TUESDAY, APRIL 2ND, 2013

Sociology 103 Tutorial #4

Readings

Test #3Starting points: lecture 9 and 10.

Readings in Sociology all: 1,2,3,5,6,14,15,16.

All multiple choice.

Monday April 29th, 7:00

Previous Exams

Past exam library: http://exams.library.utoronto.ca.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/

Exam rooms

Because the exam is ‘controlled’, there will be no extra exams in each room.

Be sure you are in the right location.

Rooms

A - DOBRI MON 29 APR EV 7-10 BN2N DOBRO - KAN MON 29 APR EV 7-10 BN2S

KAO - MO MON 29 APR EV 7-10 BN3

MU - YANG,S MON 29 APR EV 7-10 EX200

YANG,X - Z MON 29 APR EV 7-10 EX320

Exam Breakdown

33 Reading SociologyNew: Section 14 (States and Gov): 4 New Chapters.Old: 35 chapters (7 sections)

35 Starting Points (easy – no surprises)New: Politics / Social Movements

82 Lectures

Total 150

Hint for Reading Sociology

The multiple choice questions will likely come from:1) The main arguments of the papers (is it

theoretical or empirical?)2) The key sociological figures (and their theories).3) Bolded terms.4) Sections are HEAVILY organized. The sub

headings will direct your focus.5) Often, the main argument will come in the first

2-3 paragraphs – this should also direct your focus.

Reading Sociology

Answer the following questions:1) Identify the main argument of the chapter

(thesis).2) What is the purpose of the article (i.e.,

academically, why did the author write this paper – is it tied into a debate?). (Puzzle/contribution).

3) Identify and define all key terms and key figures.

Section on Politics

Readings in Sociology:

(Likely) ALL chapters are likely to be tested.

Starting Points:Just this weeks chapters: politics and social movements

10

Research questions: Ch 57

1. Was there a relationship between public opinion and political context? Public expenditures, governing party

2. Were public opinion and economic context related over the period under study? Median income, income inequality, business cycle

3. How does individual-level income affect support for government intervention?

4. Does the relationship between income and attitudes differ in Canada and the US?

Chapter 57: Redistribution

Explore the relationship between social expenditures and public opinion

Main conclusion: People are affected by the political and economic conditions that they experience but not by level of social spending per se

Purpose: “This paper examines the relationship between economic and political conditions on welfare spending in Canada from 1980 to 2005”.

The Debate: How are attitudes shaped, and what is the relationship between public opinion and social spending.

Key Terms: Welfare State, redistribution, social democracy, public expenditures.

The Debate or Puzzle

Relationship between policy and public opinion Two explanations:

1. Elected officials maximize chance of re-election by responding to public preferences (Stimson 1995, Wlezien 2004, Brooks and Manza 2007)

2. Economic and political factors influence public preferences (Andersen and Fetner 2008, Kenworthy and McCall 2008)

Regardless of causal interpretation one prefers, growing inequality within nations (Fisher and Hout 2006, Firebaugh 2000, Banting 2006, Myles 2010), and a general rightward shift in government policy underscore the importance of studying these relationships

Potential influences on public opinion

1. Political regime—i.e., social democratic, liberal, conservative—influences attitudes (Svallfors 1997; Papadakis 1993)

2. Support for spending lowest during economic recession (Shivo and Uusitalo 1995, Svallfors 1991, 1995 )

3. Public responds to changes in public spending (Soroka and Wlezien 2004)

4. Class or income effects based on “economic-utilitarian” views (Kaltenthaler and Ceccoli 2008, Jaeger 2006)

5. Type of programs (i.e., targeted versus universal) also matters (Korpi and Palme 1998)

14

Figure 1Trends in public expenditures and public opinion

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

14

16

18

20

22

(a) Public expenditures

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of G

DP

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 20051

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(b) Support for public spending

Ave

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Welfare

Poverty

Child care

15

Figure 2Trends in economic indicators

1980 1990 2000

3035

4045

(a) Median family income (after tax)

2005

con

stan

t dol

lars

(1,0

00s)

1980 1990 2000

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

(b) Income inequality

Rat

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ers

1980 1990 2000

67

89

1011

12

(c) Unemployment rate

Perc

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What the figures show

There is some evidence that preferences for spending among the Canadian population increased during times of declined spending.

At the very least, these figures show that expenditures do not reflect Canadian’s preferences.

Important questions this article answers

Main conclusion: People are affected by the political and economic conditions that they experience but not by level of social spending per se

1) What is the strongest influence of public opinion on welfare state spending?

2) When is public support for welfare spending highest?

3) What factors do not have a strong influence on public opinion (think of the debate)?

4) People in which types of countries tend to be the strongest supporters of welfare state spending?

Chapter 57 discussion questions

Public opinion and redistribution

1) Do you think the Canadian government should raise taxes and spend more on social services?

2) Who benefits in society from increased spending on social services?

3) This paper argues that people are perceptive, or aware, or inequality and its effects as it becomes larger. Evaluate this assumption. How is it possible for people to ‘see’ inequality? How is it difficult to see increases in inequality?

4) This paper evaluates two narratives regarding public opinion. Which do you believe and why?

“How are attitudes shaped, and what is the relationship between public opinion and social spending”.

Joshcurtispolisoc.com

Chapter 56

“Canada’s Rights Revolution”

Purpose: To describe fundamental themes related to social movements, through different research and media narratives.

Focus: Canadian focus.

Important Ideas

1) What are social movement organizations?

2) Discussion of human rights: a) significant advances; b) mechanisms that advance/inhibit social progress.

3) What should be done in Canada?

Ch 55: Counting, Caste, and Confusion

Purpose: Describe how National Census Data in India were successfully collected in order to sample Caste systems.

They ask: By 1921 census collectors were equipped to sample the populations correctly. ‘How did this radical transformation occur? To answer this question we draw upon national archival research. We examine the correspondence of census officials as well as reports concerning caste data”.

Research goals: “To explain how the national census bureau was able to adapt to successfully sample these populations”.

Important terms

This chapter is about the problems that existed with early census gathering (so, methodological issues) and how they were over come.

So, things to know:1) What were the early problems? (local rather

than national)2) What was the solution? (caste enumeration

through which process?). Who is Risley? His attempt to discriminate between the Indian people reflects what?

Chapter 58: Social Europe and Eastern Europe

Purpose: The problem of declining universalism and it’s effects on European countries. In particular, rising neo-liberalism and conservatism in EU countries as a result of the ‘Social Europe Project’.

Key ideas:Since the 1980s, EU social policy decisions represent corporate and neo-liberal interests: they have no interest in pursuing decommodificaiton policies.

Social policies that decommodify labour are necessary for income equality, and buffer the exploitation of people’s labour.

States at the outset: “Capitalist economies cannot be maintained without social policy- a point that many neoliberal commentators neglect.”The functioning of the economy depends on functioning institutions, so it can never be maintained by pure market relationships of supply and demand.

Important concepts

Neo-liberalism: is an ideology based on the advocacy of economic liberalization and open markets, and deregulation. It promotes the private sectors role in society and the economy.

Decommodification: refers to the process by which social policy reduces individuals’ reliance on the market for their well being. Health care, education, income supplements, childcare pensions, etc.

The social policies that the EU implements are targeted at ‘excluded’ populations, and are explicitly non-universal.SO…Critique of neo-liberalism, in favour of socially democratic governing and a rise in universalistic social policy.

Important Ideas

Key ideas:-Understand ‘neo-liberalism’ and its consequences for social policy development.-Decommodification (and recommodification)-Universal versus Targeted social policies, and what dominates the EU today.-All things considered, what are the implications for employment and labour conditions.

Chapter 58: Target/Universal Social Policy

Which type of social policy framework do you think works best? Targeted or Universal?

What are the advantages/disadvantages with each policy platform?

Important passage:“The EU favours targeted social policies by making them subject

to its hard policy process. This implies that the general level of social citizenship in the EU is already satisfactory and that only identifiable excluded populations need help to ‘catch up’ with it”

Income inequality