LECUTRE 6: ENVIROMENTAL PROBLEMS

Question 1

Structural functionalist analysis main argument

Answer 1

There exists an imbalance in the social equilibrium and the only viable solution is to rebalance the social structure rather than offer radical change

Shit environment due to the result of social and technology changes

Question 2

Why climate change is happening in a structural functionalist perspective

Answer 2

• too high of a population growth
• tech developments have made us better in exploiting the earths resources
• human societies and cultures have never needed to priorise the environment over the economy

Question 3

Earth as an externality (structural functionalist)

Answer 3

The unintended consequences of productions that are not included in the cost of production which are left unchanged and in turn consumers do not pay for

Question 4

Path dependency (structural functionalist)

Answer 4

The environmental crisis follows the same patterns we see in other social issues and we tend to avoid changing the path and resist the existing momentum even if other paths are more desirable

Question 5

Moral foundation theory (structural functionalist)

Answer 5

This theory believes that there are5 moral traits that all human beings are north with the capability and tendency to have
1. Care
2. Fairness
3. Loyalty
4. Authority
5. Purity

Conservatives value loyalty, authority, and purity
Liberals value fairness and care

Question 6

Immediacy bias (structural functionalist)

Answer 6

We tend to prioritize the immediate and present rather than the future

Question 7

Misinformation (structural functionalist)

Answer 7

The by product of the spread of the internet that brought a more widespread access to info is the rise of misinfo as info is routinely shared with little critical assessment and research

Question 8

Conflict theory analysis on environmental issues

Answer 8

Conflict perspective argues that the entire socio-economic system being designed for the exploitation of human and nature for the profit of few not the evilness of corporations that drive their actions.

Ex:

1. Buying private porperty to consume resources
2. Influencing governments in foreign countries with unstable/ weake institutions
3. Influencing wealthy democratic countries
4. Horrific dealings with citizens in poorer countries
5. Stopping civil resistance in wealthy democratic countries

Question 9

Competition as “external coercive law” (Karl Marx)

Answer 9

• for companies to survive in the capitalist order, they ought to prioritize profit. If they do not do so their competition will crush them

(CONFLICT THEORY ANALYSIS)

Question 10

Bureaucracy a “polar night of ice darkness” (max Webber)

Answer 10

• the inherent logic of bureaucratic institutions ensures that the institutional interests are maintained with no risk of the human factor (agency and discrepancy) getting in the way

Question 11

Symbolic interactionism

Answer 11

Tragedy of the commons (resource exploitation) leads to
1. Unfair shares
2. Everyone loses
3. Violent enforcement

A social contract with prisoners dilemma