Exam 1: Power

_________ focuses on how politics relates to values, beliefs, symbols, and traditions.

C.Wright Mills coined the term "power elite" to describe the interlocking leadership found among corporate executives, military leaders, and government officials.

The ___________ is a school of thought that stems from Marxist theories and emphasizes power through language, cultural symbols, and everyday interactions.

Choose one of the theoretical perspectives discussed in this chapter to apply to the concepts of freedom and liberty (i.e., the power or scope to act freely within society). How would a political sociologist using this perspective analyze these concepts?

Both ________ and ________ perspective both view power as concentrated in the hands of the few.

A major criticism of the pluralist approach is that it best fits assumptions found in American democracy.

Despite its overall size, the timing of the Iowa caucuses gives Iowans less influence in the process of selecting presidential candidates.

Karl Marx was one of the first to studied American democracy.

Authority and legitimate power comes from:

Which perspective views power as concentrated in the hands of the few bureaucratic and organizational leadership?

_________ would be the best perspective to use when studying the rise of new forms of decisions and actions in politics based on lifestyle choices.

When one nation invades and conquers another, this is an example of power based on authority and legitimacy.

Political sociology attempts to explain________.

The use of staged rituals and rallies by white separatist groups such as Neo-Nazi or the Ku Klux Klan can best be explained with rational choice.

_____________ is the upper strata where "top politicians, military leaders, and corporate executives exercise power over major social institutions."

Which metaphor of power would best suited to help explain the domination of capitalism in the twenty first century?

Which theoretical perspective is best equipped for analyzing how groups and organizations account for costs and maximize rewards of their political decisions?

Using Weber's three types of authority (i.e., charismatic, traditional, and rational-legal authority), think about your own life and the forms of authority you encounter on a day-to-day basis. List all forms of authority you encounter and describe the appropriate type of authority under which each falls.

One of the criticisms of the social class and politics perspective is lack of attention on other important factors for why people act politically in a certain way beyond social class - e.g., race, sex/gender, age, issue politics, or political identity. What are some examples or explanations for why individuals might act outside the interests of their social class?

How is political sociology different from political science?