SU+1+Politics+Part+1 PDF Sociology SOCY121

Sociology SOCY121 Introduction to Sociology: Social Institutions Outcomes At the end of this chapter, you should be able to: define the concepts power, authority, government and state; describe the following types of authority: traditional, charismatic and rational- legal; describe the fo...

Sociology SOCY121 Introduction to Sociology: Social Institutions Outcomes At the end of this chapter, you should be able to: define the concepts power, authority, government and state; describe the following types of authority: traditional, charismatic and rational- legal; describe the following types of governments: democratic, authoritarian, totalitarian and theocratic; compare and contrast democratic and authoritarian systems of government; and distinguish between power elite and pluralist models of power sharing. Readings Helliker, K. 2020. Politics and governance. In: Stewart, P. & Zaaiman, J. (eds.) Sociology: A Comprehensive South African Introduction (2nd Edition pp. 377-397). Cape Town: Juta Why do we undertake this study ? State plays a central role in serving the needs of society. The sociological study of politics therefore helps to understand: Social order Social change Key Concepts: Power Power and Politics What is Power? Marxists: Government serves ability of individuals or groups to interest of dominant capitalist make their own concerns or group interests count, even where others Racial elite theory: Government resist controlled by small power elite Can involve use of force Antonio Gramsci: Accompanied by ideas which justify the actions Hegemony: Most powerful political group Exists in all social institutions Power expressed: Coercion and Used by the powerful to ensure consent their own interest Authority 2. Charismatic authority Weber identifies three types of authority power People accept the power of a certain person that is because they are drawn to the leaders' personal qualities 1. Traditional authority: This power usually emerge in crisis and offers Accepted on the bases of its legitimacy of its innovative or radical solutions existence Charismatic leaders tend to hold power for a short Example inherited power of monarchy (kings, duration queens) 3. Rational-legal authority People accept traditional authority because This power is made legitimate by laws, written they are invested in the past and feel obligated rules, regulations etc. to perpetuate it. Power is invested in a particular rational system/ Depends on group respect ideology and not in a person Example: Constitution Key Concepts: State VS Government What is the Government What is the State? Refers to the sphere of State is all-encompassing. legislature Consists of: Legislature, the Political party with the most executive and judiciary members in parliament forms Legislature: Parliamentary and government political party systems The state includes the Parliament: elected body legislation/government, judiciary Executive: Government ministries, and executive departments and apparatuses Government can change but implementing legislation state can continue to function as Judiciary: Legal and court systems in the past Key Concepts State Form: Domination and Struggle cont. Different forms of state exists. Ongoing struggles make politics more Current form: Capitalism than just voting in elections Other forms of state: Nation-States Military states States linked to national groups including citizens, which have their Authoritarian states own specific history and special Liberal democratic states territory. Domination and Struggle Each nation state is linked to each other in a global system State servers' interest of dominant group Due to division of society into dominated and dominant groups social struggles take place Segregation, Apartheid and Post Apartheid South Africa Segregation and Apartheid: Post Apartheid. Early 1990’s seen as transitional South Africa est. 1910 years Since 1910 to 1948 pre-apartheid segregation period. 1994 first nation-wide election ANC est. 1912 in response to racial Key factors that shaped the segregation ANC’s policies and programs 1948 Apartheid started based on Afrikanerdom racism. Most progressive constitutions Throughout 1980s pressure to end Global factors Apartheid started to gain momentum in End of the Cold War South Africa and other countries in the world Kenyesiannism Segregation, Apartheid and Post Apartheid South Africa ANC is in alliance: Tripartite alliance with Q: why has the ANC government not been COSATU and South African Communist Party able to bring about significant socioeconomic RDP and Gear change Land issues: redistribution Land reform Willing seller willing buyer system AgriSA Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) programme