Exam 3 Pt 4 Soc

Introduction to Power in Politics

• Power is defined as the ability to achieve one's goals despite resistance from others (Weber).
• Types of Power:
• Legitimate Power (Authority): accepted as just; based on social norms and laws.
• Illegitimate Power (Coercion): rejected as unjust; relies on force or intimidation.
  • Example:
  • Legitimate: Police issuing a $200 speeding ticket.
  • Illegitimate: Being mugged for $200 out of fear.

Monopoly on Legitimate Force:

• The government claims the exclusive right to use violence legally (e.g., capital punishment).
• Example:
• The state can legally execute individuals through the death penalty, unlike private individuals.

Types of Authority (Weber):

• Traditional Authority: Based on customs (e.g., parental authority).
• Erodes in modern societies due to social changes.
• Rational-Legal Authority: Based on laws and rules; individual authority comes from their position.
• Example: Authority of the President as defined by the Constitution.
• Charismatic Authority: Based on an individual's appeal and personal qualities; can challenge established systems.
• Example: Joan of Arc attracted followers not through law, but through her charisma.

Transfer of Authority:

• Traditional: Succession is defined (e.g., parental authority passed to children).
• Rational-Legal: Succession through formal elections (e.g., presidential elections).
• Charismatic: Succession poses challenges due to reliance on a singular leader's characteristics.
• Routinization of Charisma: Transitioning to rational-legal or traditional structures after a charismatic leader's demise.

Forms of Government:

• Monarchy: Rule by a king/queen; few absolute monarchies remain today (e.g., Saudi Arabia, Vatican City).
• Democracy: Rule derived from the people; includes direct and representative democracies.
• Example of Direct Democracy: Ancient Athens where voters participated directly.
• The U.S. operates as a Representative Democracy (voters elect representatives).
• Dictatorship: Rule by a single individual; absolute power resides with the dictator (e.g., North Korea under Kim Jong Un).
• Oligarchy: Rule by a small group; power concentrated among elites (e.g., Russia).
• Totalitarianism: Complete government control; examples include Saddam Hussein's regime.

Political Parties in the U.S.:

• Two dominant parties: Republicans and Democrats.
• Differences in demographics:
  • Democrats: younger, more minorities, females, liberals.
  • Republicans: older, predominantly white males, conservatives.
• Political Gender Gap: Females tend to vote Democratic, while males lean Republican.

Voting Trends:

• Older, more educated, and higher-income individuals are more likely to vote.
• Younger and minority populations show higher voter apathy (feeling that votes do not matter).

Theoretical Frameworks:

• Functionalism: Belief in pluralism; diffusion of power among various interest groups to prevent a single group's dominance.
• Checks and balances as designed by the U.S. Constitution.
• Conflict Theory:
• Power elite control the political landscape, emphasizing the influence of wealthy individuals and corporations.
• Mills' concept of power elite and their focus on capitalism as essential for welfare.

Economic Systems:

• Capitalism:
• Features: private ownership, market competition, profit motive.
• U.S. operates under welfare capitalism where regulations exist to protect public interests.
• Socialism:
• State owns the means of production, aiming for distribution according to need.
• Democratic Socialism:
• Combines democratic governance with socialist economic principles (e.g., Sweden, Denmark).
• Advocates for reducing inequality while maintaining political democracy.