Social Sciences: Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics

Introduction to Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics Module 1 SOCIAL SCIENCES Module 1.1 COVERAGE  SOCIAL SCIENCES Explain and predict phenomena related to foundation, establishment, and growth of human society (Bining and Bining, 1956 as cited by Jose and Ong...

Introduction to Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics Module 1 SOCIAL SCIENCES Module 1.1 COVERAGE  SOCIAL SCIENCES Explain and predict phenomena related to foundation, establishment, and growth of human society (Bining and Bining, 1956 as cited by Jose and Ong, 2016) Concerned with those basic elements of culture that determine the general patterns of human behavior (Hunt and Colander, 2011) ANTRHOPOLOGY Module 1.2 ANTHROPOLOGY Science seeking to uncover principles of behavior that apply to all human communities (Contreras et al, 2016, citing American Anthropological Association, nd) Study of human beings and their ancestors (Alejandria- Gonzales, 2016) Greek antropos (human) and logos(study)  Anthropology From Greek words Anthropos (human) and Logos (study) Science seeking to uncover principles of behavior that apply to all human communities Study of human beings and their ancestors  SCOPES AND METHODS OF INQUIRY Focuses on human diversity by looking on cross-cultural differences in social institutions, cultural beliefs and communication styles Looking for a “culture universal” (patterns of similarity within an array of differences) instead of looking for a “universal culture”. Branches of Anthropology PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY Also known as biological anthropology Concerned how: - Humans emerged and evolved through time - Human beings differ biologically CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY Concerned with the differences in culture from time to time Sub-branches: Archaeology–study of past cultures through material remains Anthropological Linguistics–study of the difference of languages among cultures and how it is constructed Ethnology–study of present cultures POLITICAL SCIENCE Module 1.3  POLITICAL SCIENCE Study of governments, public policies and political processes, systems, and political behavior.  SCOPES AND METHODS OF INQUIRY Deals extensively with the theories and practice of politics Problematizes the nature of power and studies how possession and exercise of power can shape individual actions and collective decisions BRANCHES OF POLITICAL SCIENCE  BRANCHES OF POLITICAL SCIENCE Political Theory–application of political ideas and concepts for answering political phenomena Comparative Politics–study of context of different political and government systems International Relations–study of political interactions between state and non-state actors Public Administration–study of various administrative schemes implemented by the government SOCIOLOGY Module 1.4  SOCIOLOGY Scientific study of society and the behavior of people in the society Study of relationships among people  METHOD OF STUDY: “THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION” Conceptualized by Charles Wright Mills (1959) Imagining the intersections of their life situations (biography) and the events in the society (history) as interconnected and influences each other Converting personal issues into public issues. Mills encouraged people to stop focusing on themselves alone and to look at the wider landscape of society.  METHOD OF STUDY: “THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION” THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES IN SOCIOLOGY STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONALISM Society as a system with parts and functions Health of the system is defined by the parts performing their assigned tasks and working in coordination with other parts of the system Functions are manifest (obvious) or latent (hidden) CONFLICT THEORY Society as full of tensions and struggles between groups and individuals. Society is constructed in favor of the powerful/wealthy over the powerless/poor. SYMBOLIC-INTERACTION Society as composed of social interactions Social interactions are governed by shared and co-created meanings made by the social actors in every interaction Shared meanings are lodged on objects, events, and persons and are seen as symbols, the interpretation of which shape and influence the emerging interactions  SO WHAT? Multi-disciplinary and inter-related nature of these disciplines help us to examine society, culture, and politics critically and empirically Enables us to answer issues and challenges related to society, culture, and politics