Harvard EdX social policy Unit One Topic One

What do social issues refer to?

Disputes over values and how we should live our lives.

Why do social issues often pit people against each other?

Because they involve disagreements about values.

What are some examples of modern social issues?

Immigration, charter schools, police practices, gun rights, legalization of marijuana, environmental protection, and discrimination.

Historically, what has most substantially affected social issues

Religion

Why do religion and social issues often intersect?

Because social issues arise from values, and religions are founded on values.

What has been a persistent source of political conflict in the U.S.?

The intersection of religion and politics.

Which social issues have highlighted the intersection of religion and politics in recent decades?

Abortion and same-sex marriage.

How have abortion and same-sex marriage shaped political alignments?

Religious conservatives aligned with the Republican Party; seculars and religious liberals aligned with the Democratic Party.