Exam 1 Flashcards
(121 cards)
1
Q
What is at the base in the Marxist theoretical perspective?
A
The economy
2
Q
What is in the superstructure of the Marxist theoretical perspective?
A
Morality, religion, politics
3
Q
What are Flannery and Marcus’ types of society?
A
Egalitarian, achievement, rank, and kingdom
4
Q
What is Flannery and Marcus’ egalitarian based society economy like?
A
Originated with Homo sapiens about 200,000 years ago, they were hunter-gatherers with low population density, and extended family groups (50-100 people). There is contact across groups. They live in an immediate return economy
5
Q
What does immediate return economy mean?
A
No permanent settlements, thus little ability to accumulate wealth. All you can own is what you can carry. There is resource scarcity.
6
Q
What is morality like in Flannery and Marcus’ egalitarian based society?
A
Strong social norms against greed. Occasional need to rely on the generosity of neighboring groups. Gift giving to create bonds with outsiders. Norms favor reciprocity, but never in excess of original gift
7
Q
What is religion like in Flannery and Marcus’ egalitarian based society?
A
Religious hierarchy of alphas (divine beings), betas (ancestor spirits), and gammas (everyone else, the living). Shamans had specialized religious knowledge, but not exceptional status. Mythology told the story of the group; conveyed through art, song, dance; sense of superiority over outsiders, but accept differences
8
Q
What were politics like in Flannery and Marcus’ egalitarian based society?
A
No state, decision making by consensus, and low inequality
9
Q
What was the economy like in Flannery and Marcus’ achievement based society?
A
Originated with agriculture 20,000 years ago, agrarian, and delayed return economy
10
Q
What was an agrarian economy like?
A
Moderate population density, clans (>100 people) as networking strategy (no necessary kin relation, induction via ritual, hazing)
11
Q
What is a delayed return economy?
A
Permanent settlements, so capital investment required. Accumulate surplus via hard work, cooperation, pillage, wives, luck. Resource abundance (probably an overstatement)
12
Q
What is morality like in Flannery and Marcus’ achievement based society?
A
Weakening of norms against greed, across tribes: status competition through feasts (outdo one another), formation of social hierarchies
13
Q
What was the social hierarchy like in achievement based societies?
A
Big men and close kin; commoners; rubbish men
14
Q
What was big man status like?
A
Multiple wives, clients, lending; leadership in the construction of the ritual men’s houses; leadership in relationship with outsiders
15
Q
What was commoner status like?
A
Monogamous, but self sufficient
16
Q
What was rubbish man status like?
A
Single, dependent, individual
17
Q
What was religion like in Flannery and Marcus’ achievement based societies?
A
Clan membership requires initiation into myths and secrets; men’s house: where to learn myths and secrets, increasingly under the control of the big men; as complexity increases, knowledge stratifies into outer and inner circle, inner circle of big men and close kin, outer circle of commoners, and exclusion of rubbish men
18
Q
What were politics like in Flannery and Marcus’ achievement based societies?
A
No state, decision making heavily influenced, but not controlled by big men, inequality is low-medium
19
Q
What was the economy like in Flannery and Marcus’ rank based societies?
A
Originated with agriculture, about 10,000 years ago. Agrarian- but increasingly productive, and increasing population density
20
Q
What was morality like in Flannery and Marcus’ rank based societies?
A
Status is based on rank, rank is hereditary (rank is based on genealogical distance from leader, family lineages are stratified: sharp separation between rulers and ruled, not based on individual achievement), class endogamy: marriage within ranks, to maintain status of kids
21
Q
How does the shift from achievement to rank happen?
A
By pushing from the elites, with resistance from commoners. It is often unstable, reverts if elites are not well-entrenched, but it is never going to return to egalitarian societies, life in these societies is fragile and unstable, so difficult to maintain a dynasty
22
Q
What is religion like in Flannery and Marcus’ rank based societies?
A
Temples replace ritual houses (God lives there), priests replace shamans (full-time specialists in religious knowledge, direct access to God, priests’ likely family of big men, over time, religious doctrine starts to favor the interests of the big men)
23
Q
What are the politics of Flannery and Marcus’ rank based societies?
A
Across tribes: status competition between big men (claims of superiority of celestial spirits in rival genealogy, ownership of ritual authority and knowledge, including names, war as a means of status competition, rise of a specialized warrior class). Inequality is medium-high
24
Q
What was the economy like in Flannery and Marcus’ kingdoms?
A
Originated about 5,000 years ago. Continued to be agrarian- with a continued increase in productivity and population, though very gradually. Regularized extraction of wealth from the lower classes.
25
How did regularized extraction of wealth from the lower classes work?
Taxation (money economy or percentage of grain due to the king), corvée labor (obligation to do labor for your lord, one day a week you are required to work the fields or do other types of labor for your lord, instead of for yourself). Bureaucratized extraction of wealth
26
What was the morality and religion like in Flannery and Marcus' kingdoms?
The same as rank based societies, but increasingly institutionalized. Expansion of priests as a class of elites. Religious authority underpins leadership ("divine right" to rule, leaders claim to have magical powers, temples built for dead leaders, close merger between religious and political authority
27
What were the politics like in kingdoms (F&M)?
Competition between chiefs drives territorial expansionism (not just raids, but conquest, formation of kingdoms --> formation of empires), technological change (military, strategic, economic) favors one side long enough to conquer the rest, ethnic discrimination creates outsider underclass, high inequality (Your whole village is collectively better than the village you are conquering, and you are conquering to exploit the other village. Need for administration.
28
Why was there a need for administration in kingdoms (F&M)?
Collect taxes, manage corvée labor, organize and train for war (states make war, and war makes the state), build public works
29
What are the advantages to relying on kin as administrators?
Keep wealth and power concentrated, trust among close relatives, and importance of sacred lineage in belief systems
30
What are the disadvantages of using kin as administrators?
Kin are limited in number, incentive for usurpation, ability to create dependent clients among non-kin (you bestow power on a commoner far beyond your genetic status, and if you die, the commoner might get replaced, so they are invested in your survival
31
What is the outcome of kingdom politics (F&M)?
Rise in multiple levels of hierarchy, use of commoner clients for key positions, permanent administration (benefit of keeping previous commoners around), driven by necessities for waging war. Above all, state formation under authoritarianism.
32
Do F&M believe that authoritarianism is in our genes?
No, hunter gatherers maintained egalitarian norms for tens of thousands of years. But, status competition is in our genes. Hunter gatherers had to suppress status competition. Had to stop suppressing when agrarian. The ability of surpluses leads to status competition and social differentiation
33
Do Flannery and Marcus think authoritarianism is easy to create?
No, every increase in control is resisted. However, at a sufficiently high level of development it happens everywhere and it is easy to maintain
34
Do Flannery and Marcus believe that ideas matter, in terms of what kind of societies we get?
Yes, there is a role of morality/religion. But there are attempts to co-opt religious beliefs for gains. Priests and leaders' mutual reinforcement. Morality/religion is shaped by the interests of the powerful
35
What is the unequal competence (exclusionary) justification for authoritarianism?
Human endowments vary, especially fitness to rule (monarchy/aristocracy, fascism), some people can naturally lead, some just can't. Masses need temporary guardianship, paternalism (Leninism, colonialism)(Leninism: rule by a revolutionary vanguard)
36
What is the unequal stake (exclusionary) justification for authoritarianism?
Propertied elite have a greater stake in the system; shareholding
37
What is the unequal standing (exclusionary) justification for authoritarianism?
Enemies of the system must be excluded (Leninism), "the capitalists have shown themselves to be greedy, so they shouldn't get our support". Outsiders to the systems must be excluded (segregationist), apartheid, protestants v catholics in Ireland
38
What is the communitarian (egalitarian) justification for authoritarianism?
Organic unity is undermined by pluralism, which leads to selfish factionalism. We shouldn't be fighting against ourselves, we need to work together, and cut out those who fight, therefore, we should cut out factions. Single partyism or anti-partyism.
39
What is the non-electoral (egalitarian) justification for authoritarianism?
Redefinition of democracy, one person one vote is not the essence of equality, democracy. Popular plebiscites (Bonapartism) or economic equality (communism). Bonapartism: votes on a ballot measure/policy, but not on who the leader is. Vote into office for life
40
Why do we focus on Europe in our studies?
First known democratic (non-authoritarian) states (Ancient Greece and the Roman Republic), first region to industrialize (first to transition beyond agricultural economy), first "modern" regime types (democracy, fascism, and communism), European imperialism affected regime development everywhere else
41
What is the ancient period of history?
3000 BCE-500 CE
42
What is the medieval period of history?
500-1500, begins with the fall of the Western Roman Empire
43
When is the early modern period?
1500-1800, begins with European discovery of Americas and Protestant Reformation
44
When is the modern period of history?
1800-present, begins with the French Revolution
45
How did medieval monarchies have inherited superiority?
Aristocrats/nobles descended from great warriors and leaders. They inherit the virtues of their ancestors. Rules of succession: those with the most inherited virtues are closest in line to the throne
46
How did medieval monarchies feel that social order was natural, God-given?
European kings: rule by divine right- no improvement of the world God gave us, so no social progress. The King was the King because God wanted them to be the King
47
What was the organic theory of the state, as espoused by medieval monarchies?
"Body politic" as a living being. Consists of specialized organs, need a head/spirit that is above politics, unifying. Everyone has a special place in this God-given politic (body)
48
What was the result of the trend of scientific advances and global exploration during the Enlightenment?
Secularization, resulting in a need for a higher purpose and a need for new rituals, mythology
49
What was the result of the Civil War and Glorious Revolution in England on the Enlightenment?
Parliamentarianism, resulting in a shift in thinking about the state (old: state is the property of the King, new: state is the property of the public, who are represented in Parliament
50
What was the result of the French Revolution taking Enlightenment ideals to radical extremes?
Nationalism, social leveling and ideological extremism
51
What is millenarian tyranny?
Referring to the 1000 year kingdom of God following the second coming of Christ, tyranny to create a heaven on Earth
52
How does millenarian tyranny lead to the overthrow of the old corrupt order and utopia?
Achieve religious goals through human action. Paradise isn't in the next life; we can create it ourselves. Revived organic state: expression of "general will". Political ideologies as religious doctrines: need to stamp out heresy (bad political ideologies)
53
What was the post-French Revolution synthesis?
Constitutional monarchy in Western Europe, parliaments become common. Nationalism increases, coopted by states. Industrial Revolution spreads
54
How did people become disillusioned with capitalism post-French Revolution?
Income inequality and poverty. Spiritual bankruptcy of consumerism, mass produced goods are making us morally bankrupt
55
How did people become disillusioned with the incomplete Enlightenment post-French Revolution?
Partial democratization excluding racial minorities, women, and property qualifications. Partial civil rights with the repression of labor/labor unions (strikes and protests)
56
How did disillusionment post-French revolution breakdown the order post WWI?
Overthrow of old corrupt order. Either rejected nationalism (communism- all the people of the world are equal) or doubled down on nationalism (fascism- we're the best). This happened rapidly following or even during WWI
57
What are the origins of communism in Russia?
During WWI, they experienced a military disaster and the collapse of the monarchy (tsar). The Bolshevik Revolution (1917) saw a radical faction of Communists takes over Moscow. This was followed by the Civil War (1917-1922), which was the Bolsheviks vs the White Faction (tsarists)
58
How did the communists preach social equality?
Proletarian class solidarity, proletariat: industrial laborers
59
How did the communists preach modernization?
Forward looking. Social change the state can foster to bring utopia to the workers. Glorification of the industrial jobs.
60
How did the communists preach the remaking of humanity?
"New Soviet man". Create a new kind of human being, like the French Revolution
61
How did the communists have a nostalgia for lost utopia?
Withering of the state, a return to Rousseau's state of nature. Like the FR. For Marx, communism was a way for people to live freely in a utopian idealized state. "We can square any circle through the power of Marxism"
62
How communism internationalist?
Emphasis on universal values, against nationalism, against chopping up based on borders, proletariat of the world, unite.
63
Why was there unrest post World War I in Italy?
Huge losses, limited territorial gains, even though they were one of the allies. Led to labor radicalism and communism, a conflict between the state and labor.
64
What was the Biennia Rosso (1919-1920)?
"Red Two Years". Strikes, riots, military mutinies, like a low level civil war. The radicalism is very polarizing
65
What happened when Mussolini marched on Rome (1922)?
The government collapsed, Mussolini becomes the dictator
66
Why did fascism happen in Italy?
Partly a reaction against capitalism and democracy, but to a greater extent a reaction against communism. Democracy is weak, riveted by factionalism. But then, what is capitalism for? It doesn't fill the God-sized hole in heart. The Biennio Rosso was very impactful, many thought it needed to be crushed. But we need to harness business, so they work on behalf of the state. Fascism was all about celebrating the nation, celebrating Italian heritage, culture, and genes
67
How did social equality become a part of fascism?
Ethno-nationalism, racial solidarity. Italians: for Italians, Germans: racial superiority. Art looking back to the glorious past
68
How did modernization feature in fascism?
Fascism is forward looking, futurist art movement
69
How did racism feature the remaking of humanity?
Race hierarchy- all the Germans untied for the Germans, drawing on religious imagery (God replaced by Hitler and Nazism), shouldn't support the Americans because of all the things they are bringing to you- Jews, record players, KKK. Nostalgia for lost utopia- Roman Empire, Germanic tribes. Nationalist- emphasis on cultural specificity, about the superiority of German Aryans racially, genealogically, culturally
70
What happened with fascism and communism post WWII?
Fascism is defeated, Allies in Germany, Italians overthrow Mussolini. Communism is on elf the victors. Third World Revolutions and Islamism.
71
What were Third World revolutions like?
People fighting against colonial occupation. Revolutions indigenous, but usually spent lots of time in Europe. A number of millenarian movements out of fighting off colonialism. Ex: Khmer Rouge: Anti-Modern, killed many in an attempt to revert to the past
72
What was Islamism about?
Believed Muslim countries should have theocratic government. Harkening back to a lost utopia, but trying to create a better man, with better virtues, created in their vision
73
What is the defining feature of modernity?
Delegitimization of old regimes based on hereditary inequality. Impose a new basis for equality.
74
How were their different new bases for equality?
Economic: communism, moral/cultural: fascism, religion: theocracy (All totalitarian). Political: democracy
75
How much did the extreme ideologies get right/ have positive content?
Women's suffrage/women's rights in general (Bolshevik Revolution had suffrage from the beginning, women have a role in the workplace). Racial equality (united on the base of our status as workers, racism chains us all, black man on the communist ballot in 1940)
76
Why did Gornick think that communism was romantic?
Communists fed the hunger of the dread fear that life is without meaning. When a thing becomes all, people do terrible things to themselves and to one another. Not disinherited from the earth- proletarians. Not a people without a history- Russian Revolution. They were not without a civilizing world view, they had Marxism.
77
How can Gornick still be seen as relevant?
Capitol Riot and ANTIFA
78
What is the authoritarian personality?
Psychologica predisposition to conformity and dogmatism. Bias in favor of moral in-group, demand suppression/punishment of its adversaries, aversion to cognitive complexity, black and white thinking, activated by threat to identity/values. About 1/4 to 1/3 of every population, including the US. Longstanding explanation for right wing authoritarianism, recently applied to left wing authoritarianism
79
What's the old view of extremism, and what's the problem with it?
Deviance from dominant group norms: antisocial. Problem: Antisocial behavior is fringe, by definition. At best, antisocial extremism explains only the origin of authoritarian movements. So, we must look for a pro-social perspective on authoritarianism
80
What was Milgram's view of authoritarianism, and what was the problem with it?
Most people are blindly obedient to authority, but Flannery and Marcus conclude that humans resist authority.
81
What was the view of the 2016 Review of Milgram on extremism?
The nobility of the enterprise made participants reconciled to and enthusiastic about the role they played, creating a moral in-group.
82
What is the view of Baumeister on evil?
If you think you are on the side of good, whoever opposes you must be on the side of evil. Idealism confers a license to hate
83
What is the difference between Baumeister and Williams?
Baumeister is about desires and emotions- "I want". Williams is about epistemology and knowledge- "I believe".
84
What is Williams view on rationalization in groups?
Membership in groups is valuable, we desire social support. Many groups have identity defining beliefs. Dissent signals disloyalty to the group, we have incentive to believe what the group believes. We can't force ourselves to believe, we need convincing rationales. So, we award status to epistemic enforcers who provide convincing rationales
85
What are the implications of Williams?
Prosocial behavior is rooted in self-interest; benefits of group membership. People subordinate the pursuit of truth to the goal of maintaining group-identity. We reward people who make it easier for us to believe untruths, we want to feel superior to the other side, and this helps us.
86
Why is no one too smart to fall for in-group/out-group?
More intelligent people had the most bias on their ideological bias. Stronger biases in clever people on both sides of the aisle. Orthogonality these: an intelligent agent can't just be intelligent, it must be intelligent at something. Create fashionably irrational beliefs to join groups, bind intelligence to evolution. Being better at reasoning makes people better at rationalizing.
87
What is negative partisanship?
You support and like your own side less than you dislike and oppose the other side. Asymmetric negative partisanship among college students (# of democrats vs republicans?)
88
Why does Luttig say we become polarized?
We desire "cognitive closure": desire for firm knowledge, discomfort with uncertainty. Groups that are coherent (homogenous) and consistent (over time) are providers of certainty
89
Who are providers of certainty/ when did they become providers of certainty?
Political elites (realignment, 70s and 80s), news media (fragmentation, 90s- 2010s, no one has incentive to pitch towards the center), social sorting
90
What is social sorting?
Due to class endogamy, auto stereotyping, and the geographical mobility of the college educated. Less and less, you have relations across political views. Marry people who share your political views, and less across class lines. Once we fit into demographic categories, we self-stereotype, college students move from small towns to cities. So, we become less tolerant of views different to our own
91
What do people seek when becoming polarized?
Affirmation, not objectivity
92
What does an interest in politics + level of education + need for cognitive closure equal?
Political attention and affirmation-seeking
93
What does political attention and affirmation seeking lead to?
Greater exposure to partisans
94
What does greater exposure to partisans lead to?
Political attitudes become central to personal identity
95
What does Williams think that political attitudes become central to personal identity lead to?
Rationalization of group beliefs and incentivize epistemic enforcers. Leads back to greater exposure to partisans
96
What is the result of Williams "we subconsciously try to align our beliefs with social identity groups" and Pinsof "social identity groups are alliances of diverse interests"?
Our beliefs consist of an ad hoc set of rationalizations for allies interests (alliance theory)
97
What are the implications of alliance theory?
Both left-wing and right-wing authoritarians want their allies on top and their rivals at the bottom, neither is opposed to hierarchy itself. Authoritarianism is about the desire to exercise authority over others
98
What was Willick saying in "The Greatest Threat to Democracy"?
Close relationship between the other side's willingness to subvert democracy and partisans' own willingness to do so. The risk of authoritarianism comes from Americans' deepening attachment to democracy and their growing fear it will be taken away. No incentive for the media to dial back, or correct misperceptions
99
What are the implication of Willick?
Same logic as the security dilemma, explains why polarization is so dangerous, it spirals
100
What is the first great untruth: fragility?
"What doesn't kill you makes you weaker". Safteyism, harm definition has been expanded to include subjective emotional experience. Contrast with "anti fragility": kids require stressors and challenges in order to learn, adapt, and grow
101
What are campus examples of fragility?
Trigger warnings, safe spaces for historically oppressed groups, Principles of Our Equitable Community
102
What is the second great untruth: emotional reasoning?
Always trust your feelings. Shift from intent to impact. Catastrophizing: assuming the worst, resulting in feelings of "victimization, anger, and hopelessness"
103
What are campus examples of emotional reasoning?
Sensitivity to microaggressions, disinvitations, Principles of our Equitable Community
104
What is the third great untruth: us vs. them?
Life is a battle between good people and evil people. Identity politics, intersectionality (privileged vs. oppressed, hierarchies of moral worth)
105
What are campus examples of us vs. them?
Kendi's "antiracist", call-out culture, virtue signaling
106
Why do the three great untruths lead to intimidation and violence?
If hate speech is violence, then you must outlaw it and respond with violence, authoritarian
107
What is the definition of a witch hunt?
Community obsesses over ideological purity; seeks out and punishes enemies within
108
What are the 4 traits of witch hunts?
Arises quickly, crimes against the collective, charges are often trivial or fabricated, fear of defending the accused
109
What are struggle sessions?
Those accused of ideological impurity were surrounded by accusers, taunted, humiliated, and sometimes beaten as they confessed to their crimes, offered abject apologies and vowed to do better
110
What are open letters of denunciation and why are they happening?
Professors try to round up hundreds of other professors to condemn their fellow professor. Solidarity (Lukianoff and Haidt), prosocial extremism (Baumeister)
111
What is the problem with the Principles of Our Equitable Community?
Don't tell me what I can and cannot do, or can and cannot believe.
112
What are echo chambers (Nguyen)?
Community that induces distrust in nonmembers, which preemptively discredits outside sources of information , intentionally fostered. Tools to maintain, reinforce, and expand power. Similar to cult indoctrination, new cult members distrust non-cult members.
113
What is milieu control?
Control over communication: external (with others) and internal ("inner life"). Deprives individual of personal autonomy
114
What is mystical manipulation?
Provoke behaviors and emotions that appear to arise spontaneously, make you think you came up with the ideas. Designed to create a sense of higher purpose, being "chosen"
115
What is the demand for purity?
A narrow world of guilt and shame. A demand that one strive permanently and painfully. Guilt and shame become highly valued: preferred form of communication (virtue signaling). Authorities as arbiters of existential guilt with capacity to forgive. Denounce continuously outside influence
116
What is the cult of confession?
Demand that one confess to crimes one has not committed, to sinfulness that is artificially induced. An ethos of total exposure- a policy of making public everything possible about the life experience, thoughts, and passions of the individual. Sharing of confession enthusiasms can create intense intimacy with fellow confessors. Histrionic public display takes precedence over genuine inner experience
117
What is sacred science?
The man who dares to criticize it, not only immoral and irreverent, but also unscientific. No thought or action is not related to the sacred science
118
What is loading the language?
The thought terminating cliche, the start and finish of any ideological analysis. Prematurely abstract, highly categorical, relentlessly judging. Effort is individual cognitive constriction
119
What is doctrine over person?
The demand that character and identity be reshaped, the human is subjugated to the ahuman- the New Soviet man
120
What is dispensing of existence?
Draws a sharp line between those whose right to existence can be recognized, and those who possess no such right. Stimulates in everyone a fear of extinction or annihilation
121
What is the appeal of totalism?
Subsuming your whole personality can be intensely satisfying. Omnipotent guide to bring ultimate solidarity- no tensions because you believe everything you're supposed to. Product of childhood?
