|
 |
|
 |
Chapter 17: Politics, the State, and War
|
Chapter seventeen focuses on politics, the rise of modern states,
the emergence of nations, and the contest for power. Politics
is the process by which people gain, use, and lose power. In
order for power to be legitimate, however, it must be recognized
as valid and justified. Legitimate power is authority, and sociologists
distinguish among several kinds of authority: traditional authority,
charismatic authority, and legal/rational authority. The Marxist
view, the power-elite view, and the pluralist view are the three
basic sociological views of the power structure in industrial
capitalist societies.
The specialized political institutions and organizations
that characterize modern societies—such as courts, police
departments, executive offices, and the military—form
the state. The modern state evolved as the needs of rapidly
growing and increasingly complex societies changed. The development
of the state led to the emergence of nations and nationalism.
In the United States, democracy emerged as the preferred method
of government, with voting, participation in political parties,
and participation in interest groups as the traditional means
of mass political involvement.
Because politics involves the struggle for power, it always
holds the potential for violence—sometimes resulting
in war. Issues surrounding modern warfare include the "military-industrial
complex," military work-force problems, and the threat of
nuclear war.
|
|
|
|
|
