Sociology Basics

Sociology

• Study of human social behavior, relationships, and institutions
• Examines how social structures, relationships, and institutions shape individual and group behavior
• Key areas of focus:
  • Social inequality and stratification
  • Social institutions (family, education, religion, etc.)
  • Social change and social movements
  • Deviance and social control
  • Race, gender, and class
• Theoretical perspectives:
  • Functionalism: society as a system with interdependent parts
  • Conflict theory: society as a battleground for resources and power
  • Symbolic interactionism: people create meaning through symbols and interactions

Politics

• Study of power, governance, and decision-making in human societies
• Examines the distribution of power, resources, and authority
• Key areas of focus:
  • Political institutions (governments, parliaments, etc.)
  • Political behavior and participation (voting, activism, etc.)
  • Political ideologies (liberalism, conservatism, socialism, etc.)
  • International relations and global politics
  • Political economy and policy-making
• Theoretical perspectives:
  • Liberalism: emphasis on individual rights and freedoms
  • Realism: emphasis on state power and national interest
  • Marxism: emphasis on class struggle and economic determinism

Sociology

• Human social behavior, relationships, and institutions are studied in sociology
• Social structures, relationships, and institutions shape individual and group behavior
• Key areas of focus:
  • Social inequality and stratification: examines unequal distribution of resources and opportunities
  • Social institutions: family, education, religion, and other institutions that shape society
  • Social change and social movements: explores how societies change and movements that drive change
  • Deviance and social control: understanding behavior that deviates from norms and how society responds
  • Race, gender, and class: examines how these factors intersect and impact social life

Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology

• Functionalism: society is a system with interdependent parts working together
• Conflict theory: society is a battleground for resources and power between different groups
• Symbolic interactionism: people create meaning through symbols, interactions, and negotiated meanings

Politics

• Power, governance, and decision-making in human societies are studied in politics
• Distribution of power, resources, and authority are examined
• Key areas of focus:
  • Political institutions: governments, parliaments, and other institutions that shape governance
  • Political behavior and participation: voting, activism, and other forms of engagement
  • Political ideologies: liberalism, conservatism, socialism, and other belief systems
  • International relations and global politics: explores relationships between nations
  • Political economy and policy-making: examines how economic systems and policies shape societies

Theoretical Perspectives in Politics

• Liberalism: emphasizes individual rights and freedoms in political systems
• Realism: emphasizes state power and national interest in international relations
• Marxism: emphasizes class struggle and economic determinism in shaping societies

Explore the fundamentals of sociology, including social inequality, institutions, and theoretical perspectives.