AP Comparative government Social Cleavages Religion ethnic groups race social and economic classes all interact with the political system and have a tremendous impact on policy making These divisions are refereed to as ID: 240020
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Slide1
Citizens, Society, and the State
AP Comparative governmentSlide2
Social Cleavages
Religion, ethnic groups, race, social and economic classes all interact with the political system and have a tremendous impact on policy making
These divisions are refereed to as
social cleavagesSlide3
Social Cleavages
Bases of social cleavages
There are a variety of questions that we have to ask when trying to determine what these social cleavages result from. Those questions are:
What mix of social classes ethnic and racial groups, religions, and languages does a country have?
How deep are these cleavages and to what degree do they separate people from one another?
Which of these cleavages appear to have the most significant impact on the political system?
One must also attempt to understand how cleavages impact political institutions as well. One would do so by trying to answer the following questions:
How are cleavages expressed in the political system?
Do political elites usually come from one group or another?
Do these cleavages block some groups from fully participating in government?Slide4
Types of Cleavages
Social class
Ethnic cleavages
These are generally the most divisive and explosive social cleavages around the world
These are based upon different cultural identities, including religion and language.
Religious cleavages
Regional cleavages
Coinciding and cross-cutting cleavages
These exist when every cleavage lings up. These can be explosive
Cross-cutting cleavages allow for a variety of groups to have issues with each otherSlide5
Comparing Citizen/State Relationships
Attitudes and beliefs of citizens
One important measure of connections between citizens and their government is
political efficacy
Political efficacy is a citizen’s capacity to understand and influence political events
Political Socialization
A person’s political beliefs depend on what they know about and how they interact with their government
Deep
Middle
SuperficialSlide6
Cosmopolitanism
Cosmopolitanism
is an ideology in which all human ethnic groups belong
to
a community based on a shared morality. Slide7
Comparing Citizen/State Relationships
Types of political participation
In authoritarian
governments,
citizens are limited to
subject activities
. These activities rely on obedience
These include obeying laws, following military orders and pay taxes
Democratic regimes depend on voting, political meetings, campaign activities and clubs/parties
Voting Behavior
Factors the influence political beliefs and behaviors
Level of transparency
Transparency exists when a government operates openly by keeping citizens informed about government operations and political issuesSlide8
Models
The Importance of political
change
The world has shifted from a competition between multiple super powers to being dominated by the United States
This has changed the way in which countries interact with each other
The integration of political and economic systems
This looks at the relationship between political systems and certain economic systems
We will be able to look at how the people are affected by economic changes and how the petition the government for helpSlide9
Political participation
Political participation is generally channeled through the use of political parties and interest groups
Interest groups
generally focus on very few ideals and focus on a narrow spectrum of the population
Political parties
try to unite interest groups in order to control the government Slide10
Political culture
Political participation
is shaped by a country’s
political culture
Political culture encompasses how the people view the political elite, how countries develop throughout history, the religion that people follow, and the type of government the country has
All of these factors impact the way that people participate within their governmentSlide11
Pluralist Theory
(group politics)-
The pluralist theory states that groups with shared interests influence public policy by pressing their concerns through organized efforts
(i.e. NRA, NOW, UAW)
Elite Class Theory-
The elite class theory states that the elite, upper class of individuals pull the strings of government
This is the belief that wealth, is the basis of all power. At the center of this is the belief that big business rules all
Interest group theoriesSlide12
Hyperpluralism
-
The hyperpluralism theory states that many groups, not just elite ones, are so strong that the government is unable to act
This is furthered by the belief that when these groups lose the legislative battle, they continue to force their position by using the court system. Legislators are then so busy fighting legal battles, it is believed that legislative power is greatly diminished
Interest group theories