SOCA02H3 Chapter Notes -E-Democracy, Civil Society, Colonial War
22 Apr 2011
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Document Summary
political sociology is mainly concerned with institutions that specialize in the exercise of power and authority. The state consists of the institutions responsible for formulating and carrying out a country"s law and public policies. civil society is the private sphere of social life. authoritarian states sharply restrict citizen control of the state. In a totalitarian state, citizens lack almost any control of the state. In a democracy, citizens exercise a high degree of control over the state. They do this mainly by choosing representatives in regular, competitive elections. political parties are organizations that compete for control of government. In the process, they give voice to policy alternatives and rally adult citizens to vote. Lobbies are organization formed by special interest groups to advise and influence politicians. The mass media are print, radio, television, and other communication technologies. In a democracy, the mass media help keep the public informed about the quality of government.
