Social Studies 30 - Full vocabulary

Belief

a notion, conviction, or impression that an individual or group accepts as true

Collective identity

aspects of an individual’s identity that are held in common with a larger group

Personal identity

a set of characteristics that connects or sets people apart from others

ideology

a set of beliefs or values, in particular those which form the basic components of a political or economic theory or system

value

a principle, philosophy, or code that defines what is important or desirable

autonomy

a state of individual freedom from outside authority

collectivism

an approach to social organization that puts the needs of the group as a whole above the needs and rights of individuals within the group

common good

the well-being of the/an entire group as opposed to specific individuals within that group

conservative

a person or ideology opposed to, or cautious about, change

counter-revolutionary (reactionary)

a person or ideology that vehemently resists change or seeks change back to a previous state. May advocate violence to achieve their goals

extremist

a person who has fanatical or immoderate views and beliefs

individualism

an approach to social organization that promotes individual rights over group needs and advocates personal independence

labour movement

a term used to describe efforts by workers to organize themselves into larger groups with the goals of improving wages, working conditions, and other benefits

left wing

a term applied to ideologies, governments, political parties, and policies that promote change

liberal

a person or ideology that advocates moderate and gradual change

moderate

a person or ideology that shuns extremism and rejects violence as a means to achieving political or social goals

radical

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

revolutionary

a person or ideology that advocates rapid and substantial change, often through violent means (not radical)

right wing

a term applied to ideologies, governments, political parties, and policies that resist change or promote change that will return society to a previous state or condition

self-reliance

the quality of being solely responsible for one’s own well-being

welfare state

a state in which the economy is capitalist, but the government uses policies which modify either directly or indirectly the market forces in order to ensure economic stability and a basic standard of living for its citizens. Also, a situation in which government provides for many of the material, social, and economic needs of the population

partisan

strongly, or even fanatically, in favour of an idea, a political party, or a cause

indoctrination

teaching a person or group to adopt a biased set of beliefs without critically analyzing the beliefs

competition

in terms of economics, the concept that those who produce and sell goods compete with one another for consumer dollars

economic freedom

the concept that individuals should be able to own property and produce and sell goods with minimal interference from the government

individual rights and freedoms

the universally accepted or legally granted power of the individual to engage in certain activities and to exercise certain privileges

Private property

property that is owned by individuals or groups of individuals as opposed to owned by the government

rule of law

the concept that all individuals, regardless of wealth, social status, or political power, are equally subject to the law

self-interest

the economic or political advancement of the individual as opposed to the group or society; the consideration of one’s personal position, often without regard for the welfare of others

direct democracy

a government system in which all eligible citizens vote directly on issues before the government (referendums/plebiscites, initiatives, recall)

divine right of kings

the theory that absolute monarchs held power because God had chosen them to rule

free market system

an economic system in which individuals are free to own property, produce goods, and buy or sell goods and services with little or no government interference (other words: capitalism, the market system, free enterprise, and private enterprise)

Invisible hand

in economics, the concept that individual self-interest and competition would regulate the economy

laissez-faire

an economic theory or system that advocates little or no government interferecne in the economic affairs of the people

mercantilism

an economic system that was characterized by efforts to restrict trade between nations, to regulate economic activity, and to accumulate gold bullion in the national treasury

natural rights

universal rights deemed to be automatically granted to all humans at birth

oligarchy

a governmental system in which power is concentrated in the hands of a small group of unelected people. An authoritarian system in which power is concentrated in the hands of small ruling group or committee

self-regulating

not requiring external control or intervention

social contract

the concept that an unwritten contract exists between the government and the governed. Under it, the people agree to obey the laws, provided the government does not undermine the citizen’s natural rights

tyranny of the majority

a situation in which a majority group infringes on the basic rights of the minority

capital

money, property, or other assets that can be used by an individual or a group to generate more wealth

class structure

a division of society based on factors such as wealth, social standing, education and political power

classical conservatism

an ideology that rejected the ideals of classical liberalism but that advocates a return to more traditional forms of economics and government

humanitarian

a person, group, or act that attempts to improve the living conditions of other people. A doctrine that promotes improvement to the standard of living or quality of life of other, often through outside intervention

Marxism

an ideology that advocates revolution as a means of creating a worker’s society founded on the principle of complete state ownership and control of the economy. Also known as communism or scientific socialism

nouveau riche

people who have become rich recently, as opposed to those who have inherited family wealth over a period of generations. Literally means new rich

Socialism

any of a variety of ideologies that advocate significant levels of state control of the economy with the intent of providing for the needs of all citizens

utopian

perfect; usually used in reference to an imaginary world in which the typical problems of human society have been overcome

welfare capitalism

a situation in which industrialists initiate programs and policies that benefit their workers; also: a system that combines liberal economic ideals with government legislation, policies, and programs that protect workers’ rights and provide basic services like health care and unemployment insurance

Great Depression

a deep and prolonged economic downturn that lasted through most of the 1930s

demand-side economics

an economic theory that advocates direct government intervention in the economy through fiscal measures such as government spending and taxation. Aka Keynesian economics

monopoly

in business, a situation in which one company has exclusive control of the production and/or retail of a particular good or service

consumerism

an economic philosophy based on the continued and increasing consumption of goods by the population

income disparity

the difference between earnings between the wealthy and poorer members of society

bank run

a situation in which large depositors at a bank attempt to withdraw their savings at the same time, usually resulting in the bankruptcy of the financial institution

New Deal

an economic program instituted by FDR’s administration during the 1930s. Program was characterized by increased government regulation of private industry, massive government spending on public works projects, and government programs to aid the economically disadvantaged

inflation

a decrease in the purchasing power of money, typically characterized by rising prices and demands for increases in wages

social programs

government programs that provide financial aid and health, education, and similar services to certain groups in society

trust

in business, an arrangement in which companies in the same industry agree not to compete with each other, thereby artificially controlling the price of the goods or services they provide

stagflation

a situation in which an economy appears to be in recession but is still subject to rising prices and wage demands

deficit

the negative value obtained when expenditures exceed income

Reaganomics

the term given to the supply-side economic policies instituted under the administration of former US president Ronald Reagan in the 1980s

Supply-side economics

an economic school of thought that advocates reducing taxes, especially for the wealthy, and reducing government regulation in the economy

trickle - down economics

the concept that, under a supply-side approach to economics, tax breaks for the wealthy would encourage investment and create jobs, thereby allowing wealth to “trickle down” to the middle and lower classes

neo-liberalism

literally a new liberalism; an economic philosophy that returns to that returns to many of the basic economic ideals laid out by classical liberal economists like Adam Smith (conservatives)

absolute monarchy

an authoritarian government headed by a hereditary monarchy

atrocity

an act of violence or cruelty which is viewed as exceptionally shocking due to its nature or extent

authoritarianism

an approach to government in which the leadership is not elected by or accountable to the people it governs

coup d’etat

the forceful overthrow of a government by a small group of individuals

dictatorship

an authoritarian system in which power is concentrated in the hands of a single person; autocracy

dissident

a person who disagrees with the government

emancipation

the freeing of an enslaved or indentured people

junta

an oligarchy formed by committee of military officers

minority tyranny

a form of oligarchy in which the government is operated by, and in the interests of a minority group within the population

totalitarian

a term used to describe a dictatorship or oligarchy which attempts to impose its control and ideological beliefs on all aspects of society

anti-Semitism

hatred and prejudice directed at people of Jewish faith or origin

archetypal

classic; the example on which others are based

autarky

economic self-sufficiency

collectivization

the abolition of private property in favour of group or state ownership

eugenics

a largely discredited science of improving the human race through programs of selective breeding, sterilization, and euthanasia

imperialism

a government policy that promotes the establishment of an empire, usually through military conquest

militarism

a government policy that promotes the development and maintenance of a powerful military in order to protect and promote a country’s national interests

paramilitary

an adjective used to describe a private army or unofficial militia

traditionalism

praise for, and promotion of, the values and achievements of the past

Weimar Republic

a term used to describe the democratic government that existed in Germany between 1919 and 1933

Perestroika

A Russian word mean restructuring

alignment

a situation in which countries share a similar ideology and foreign policy. In an alignment, the foreign policy is often guided by a dominant nation

brinkmanship

a diplomatic approach that involves escalating a conflict in the hope that the other side will back down first

cold war

a conflict, without an actual war, characterized by tension and competition between the principle adversaries

containment

a policy or collection of policies aimed at stopping the spread of a particular ideology

detente

a period of lessening of tensions

deterrence

a defence strategy that consists of having sufficient military resources to make an attack by an aggressor likely to result in the aggressor’s destruction

dissuasion

the French policy of maintaining a nuclear arsenal for national defence

espionage

spying

expansionism

a policy of spreading ideological and political influence beyond the status quo

hot war

a war that involves actual combat between military forces; the opposite of a cold war

iron curtain

the physical and ideological divide between the liberal democracies of the west and the nations under the domination of the Soviet Union

McCarthyism

the term given to the movement to root out and expose potential communists within America society during the mid-1950s

Satellite state

a previously independent nation that has fallen under the control or ideological influence of a larger, more powerful state

sphere of influence

the group of nations are subject or receptive to the domination, guidance, or influence of a superpower