Download Glossary of Political Science and Economics Terms and more Quizzes Introduction to Sociology in PDF only on Docsity!
Affirmative Action
Positive efforts to recruit minority group members or women for jobs, promotions, and educational opportunities. (p.363) TERM 2
Authority
DEFINITION 2 Institutionalized power that is recognized by the people over whom it is exercised. (p.351) TERM 3
Capitalism
DEFINITION 3 An economic system in which the means of production are held largely in private hand, and the main incentive for economic activity is the accumulation of profits. (p.345) TERM 4
Charismatic Authority
DEFINITION 4 Power made legitimate by a leader's exceptional personal or emotional appeal to his or her followers. (p.351) TERM 5
Communism
DEFINITION 5 As an ideal type, an economic system under which all property is communally owned and no social distinctions are made on the basis of people's ability to produce. (p.347)
Deindustrialization
The systematic, widespread withdrawal of investment in basic aspects of productivity, such as factories and plants. (p.362) TERM 7
Democracy
DEFINITION 7 In a literal sense, government by the people. (p.353) TERM 8
Dictatorship
DEFINITION 8 A government in which one person has nearly total power to make and enforce laws. (p.353) TERM 9
Downsizing
DEFINITION 9 Reductions taken in a company's workforce as part of deindustrialization. (p.364) TERM 10
Economic System
DEFINITION 10 The social institution through which goods and services are produced, distributed, and consumed. (p.344)
Laissez-Faire
A form of capitalism under which people compete freely, with minimal government intervention in the economy. (p.345) TERM 17
Microfinancing
DEFINITION 17 Lending small sums of money to the poor so they can work their way out of poverty. (p.362) TERM 18
Monarchy
DEFINITION 18 A form of government headed by a single member of a royal family, usually a king, queen, or some other hereditary ruler. (p.345) TERM 19
Monopoly
DEFINITION 19 Control of a market by a singly business firm. (p.345) TERM 20
Offshoring
DEFINITION 20 The transfer of work to foreign contractors. (p.365)
Oligarchy
A form of government in which a few individual rule. (p.353) TERM 22
Peace
DEFINITION 22 The absence of war, or more broadly, a proactive effort to develop cooperative relations among nations. (p.359) TERM 23
Pluralist Model
DEFINITION 23 A view of society in which many competing groups within the community have access to government, so that no single group is dominant. (p.358) TERM 24
Political System
DEFINITION 24 The social institution that is founded on a recognized set of procedures for implementing and achieving society's goals. (p.344) TERM 25
Politics
DEFINITION 25 In Harold Lasswell"s words, "who gets what, when. and how." (p.350)
Terrorism
The use or threat of violence against random or symbolic targets in pursuit of political aims. (p.361) TERM 32
Totalitarianism
DEFINITION 32 Virtually complete government control and surveillance over all aspects of a society's social and political life. (p.353) TERM 33
Traditional Authority
DEFINITION 33 Legitimate power conferred by custom and accepted practice. (p.351)
