Social Studies 30-1 Diploma Prep

Ideology

A set of principles or ideas that explains your world and your place within it, which is based on certain assumptions about human nature and society explanation of the present and a vision for the future

Liberalism

A collection of ideologies all committed to the principle of the dignity and freedom of the individual as the foundation for society

Worldview

A collection of beliefs about life and the universe held by an individual or group

Personal Identity

The idea you have of yourself as a unique individual

Collective Identity

The idea that you share with other people as a member of a larger social group

Beliefs

Aspects of identity that influence behaviour and choices and how they guide people and view the world

Values

A person's principles or standards of behaviour

Totalitarianism

A government system that seeks complete control over the public and private lives of its citizens

Hegemony

Leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others

Pluralism

A condition or system in which two or more states, group, principles, sources of authority, coexist

Collectivism

A current of thinking that values the goals of the group and the common good over the goals of any one individual

Individualism

A current of thinking that values the freedom and worth of the individual, sometimes over the security and harmony of the group

Democracy

A form of government in which power is ultimately vested in the people

Adherence to Collective Norms

Faithful observance of the norms or standards imposed on members of a group as a condition of membership on the group

Collective Interest

The set of interests that members of the group have in common

Collective Responsibility

Holding a whole group or collective responsible for the actions of individuals within the group or collective

Common Good

The good of a community

Competition

The act or an instance of competing or contending with others

Co-operation

Working together to the same end

Economic Equality

A principle common to collectivist ideologies, which can have different meanings depending on the person or ideology

Economic Freedom

The freedom to buy what you want and to sell your labour, idea, or product to whomever you wish

Individual Rights and Freedoms

A key principle of individualism and an important feature of liberal democracies

Private Property

Something that is owned by an individual, including real estate, other forms of physical possessions, and intellectual property

Public Property

Anything that privately owned by individuals

Rule of Law

A key principle in liberal democracies that states that every individual is equal before the law and all citizens are subject to the law

Self-Interest

One's personal interest or advantage

Autonomy

A state of individual freedom from outside authority

Self-Reliance

The quality of being solely responsible for one's own well-being

Renaissance

A period in European history from about 1350 to 1600 that was characterized by a renewed interest in classical Greek and Roman culture, which included a renewed interest in humanism, the power of human reason and human creative potential, and the concept of the worth of the individual

Free Markets

A market that operates with limited government intervention

Welfare State

A state in which the economy is capitalist, but the government uses policies that directly or indirectly modify the market forces in order to ensure economic stability and a basic standard of living for its citizens, usually through social programs

Labour Movement

The effort by organized labour to improve conditions for workers

Censorship

The acts of restricting freedom of expression or freedom of access to ideas or works, usually by governments, and usually to protect the perceived common good

Democratic Socialism

Political ideology advocating democratic political system alongside a socialist economic system

Social Capital

The networks of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society, enabling that society to function effectively

Invisible Hand

A phrase coined by Adam Smith to describe the process that turns self-directed gain into social and economic benefits for all

Point of View

An individual's opinion, based on that individual's personal experience and values

Perspective

The outlook of a particular group of people with the same age, culture, economics, faith, language, or other shared quality

Philosopher

A person engaged or learned in philosophy, especially as an academic discipline.

Multiculturalism

The presence of, or support for the presence of, several distinct cultural or ethnic groups within a society.

Progressivism

Ideologies that support moderate political or social reform with government action

Supply and Demand

The amount of a commodity, product, or service available and the desire of buyers for it, considered as factors regulating its price.

Entrepreneurialism

Starting new businesses, or getting involved with new ventures or ideas

Class System

The division of a society into different classes of people, usually based on income or wealth

Enlightenment

Intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th century when classical liberalism spread through Europe, also known as the Age of Enlightenment

Industrialization

The stage of economic development that during which the application of technology results in mass production and mass consumption within a country

Laissez-Faire Capitalism

Non-interference or non-intervention, supports free markets and an individual's right to own private property

Limited Government

Principle of little government involvement in the affairs of an economy, in the belief that this results in more efficient self regulating markets

Traditional Economy

An economic system usually practised by a pre-industrialization society where needs are met through agriculture, hunting and fishing, and where there tends to be a division of labour based on custom and tradition

Humanists

Someone who believes in the supremacy of the reason of individual over faith and who has developed an interpretation of history and beliefs about human nature, the structure of society, and the purpose of life, based on reason rather than religion

Physiocrats

A group of enlightenment philosophers in France who criticized the prevailing economics of mercantilism

Mercantilism

An economic theory that says the aim of all economic pursuits should be to strengthen the power and wealth of the state

Enclosure

The act of enclosing land that had been held in common and make it the private property of an individual

Nouveau Riche

Means "newly wealthy"; factory owners, bankers, retailers, lawyers, engineers, and other professionals or entrepreneurs who gained their wealth during the Industrial Revolution

Capital

Money or other assets with which an entrepreneur starts in business

Classical Conservatism

An ideology that says government should represent the legacy of the past as well as the well being of the present, and that society should be structured in a hierarchical fashion, that government should be chosen by a limited electorate, that leaders should be humanitarian, and that the stability of society is all important

Command Economy

An economic system based on public (state) ownership of property in which government planners decide which goods to produce, how to produce them, and how they should be distributed

Communism

A system of society with a property vested in their community and each member working for the common benefit according to their capacity and receiving according to their needs

Feminism

The belief in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes

Human Rights

The rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled

Labour Standards

Government enforced rules and standards aimed at safe, clean working environments and the protection of workers rights to free association, collective bargaining, and the freedom from discrimination

Labour Unions

Associations of workers engaged in a similar function who unite to speak with management about their concerns

Marxism

A radical form of socialism, often called scientific socialism or communism

Mixed Economy

An economic system based on free market principles but with some government intervention

Progressivism

A 1920s movement in the US, usually associated with President Theodore Roosevelt that reacted to the perceived abuses of laissez-faire capitalism by large cooperations

Socialism

Any ideology that contains the belief that resources should be controlled by the public for the benefit of everyone in society

Universal Suffrage

The right of all members of society, once they reach the age of accountability, to fully participate politically

Welfare Capitalism

Initiatives by industrialists to provide the government with non-monetary rewards to head off the growing demand for labour unions

Luddism

A protest movement in the early 1800s against industrialization and mechanization

Chartism

A working class movement in Britain that focused on political and social reform from 1838 to 1848

Utopian Socialism

Humanitarians who advocated an end to the appalling conditions of average workers in the industrial cabinet countries of the 19th century

Great Depression

The economic crises and period of low business activity in the US and other countries, beginning with the stock market crash in October

Collectivization

An economic policy where all land is taken away from private owners and combined in large, collectively worked farms

Dissent

The political act of disagreeing

Fascism

An extreme right-wing, anti-democratic, nationalist movement which led to totalitarian governments in Germany and Italy from 1920s to 1940s

Reactionary

A person or ideology that vehemently resists change or seeks change back to a previous state (May advocate violence)

Radical

A person or ideology that advocates rapid and substantial change, often through violent means

Emancipation

Freeing from restraint, especially legal, social, or political

Autarky

The quality of being self-sufficient

Eugenics

The belief and practice of improving the genetic quality of the human population

Consumerism

Consumer spending

Income Disparity

Difference in earnings between the rich and the poor

Inflation

An increase in the general price level of products, the cost of labour and interest rates

Monopoly

The exclusive ownership or control of trade in a particular good or service

Social Programs

Programs that affect human welfare in society

Trickle-Down Economics

Government economic policies that include reduced income and business taxes, reduced regulation, and increased government spending on the military; favours industry, assuming that if industry prosper then everyone prospers as wealth "trickles down"

Bank Runs

A situation where too many people try to withdraw their savings, threatening bankruptcy for the bank

Extremism

A term used by others to describe the beliefs and actions of those perceived to be outside of the accepted norms of political or social behaviour

New Deal

The economic policies put in place by US president Franklin D. Roosevelt

Stagflation

A term used in economics to describe a situation where inflation rates are high, and economic growth slows down while unemployment is steadily high

Deficit

The amount by which a sum falls short of some reference amount

Reaganomics

The economic policies of the Ronal Reagan US presidency, which advocated less government intervention in the economy and pro-industry, anti-labour, anti-regulation, anti-environmental regulation policies

Brinkmanship

International behaviour or foreign policy that takes a country to the brink of war

Cold War

The political, economic, and social struggle between the USSR and USA and their allies in ways not involving direct conflict

Containment

The American Cold War foreign policy of containing the spread of communism by establishing strategic allies around the world through trade and military alliances

Détente

The Cold War foreign policy of both major powers aiming to deter the strategic arms development and arms build up

Expansionisn

A country's foreign policy of acquiring additional territory through the violation of another countries sovereignty for reasons of defence, resources, markets, national pride or perceived racial superiority

Liberation Movements

Military and political struggles of people for independence from countries that have colonized or oppressed them

McCarthyism

The anti-communist movement in the US during the 50s

Non-Alignment

The position taken during the Cold War by those countries in the UN that didn't form an alliance with the US or the USSR