the state the sociology of politics in canada and the globe

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THE STATE

Definition-the State is the institutional arrangement of civil laws and regulations.

In Canada, laws and reg’s. enforceable by agents of the federal, provincial and municipal governments

CANADIAN STATE

The Canadian government- given the authority by its citizens.

1. Parliament in Ottawa (federal)

2. Queen’s Park Ontario (provincial)

3. City Hall –Toronto (municipal)

FUNCTIONALIST ON THE STATE

The political realm is one institution regulating society

Politics and economics are distinct in holding society together

Symbiosis not power maintains the system

The State is a fair and neutral arbitrator between upper, middle and lower class.

STATE IS A REGULATOR

Laws and regulations are carved out of political policies or acceptable standards for the common good.

See Hanna Arendt, The Human Condition 1958

MARXISTS ON THE STATE

Marxists suggest that there is a direct link between politics and economy

1. K. Marx was a political economist

2. Adam Smith was an economist

3. For Marx, “the ideas of any epoch are the ideas of the ruling class” (ideology)

MARXIST ON THE STATE: Karl Marx-power is directly linked to social class interests.

Feudalism= aristocracy over peasantry

Capitalism= bourgeoisie over proletariat

CLASS, STATUS AND PARTY

II. Max Weber=power, status and interaction

Power -the ability to achieve desired ends despite resistance from others.

POWER

Power must be distinguished from authority.

Power is the ability to carry out one’s will despite resistance regardless of the basis on which this probability rests.

AUTHORITY

Authority is legitimated power.

Its strength lies in the institution.

Authority -complimentary properties of domination and submission.

FORMS OF AUTHORITY-

Ideal types there have been three major forms authority:

1. Charismatic,

2. Traditional,

3. Rational legal.

CHARISMATIC AUTHORITY

a.      Charismatic authority- is defined as power legitimated by..

Extraordinary personal abilities that inspire devotion and obedience.

Ie. Jesus Christ, Mohammed, Martin Luther

TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY-

Traditional Authority-power legitimated by respect for long-established cultural patterns.

i.e Roman Catholic Church, middle ages

Full of customs, traditions, ritualistic practices .

TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY

-ritual, repetitive behaviour, it is bond by numerous social norms as opposed to formalized rules and laws

TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY DECLINES

Traditional authority declines as pre-industrial societies give way to industrialized social forms.

Traditional authority can remain in rational legal systems…

I.e parental domination over children,

male domination of women.

RATIONAL LEGAL AUTHORITY

1. Modern authority is legitimated through rational laws and regulations.

2. Modern authority is carried out through bureaucratic means.

3. Modern power imprisons man like an iron cage…

IRON CAGE OF BUREAUCRACY

CAPITALISM- once a system of moralistic entreprenuers such as Ben Franklin,

SUBSTANTIVE RATIONALITY-requires though by HUMAN individuals

FORMAL RATIONALITY -impersonal, rigid, unfeeling

WE ARE NOW IMPRISONED BY BUREAUCRACY

ONE HOPE FOR WEBER is “The Charismatic re-birth of new GODS”

1980’S

THE CANADIAN STATE and Neo-liberalism

1980S=THE EROSION OF THE COMMONS…Individualism over collectivism

Canada supported a bureaucratic State…Dismantled in favour of business interests…

SEE Mel Hurtig, The Betrayal of Canada

THE STATE AND POLITICAL ECONOMY

The STATE IS: a class based institution giving its interest to the class with economic power.

Political trends can only be understood in terms of broader changes in the economic sphere.

CHANGES TO POLITICAL ECONOMY

In the 1980s as social supports gained following WW2 began to decline.

1. POST WAR BABY BOOM

2. 1960s Keynesian

3. 1980s Neo-liberal

4. 2000 GLOBALIZATION

THE CANADIAN STATE

STATISM- historically the driving force in Canada:

I.e Canadian Pacific Railway –built mainly by government (1880’s)

THE STATE- has lost collective power since the 1980s…THE AGE OF NEO-LIBERALISM AND THE NEW RIGHT

HISTORY :CANADIAN STATE

The Canadian State has always been interventionist, elitist and collectivistic.

History:1. Began with 19th Conservative Party2. Liberals were historically the Free

Traders3. Conservatives only later in favour-

Mulroney 1980s

NEW DEAL AND POST WAR

HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, WELFARE all part of New Deal, later entrenched during

THE GOLDEN AGE OF CAPITALISM-KEYNESIANISM

1980S=PRIVATIZATION

Commodification of the commons.

Many Crown Corporations were sold to the capitalistic marketplace.

SEE: The Big Sellout

SOCIAL SAFETY NET….The period between 1946 and 1971 is

often called the golden age of capitalism.

During Keynesian period what is commonly referred to as the Welfare State expanded rapidly. 1946-1978..

THE CANADIAN STATE

The Canadian State took the role of provider and protector of Canadian collective

Individual well being and security within a Universal Frame…Universality..

The Welfare State & the Social Wage.

WAGES…THE SOCIAL WAGENOT HAND-OUTS The social wage is part of the surplus value produced by the

workers,

Provision of social necessities such as health care, education, unemployment insurance, old age pensions.

REASONS FOR WELFARE STATE1. The expansion and consolidation of

the EASTERN BLOCK-COLD WAR..

2. Soldiers survived Nazi on-slaught

3. Soilders become workers in peacetime domestic capitalist world

4. Pressure on governments to help them following their defense of their countries

REASONS FOR WELFARE STATE

5.Rapid Growth of post-war economies -An accord with workers+-concessions

6.A belief that the State could be a mediator in class struggle-

5. A rise in unionism-from 24.2 to 33.7 in ten years

6. 1960’s gave workers greater power, sustained low unemployment, shorter work weeks, sick pay, disability benefits.

NEO-LIBERALISM- BIG BUSINESS AGENDA,

1. A came into existence in the 1980s….New Right--- 

2. Neo-liberalism =-the market is the central determinant of social values. 

3. The individual not the collective is the core unit of society

MCQUIAG 1992

NEO-LIBERALISM MEANS:

1. Strong opposition to government intervention

2. The massive transfer of wealth and power to the corporate sector.

NEO-LIBERALISM AND THE SOCIAL WAGE

For the average Canadian the social wage is in decline:

a.Low income: in 2001 Canada spent 11% of GDP on helping those in financial need-down from 14.3 in 1992

b.Health care spending-fell from 7.3% of GDP in 1992 to 7% in 2001

c.Education reduce from 7.7 in 1992 to 5.9% in 2001..

STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENTS

a.TNC-transnational corporate freedom-abolished FIRA

b.Employer demand increased productivity

c.Disciplinary action upon workers increased

d.Lower wages to deal with global capital

POLICIESTHE NEW CANADIAN STATE

a.Free Trade-global trading blocs, international treaties

b.Privatization-selling of gov’t corps-ie. Hydro

c.Deregulation-rules and reg’s to protect citizens and laws restraining capital removed

NEW CANADIAN STATE

d. Shift of Gov’t support to private charities-food banks

e. Tax reforms-to benefit the rich and corporations-

f. Attacks on labour unions-rights decline, minimum wage decline, worker health and safety is weakened

NEO LIBERAL CANADIAN STATE

g. Decline in civil rights and democracy-repressive state increases-access to information about gov’t declines

h. Decline in the size and scope of the State-prison systems in its place

i. Increasing integration with the United States

j.Transformation of powers of federalism to provinces which then advance their own neo-liberal agendas..

TYPES OF CITIZENSHIP

1.Political citizenship: the right to run for office and vote.

Civil citizenship: the right to freedom of speech, religion, and justice.

Social citizenship: the right to a minimum level of economic security.Universal citizenship: the right of marginal groups to full citizenship and the rights of humanity as a whole.

SUMMARY

The State is a key institution in modern societies

Functionalists, conflict theorists and symbolic interactionist differ on their views of the importance of the State

Current issue NEO-LIBERALISM means the loss of Statism=globalization