Deck 12: Politics, Power and Society

Question 1

Which social theorist saw class, status, and power as three separate dimensions of inequality?

A) Max Weber
B) Karl Marx
C) W.E.B DuBois
D) C. Wright Mills
E) Jane Addams

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which social theorist is associated with World Systems Theory?

A) Karl Marx
B) W.E.B DuBois
C) Wright Mills
D) Pierre Bourdieu
E) Immanuel Wallerstein

Answer 2

E

Question 3

One of the major differences between modernization theory and Dependency Theory or World Systems Theory is:

A) The latter two theories argue that everyone benefits from globalization.
B) Modernization theory argues that globalization negatively affects democracy.
C) The latter two theories argue that developing countries benefit from "First World" practices.
D) Modernization theory argues that all countries benefit from globalization.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Within a society various groups organize around their own interests and compete with each other for influence and power. This describes the _________ model of state power.

A) Pluralist
B) Power elite
C) Autonomous state model
D) Feminist

Question 5

Which of the following groups is least likely to vote in U.S. elections?

A) Black Americans
B) White Americans
C) Women
D) Latinas

Question 6

How do voting patterns differ between men and women in the United States compared to those of other advanced industrial counties?

A) The United States has one of the highest male and female voter turnout of any industrial country.
B) Men tend to vote more than women in the United States.
C) Women tend to vote more than men in the United States.
D) Women in the United States vote in equal rates to men in the United States.

Question 7

What according to Karl Marx is the key to all political power?

A) Democratic government
B) Ownership of the means of production
C) Professional Expertise
D) Private investment into the tertiary sector

Question 8

The Queen of England benefits from

A) Charismatic authority
B) Legal-rational authority
C) Credentialed authority
D) Traditional authority

Question 9

Which of the following groups is underrepresented in the United States Congress?

A) Women
B) African-Americans
C) Latinas
D) Poor people
E) All of the above

Question 10

What are maquiladoras?

A) American workers who are employed in Third-World countries.
B) Third World employees employed by American corporations.
C) U.S. companies located along the Mexican border that pay extremely low wages to Mexican workers.
D) Short walls constructed to divide the United States from Mexico in order to curtail immigration.

Question 11

Sociologist William Domhoff found that when there is a substantial disagreement among various interests related to public policy, which group nearly always gets its way?

A) Small businesses
B) Labor interests
C) Multinational corporations
D) Impoverished groups

Question 12

Sociologist William Domhoff found that when there is a substantial disagreement among various interests related to public policy, which group was the least powerful and influential?

A) Small businesses
B) Multinational corporations
C) Labor interests
D) None of the above.

Question 13

As a welfare state the United States is where in regard to similar wealthy countries?

A) The largest of all- provides more to its citizens than any other country.
B) The smallest of all- provides least to its citizens than any other country
C) About the in the middle in terms of what the State provides to citizens.
D) The United States does not provide for its citizens.

Question 14

According to World Systems Theory there exist in some countries singular economic systems that operate free from the influence of systems in other countries

Question 15

Those with less power in society tend to vote more than those with more power.

Question 16

Control of information can be a source of power in society.

Question 17

Power can be exercised any time people interact with one another.

Question 18

About 75% of United States Senators are millionaires.

Question 19

The reputational approach to measuring power argues that power can be measured by long-term business successes.

Question 20

From 1980 to present, the share of taxes paid by corporations and the wealthy has benefited both groups more than middle or low-income Americans.

Question 21

An oligarchy is a system of government that is ruled by the few.

Question 22

A major responsibility all modern states have is to provide for the welfare of their citizens.

Question 23

Mercantilism dominated the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Question 24

Those with more power in American society tend to vote in lower numbers than those with less power.

Question 25

Max Weber saw class, capital, and family as three dimensions of inequality.

Question 26

According to Karl Marx wealth is the key to all political power.

Question 27

Identify and explain Max Weber's three sources of legitimate authority.

Question 28

What are some methods of identifying who has power, according to William Domhoff? Identify at least two identifiers and discuss them.

Question 29

How is information linked to power, according to Farley and Flota?

Question 30

Which group(s) in the U.S. most benefits from tax reforms and government policies? How have these groups benefitted? Be thorough in your answer.

Question 31

How do functionalists view the state? How is this different from how conflict theorists view the state?

Question 32

Name and describe three main types of governmental systems.

Question 33

According to social theorists, what social factors cause terrorism?

Question 34

Max Weber identified three sources of power in modern society. What were they? Define and describe each one.

Question 35

What is a multi-national corporation? Precisely define the term multi-national corporation and provide at least two examples, stating specifically why they are multinationals.

Question 36

Define imperialism and provide two historical examples of imperialism in the world.

Question 37

What is blowback? Provide a definition of this concept and at least one example of blowback.

Question 38

How do Marx and Weber differ in their views of how wealth and income are tied to power? Explain their positions.

Question 39

What does the pluralist model of power distribution argue? Where is powered centered according to this model? How does this differ from the Power Elite model of power? Begin by defining both models and be thorough in your definitions and descriptions.

Question 40

William Domhoff has identified three coalitions in the U.S. that have power and influence. Describe those groups and identify the hierarchy- in other words, which group has the most power? Which has the least? How might this impact US policies?

Question 41

Define and discuss World Systems Theory. Identify and discuss major elements of the three groups in the system. Which type benefits most from this system, and how do they benefit? Which type benefits least and why?

Question 42

What are Maquiladoras? Whose interests are most represented by these entities? How have they impacted workers, families, and the economy in the United States and Mexico?

Question 43

What are two different types of welfare states around the world? What countries fall under which categories? Discuss the differences between the two and which one is preferable and why.

Question 44

Discuss political ideology and the differences between liberals, conservatives and moderates. To do so you must highlight key features of each.

Question 45

How are special interest groups different from Political Action Committees? Define each and discuss how they are connected to each other and the political process.

Question 46

According to social scientists what are the causes of terrorism? Are there effective ways to address terrorism in society? If so, what are they?