Deck 14: Politics and Power

Question 1

The modern state of Germany has existed in many forms from its inception. The hundreds of German principalities were formerly united in 1871 into Germany until 1918. After defeat in World War I, Germany's government was known as the Weimar Republic until the Nazis came to power in 1933. With the defeat of Nazi Germany, the country was divided into East and West during the cold war, and finally reunited when the Soviet Union collapsed. This demonstrates how the state of Germany has often been:

A) aligned.
B) constructed.
C) rebuilt.
D) maligned.
E) reimagined.

Answer 1

constructed.

Question 2

Early states played an important role in the development of most areas of the world, so their origin, construction, and organization are the focus of modern:

A) social historians.
B) political scientists.
C) political anthropologists.
D) government officials.
E) archaeologists.

Answer 2

political anthropologists.

Question 3

An autonomous regional political structure with a central government authorized to make laws and use political, economic, and military force to maintain order and defend its territory is referred to as a:

A) group.
B) band.
C) tribe.
D) chiefdom.
E) state.

Answer 3

state.

Question 4

An independent group of villages that operates under the centralized authority of a single ruling authority figure, the chief, is known as a:

A) band.
B) chiefdom.
C) group.
D) state.
E) tribe.

Question 5

The political structure of all modern countries, including the United States and the Republic of Singapore, with a central government that ideally exercises complete political, military, and economic control of its territory is known as a:

A) tribe.
B) state.
C) nation.
D) country.
E) confederacy.

Question 6

The author notes that the image of the state as fixed, cohesive, and coherent is an illusion, and in fact, states are constantly being:

A) constructed.
B) destroyed.
C) maligned.
D) reimagined.
E) separated.

Question 7

An independent territory under the control of a centralized government that makes laws and exercises military, economic, and political power to maintain order and defend this territory is a political structure known as a:

A) band.
B) chiefdom.
C) group.
D) state.
E) tribe.

Question 8

Hunting and gathering peoples developed a successful adaptation that promoted generosity, altruism, and sharing while resisting upstarts, aggression, and egoism. This is referred to as:

A) compatibility.
B) consensus.
C) egalitarianism.
D) hierarchy.
E) parallelism.

Question 9

An autonomous political unit composed of a number of villages or communities under the permanent control of a paramount chief is referred to as a:

A) group.
B) band.
C) tribe.
D) chiefdom.
E) state.

Question 10

The ability or potential to bring about change through action or influence is referred to as:

A) agency.
B) framing.
C) politics.
D) power.
E) process.

Question 11

The economically efficient strategy of cooperative gathering, coordinated hunting, and reciprocal sharing of resources while resisting hierarchy and domination sustained human beings through most of our existence and is referred to as:

A) consensus.
B) communalism.
C) diversity.
D) egalitarianism.
E) impartiality.

Question 12

Foragers move over a particular territory and form small, kin-based groups that are referred to as:

A) bands.
B) chiefdoms.
C) movements.
D) states.
E) tribes.

Question 13

A small, kinship-based group of foragers who move over a particular territory is known as a:

A) group.
B) band.
C) tribe.
D) chiefdom.
E) state.

Question 14

Multiband groups of indigenous people who live outside the control of a centralized state and see themselves as one people with their own sets of leaders and loyalties are referred to as:

A) bands.
B) chiefdoms.
C) groups.
D) states.
E) tribes.

Question 15

The development and organization of states such as Iraq through the colonial policies of Britain and France rather than the "will of the people" that live in those states create many conflicts today. This makes these states the focus of:

A) state department officials.
B) social historians.
C) political scientists.
D) political anthropologists.
E) government officials.

Question 16

Groups of indigenous people like the Maasai, who live outside the direct control of the government of Tanzania and have had to form their own nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other political organizations to fight against the state's efforts to act as though they did not exist, are today known as:

A) tribes.
B) states.
C) groups.
D) chiefdoms.
E) bands.

Question 17

In the modern world, while the state is considered the ultimate authority in any particular territory, the author notes that they are actually fluid, contested, and even fragile, and as such, they are always being:

A) separated.
B) reimagined.
C) maligned.
D) destroyed.
E) constructed.

Question 18

Groups that were originally viewed as a culturally distinct multiband population that imagined itself as one people descended from a common ancestor, and are currently described as an indigenous group with its own set of loyalties and leaders living to some extent outside the control of a centralized authoritative state, are known as:

A) groups.
B) bands.
C) tribes.
D) chiefdoms.
E) states.

Question 19

The question of how the state came into being, how it is established as an ultimate authority, and how each state is uniquely constructed and organized by people is the focus of:

A) government officials.
B) political anthropologists.
C) political scientists.
D) political sociologists.
E) social historians.

Question 20

The traditional political system of Micronesia of matrilineal clans headed by chiefs and dispersed across many islands, which allows them to readily recover from disastrous situations, is known as:

A) tribes.
B) states.
C) groups.
D) chiefdoms.
E) bands.

Question 21

State domination is never complete, and people still contest established power relationships and structures through political, economic, and military means. They can and do change cultural norms, values, symbols, and institutions, and the ability to contest these is known as:

A) leverage.
B) influence.
C) clout.
D) authority.
E) agency.

Question 22

Modernization of agricultural production in Malaysia led to increasing inequality between the rich and the poor, but the poor laborers were able to find ways to resist the domination of the wealthy without risking confrontation through foot-dragging, slowdowns, false compliance with regulations, theft, sabotage, trickery, and arson. These are all examples of:

A) action.
B) agency.
C) clout.
D) drive.
E) initiative.

Question 23

Collective group actions in response to uneven development, inequality, and injustice that seek to build institutional networks to transform cultural patterns and government policies are referred to as a(n):

A) crusade.
B) cultural enterprise.
C) initiative.
D) public cause.
E) social movement.

Question 24

The contested social process through which a civil society organizes for the production of military violence is known as:

A) arming.
B) biliousness.
C) fomenting.
D) imperialism.
E) militarization.

Question 25

In the United States, most Americans believe that jobs and status in society should be based on ability and achievement. It is considered inappropriate to gain high government office for being someone's wife, brother, or cousin. Hiring family members who may not be qualified for a position is known as nepotism and considered a serious abuse of power. This belief, which prevents Americans from favoring family members over other people who are more qualified, is an example of what concept?

A) agency
B) dogma
C) framing
D) hegemony
E) mind-set

Question 26

When a civil society prepares for war, it includes production of weapons and the glorification of war, and though it is often contested, this process is called:

A) arming.
B) fortification.
C) imperialism.
D) militarization.
E) mobilization.

Question 27

States create the image of soldiers as model citizens and symbols of courage, honor, strength, and duty, while demonizing other people as enemies. Andrew Bickford notes that this is part of the state process of:

A) militarizing life.
B) inciting danger.
C) fomenting warfare.
D) deploying force.
E) constructing soldiers.

Question 28

In the 1950s, Jim Crow laws in many parts of the United States created a caste system of legal inequality. White Americans and black Americans had to live by different and inherently unfair rules and members of the civil rights movement held protests, sit-ins, and marches to oppose this legal inequality that eventually resulted in the Civil Rights Act, which eliminated much of the legal inequality in the country. This is an example of a:

A) cause célèbre.
B) public enterprise.
C) social movement.
D) rights initiative.
E) crusade.

Question 29

As Adolf Hitler began to prepare Germany for the domination of Europe and World War II, he began building a huge military and promoting paramilitary organizations such as the Hitler Youth. At the same time, he worked to glorify Germany's history and military past, demonize minorities and enemies, and promote ideas of his "Third Reich," or empire. This is an example of:

A) rearming.
B) mobilization.
C) militarization.
D) imperialism.
E) fortification.

Question 30

The potential power of the individual to challenge structures of power is referred to as:

A) agency.
B) authority.
C) clout.
D) influence.
E) leverage.

Question 31

The ability of a dominant group to create consent and agreement within a population without the use or threat of force is referred to as:

A) agency.
B) coercion.
C) domination.
D) framing.
E) hegemony.

Question 32

When people engage in contentious politics outside the mainstream political process to address specific social issues such as inequality or injustice in an effort to transform cultural patterns or government policies, this is known as a:

A) social movement.
B) public initiative.
C) cultural enterprise.
D) cause célèbre.
E) crusade.

Question 33

East German soldiers and border guards had been ready and willing to shoot and kill members of the U.S. military who they saw as enemies who would just as gladly kill them, yet after they had been demobilized by the reunited Germany, they were able to sit down with former enemies and eat, talk, and laugh. This demonstrates that states go about what process?

A) building force.
B) constructing soldiers.
C) fomenting warfare.
D) inciting danger.
E) militarizing life.

Question 34

States reinforce hegemony by promoting intense feelings of:

A) animosity.
B) nationalism.
C) patriotism.
D) religious fervor.
E) society.

Question 35

When the dominant group in a country develops a way of seeing the world by creating a set of beliefs about what is normal and appropriate that often subconsciously limits their life choices and chances but maintains the status quo in the society, this is known as:

A) mind-set.
B) hegemony.
C) framing.
D) coercion.
E) agency.

Question 36

The dominant group in a state reinforces its ability to create consent and agreement about what is normal and appropriate through the promotion of intense feelings of:

A) social anxiety.
B) religious fervor.
C) patriotism.
D) nationalism.
E) animosity.

Question 37

Adolf Hitler was able to create a powerful unified state in Germany by blaming minorities such as Jews and Gypsies for the countries problems and promoting the idea of German people as "übermench" or superior people, who were better than others. This made the idea of persecuting minorities seem natural and expanding German dominance over Europe like a reasonable course of action. This feeling of belonging and superiority is known as:

A) social cohesion.
B) patriotism.
C) nationalism.
D) fervor.
E) angst.

Question 38

The ability of a person, group, or institution to use action or influence to affect change is known as:

A) agency.
B) authority.
C) framing.
D) politics.
E) power.

Question 39

The author points out that people do not come prepackaged to fight, kill, and die. They must be enculturated to fear, hate, and kill in a process that defines particular people as the enemy and a dangerous mortal threat. He refers to this as:

A) construction of soldiers.
B) fomenting warfare.
C) inclination to danger.
D) life of dangerous things.
E) militarization of life.

Question 40

The tens of thousands of young people across the Arab world who came out to oppose and change the governments of Egypt and Tunisia demonstrated what aspect of their movement?

A) agency
B) authority
C) politics
D) power
E) process

Question 41

The Maasai people created their own nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in an effort to represent them at negotiations and assert their political rights to resources and recognition with the Tanzanian government, which had largely ignored them. These are examples of a(n):

A) local service agency.
B) international aid society.
C) indigenous charity.
D) civil society organization.
E) advocating agency.

Question 42

Describe what it means to say that the state, soldiers, and warfare are all constructed.

Question 43

In a brief essay, describe three ways power is wielded outside the control of the state.

Question 44

Foraging bands and egalitarianism has been the standard of social interaction for most of human history; however, many societies are highly hierarchical today. Discuss the role egalitarianism has played in human life and, quite possibly, human evolution.

Question 45

A local nongovernmental organization that challenges state policies and uneven development, and advocates for resources and opportunities for members of its local communities, is known as a(n):

A) civil society organization.
B) international aid society.
C) international corporation.
D) local support agency.
E) nonaligned charity.

Question 46

In Egypt, people view the decisions of the official Egyptian Personal Status courts with great suspicion, and they often turn to the traditional Al Azhar Fatwa Council for guidance on important matters of daily life, even though their decisions are not legally binding. The Fatwa Council is an example of a(n):

A) religious institution.
B) independent court.
C) customary law structure.
D) common law organization.
E) alternative legal structure.

Question 47

Modern states play a central role in shaping what happens in every part of the world today. Discuss the aspects of the state that make it the dominant form of political organization in the world today.

Question 48

Some societies use religious or other traditional institutions, such as the Fatwa council in Egypt, to deal with internal problems and avoid the interference and control of the state legal system. These are referred to as:

A) alternative legal structures.
B) common law structures.
C) customary laws.
D) independent courts systems.
E) religious institutions.

Question 49

In a brief essay, describe three elements of a social movement. Provide examples to illustrate your description.

Question 50

To resist the power of state institutions, some societies make use of different systems to settle issues that might normally go to the state court system. These are known as:

A) alternative legal structures.
B) religious institutions.
C) customary laws.
D) independent courts systems.
E) common law structures.

Question 51

Describe the concept of hegemony, what does it does, and how it works. Provide an example.

Question 52

In a brief essay, compare and contrast the concept of power, in general, with state power, and give an example of each.

Question 53

Describe the concept of agency and how it works, and give an example from the class.

Question 54

Social movements build support and justify collective action through the creation of common understandings of their cause, and this is called the:

A) vindication.
B) social rationale.
C) reasoning.
D) framing process.
E) cause célèbre.

Question 55

Compare and contrast the concepts of the band, the tribe, and the chiefdom. What are the advantages of each?

Question 56

The debate continues over whether human beings are naturally peaceful or violent. Discuss the possible foundations of human violence and the evidence presented, and evaluate the author's conclusion.

Question 57

An organization that advocates for members of local communities and against uneven development and fights unfair state policies is referred to as a(n):

A) advocating agency.
B) civil society organization.
C) international aid society.
D) local support agency.
E) nonaligned charity.

Question 58

Describe militarization and its effects on a society. How does it relate to the construction of war and soldiers?

Question 59

The creation of shared meanings and definitions that motivate and justify collective action by social movements is called its:

A) cause célèbre.
B) framing process.
C) rationalization.
D) social rationale.
E) vindication.

Question 60

The Occupy Wall Street movement was able to gain support by focusing on inequality with the motto "We are the 99 percent," and combining physical and virtual elements of their protest. This is an example of:

A) cause célèbre.
B) reasoning.
C) social rationale.
D) justification.
E) the framing process.

Question 61

Discuss the framing process and how it works. Provide an example to support your explanation.

Question 62

Discuss how alternative structures are used to circumvent state power, and provide an example to illustrate your points.

Question 63

Civil society organizations have become important actors on the world stage. Discuss what they are, where they came from, how they work, and provide examples to illustrate your points.