Public ownership of the means of production. Pursuit of collective goals. Centralized decision-making.

40. The Music Industry’s Big Four

41. The Music Industry’s Big Four

42. Factors In the Rapid Growth of the Media Conglomerates Aggressive political and economic maneuvering by dominant media firms. Introduction of new technologies that increased the cost efficiency of global systems. Policies of the U.S. government and organizations.

43. General Motors Board - Interlocking Directorates

44. Five Characteristics of Professions Abstract, specialized knowledge Autonomy Self regulation Authority Altruism

45. SAT Scores by Parents’ Income and Education, 2008

46. Types of Unemployment Cyclical - result of lower rates of production during recessions. Seasonal - result of shifts in the demand for workers based on holidays. Structural - skills needed by employers do not match skills of unemployed.

47. Labor Unions and Strikes In recent years, strike activity has diminished as workers fear losing their jobs. In 2008 only 15 strikes involving more than 1,000 workers were reported. Number of workers involved in the actions declined from more than 2.5 million in 1971 to 72,000 in 2008.

48. U.S. Unemployment Rate by State – Before Fall 2008

49. U.S. Unemployment Rate by State – After Fall 2008

50. Employment For Persons With A Disability Workers with a disability make 85% (men) and 70% (women) of what coworkers without disabilities earn. A survey of executives responsible for making hiring decision for their companies found that the average cost of workplace modifications to accommodate employees with a disability was less than $500.