POLS 111 F25 - Week 10 Lecture 1

Final Exam Date: December 15
Theme 4: Society, Economics, and Technology
- Society
- Culture and Identity
- Gender and Socioeconomic Class
- Migration

Discusses the broader context within which governing institutions and processes are embedded and affect society.
Week Schedule:
- Week 10: Society, Class, and Diversity
- Week 11: Political Economy
- Week 12: Politics of Technology

Composed of networks of interaction and culture among individuals, groups, and institutions organizing collective life.
Social categorizations and structures (such as class, gender, and race) shape:
- Access to resources
- Status
- Influence
The idea that societies are neatly bounded and internally integrated while being externally discrete is identified as a nationalist myth.

The state is embedded within society, rather than existing as an isolated entity.
Characteristics of the state:
- Draws authority, resources, and legitimacy from social structures, networks, and norms.
- Interacts with social groups, communities, and institutions, which can:
- Support state power
- Constrain state power
- Challenge state power
- State capacity and autonomy can vary depending on:
- Distribution of social power
- Strength of social institutions
- Understanding the state requires analyzing both formal authority and its relationship with society in practice.

Defined as shared beliefs, values, norms, and practices that influence how people live, interact, and perceive the world.
Components of culture include:
- Language
- Religion
- Customs
- Traditions
- Symbols
Culture affects:
- Social behavior
- Identity
- Collective decision-making
Culture is dynamic and evolving, adapting to:
- Internal changes
- External influences
- Acts as a shaper of authority, cooperation, and conflict patterns.

A collection of shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about politics and authority.
Political culture shapes:
- Citizens' expectations of government
- Patterns of political participation
Transmitted via education, media, and broader socialization processes.
Political culture varies across societies and over time, affecting regime stability and change.

Based on previous discussions by Barth and Tajfel (Week 5), it's crucial to distinguish between culture and identity.
Identity is characterized by:
- A perceived boundary between ‘us’ and ‘them’.
- Cultural characteristics that may be shared by groups but are not prerequisites for identity—a group may form before sharing culture.
The textbook often inadequately addresses identity issues.

Defined as socially constructed roles, behaviors, expectations, and identities based on perceived differences of sex (distinct from biological sex).
Gender varies across cultures and generations and shapes:
- Power dynamics in both private and public life.
- Family roles and caregiving responsibilities.
- Access to education and economic opportunities.
Additionally affects:
- Participation in political and social institutions
- Authority and representation
Gender is continually negotiated and contested through:
- Social movements
- Legal frameworks
- Cultural shifts

Class refers to hierarchical divisions in society based on wealth, occupation, and education.
It structures power by determining who can:
- Mobilize resources
- Access decision-makers
- Engage effectively in political and institutional processes
Socioeconomic status influences:
- Policy preferences
- Voting patterns
The inequalities driven by class are pivotal in sparking social movements, contestations, and debates over:
- Redistribution
- Taxation
- Welfare

A concept used to explain how multiple social categories and/or identities interact to influence individuals' experiences of power and inequality.
It recognizes that systems of inequality are interconnected rather than separate, helping to explain the compounded barriers some groups face in:
- Political participation
- Representation
- Access to resources