SOCIOL 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Elite, Totalitarianism, Authoritarianism
Document Summary
Systems and structures that shape the activities of groups and individuals in society. Politics, education, and religion are examples of institutions. Politics: the methods and tactics of managing a nation or state, as well as administering and controlling its internal and external affairs. Government: the formal, organized agency that exercises power and control in modern day society . Power: the ability to impose one"s will on others. Authority: the noncoercive, legitimate exercise of power (backed by a particular entity) Authoritarianism: a system of government by and for a small number of elites that does not include representation of ordinary citizens. Totalitarianism: the most extreme and modern form of the above, in which the government seeks to control every aspect of citizens" lives. Monarchy: government by a king or queen, with succession of rulers kept within the family. Democracy: political system in which all citizens have the right to participate.
