I was in civil society long before I was ever in politics or my husband was ever even elected president Hillary Clinton American politician Social Cleavages Definition Categories of identity that create divisions between groups in a society ID: 717133
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Part Four: Citizens, Society & the State
“I was in civil society long before I was ever in politics or my husband was ever even elected president.” – Hillary Clinton (American politician)Slide2
Social CleavagesDefinition
Categories of identity that create divisions between groups in a societyTwo Considerations:What are the bases of social cleavages?How are cleavages expressed in the political system?Coinciding vs Cross-Cutting CleavagesDo multiple cleavages lead to more or less division?Slide3
Bases of Social Cleavages
Social ClassGB, less developed countries, IndiaEthnic CleavagesBased on different cultural identities, including religion/languageMost divisive and explosiveYugoslavia, Chechnya/Russia, NigeriaReligious CleavagesClosely intertwined with ethnicityNorthern Ireland May also exist within same ethnic group
Regional Cleavages
Involves competition for jobs, money and development projects
NigeriaSlide4Slide5Slide6Slide7
Cleavages and Political Institutions
How are cleavages expressed in the political system?Is political party membership based on cleavages?Do political elites usually come from one group or another?Do these cleavages block some groups from fully participating in government?Slide8
Coinciding vs Cross-Cutting Cleavages
Coinciding (Reinforcing) CleavagesIdentity divisions that coincide with one another for large numbers of individualsMore likely to be explosiveCross-Cutting CleavagesDivide society into many potential groups that may conflict on one issue, but cooperate on anotherTend to keep conflict to more moderate levelsSlide9
Flemish-speaking Flanders
French-speaking Walonia
Wealthier
Poorer
North
South
Highly Fragmented Parties
German
French
Italian
Different Dialects
Mixed Religions
Economic interests in tourism or banking
Belgium
Switzerland
Coinciding Cleavages
Cross-Cutting Cleavages
Stable SocietySlide10
Comparing Citizen/State RelationshipsSlide11
Citizen/State RelationshipAttitudes & BeliefsPolitical
efficacy: A citizen’s capacity to understand and influence political eventsTransparencyTransparent govt operates openly Political socializationHow do citizens learn about politics in their country?Slide12
Political CultureCollection of political beliefs, values, practices,
institutions that government is based onTraditions can be importantVaries from one country to anotherSocial capitalAmount of trust between citizens and the stateTypes of Political CultureConsensualGeneral agreement on how decisions are madeConflictual
Citizens are sharply divided on legitimacy of regimeSlide13
Political Ideologies
Sets of political values held by individualsExamples:
Liberalism
Emphasis on individual political & economic freedom
Ideology vs. stereotypes (particularly in the U.S.)
Communism
Communism
Values equality over
freedomSlide14
Political IdeologiesSocialismShares value of equality with
CommunismBut, favors freedom, private ownership and free market principlesState has a strong role to play in economy and public benefitsFascismRejects the idea of equality and devalues individual freedom (Nazi Germany)Religion
Plays
a
varied role
in many governmentsSlide15
Types of ParticipationParticipation in Authoritarian
vs Democratic regimesInterest GroupsPolitical PartiesVotingSocial movementsCivil SocietyOrganized life outside the stateVoluntary groups, non-state
Help prevent “tyranny of the majority”
Global Civil
Society:
Nongovernmental
organizations (NGO’s)
Doctors Without Borders
for exampleSlide16
Civil SocietyCivil
SocietyOrganized life outside the stateVoluntary groupsHelp people define and advance their own interestUsually strong in liberal democraciesHelp prevent “tyranny of the majority”Global Civil Society: Nongovernmental
organizations (NGO’s)
Doctors Without Borders
for example, Amnesty International, Red CrossSlide17
Civil Society: arena outside of the state and family (i.e., mainly voluntary organizations and civic associations) that permits individuals to associate freely and independently of state regulationSlide18
Mass Media
An important way to legitimately access political elites When a message receives national attention, the message to policy makers carries added weight because they know millions of voters have been exposed to the issues. When control over mass media is loosened, democracy tends to receive a huge boost.