Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Social sciences

Globalization and Globalism

Globalization is the increasing interconnectedness of people across countries, while globalism refers to the fluctuating level and extent of these connections. Globalism, therefore, is a key component of globalization, constantly evolving based on the specific type of linkage. The authors identify four distinct forms of globalism:

Economic Globalism

This involves international trade, the flow of jobs across borders (e.g., scientists conducting research abroad or relocated customer service centers), and international investment.

Military Globalism

Countries with limited military capabilities form alliances with stronger military powers. This often involves establishing military bases or defense agreements.

Environmental

The Rainbow Nation

Nelson Mandela often referred to South Africa as the "Rainbow Nation" to capture the diversity of the country's population and to emphasize the vision of unity in the post-apartheid era. The term "Rainbow Nation" reflects Mandela's commitment to building a nation where people of different races, ethnicities, and backgrounds could coexist harmoniously.

The Madiba Clan

Nelson Mandela belonged to the Thembu royal family, and his clan within the Thembu people is called the Madiba clan. "Madiba" was also a term of respect and endearment that many South Africans used to refer to Mandela.

Flags in 'Invictus'

In the movie "Invictus," during the first rugby match, you would see the national flags of South Africa and Australia. The scene... Continue reading "Nelson Mandela, South Africa's Rainbow Nation, and 'Invictus'" »

Technological Advancements

Another important impact the Industrial Revolution had was the improvements and developments it brought to the printing press. The development of more efficient and productive printing machines helped publish newspapers and made them more available to the masses. The telegraph is a great example that reflects the improvements seen in communication. Also, developing the steam engine as well as the iron and coal industry helped improve the transportation systems of society. Coal was used to power the steam engines, and iron was used to construct bridges and railroads, representing the huge progress made in transportation.

Social Issues and Worker Reforms

Eventually, with all of the mentioned social impacts that were produced... Continue reading "Industrial Revolution: Technology, Society, and Reform" »

Growth of Cities

Immigrants took factory jobs, mostly in cities, gathering in ethnic communities under poor conditions (e.g., Chinatown).

Nativism and Conflict

• Nativism: "Native" Americans disliked immigrants, claiming they took jobs and did not speak the language.
• Red Scare: During the Cold War, anti-communist raids led the Attorney General to deport suspected communists back to their home countries.
• Race Riots: In northern cities, competition between immigrants and Black Americans over jobs often ended in bloodshed.

Progressive Era Reforms

Women’s Suffrage

The movement aimed to secure voting rights for women. (Reference: The movie Iron Jawed Angels depicts this struggle.)

• State-by-State Approach: Early efforts focused on getting individual states

Red Flag Laws

• According to Joseph Blocher and Jacob D. Charles, legal professors at Duke University and Pepperdine Caruso Law School, respectively, “extreme risk laws provide a way for guns to be quickly and temporarily taken away from a person who does not necessarily fit into a prohibited class but is at risk of harming themselves or others.” Thus, this solution does not profile specific groups but collects information to ascertain individuals' ability to bear arms.

Implications

• Combining a national ERPO and a gun safety course can help reduce teen mortality rates and improve gun reform.

• The implementation of our solution will subsequently elicit a more knowledgeable understanding of gun violence, causing a decrease in school shootings.

• According

^{Lazarsfeld's theory:}

The two-step flow of communication model hypothesizes that ideas flow from mass media to opinion leaders, and from them to a wider population. It was first introduced by sociologist Paul Lazarsfeld et al. in 1944[4] and elaborated by Elihu Katz and Lazarsfeld in 1955[5] and subsequent publications.[6] Lowery and DeFleur argue the book was much more than a simple research report: it was an effort to interpret the authors' research within a framework of conceptual schemes, theoretical issues, and research findings drawn broadly from the scientific study of small groups [7] Unlike the hypodermic needle model, which considers mass media effects to be direct, the two-step flow model stresses human agency.

For example, in the field... Continue reading "Lazarsfeld's Two-Step Flow Theory of Mass Communication" »

Regional Economic Integration: Benefits & Types

Regional economic integration, also known as regionalism, is the process whereby countries in a geographic region cooperate to reduce or eliminate barriers to the international flow of products, people, or capital. There are five main types of regional economic integration:

• Free Trade Area: Member countries eliminate tariffs and quotas among themselves, but each maintains its own external trade policies.
• Customs Union: Builds on a free trade area by adding a common external trade policy.
• Common Market: Extends a customs union by allowing the free movement of labor and capital among members.
• Economic Union: Combines a common market with the coordination of national economic policies (e.g., monetary,

Understanding the Fan: From Stereotype to Participatory Media Culture

Defining the Fan: Beyond Negative Connotations

To appropriately answer this question, one must first address the definition of ‘fan’. The term is an abbreviation of ‘fanatic’, which carries religious connotations, referring to devotees or those with secular faith. Historically, it has often been associated with negative societal perceptions.

Henry Jenkins and the Rejection of Fan Stereotypes

Henry Jenkins, an American media scholar and lecturer from the second half of the 20th century, extensively discusses various phenomena related to fans in his seminal book, Textual Poachers: Television Fans and Participatory Culture. Jenkins actively rejects common fan stereotypes,... Continue reading "Fandom Dynamics: From Consumption to Participatory Media Culture" »

Types of nouns

Common noun A common noun is a noun that refers to people or things in general, e.g. boy, country, bridge, city, birth, day, happiness.

Proper noun A proper noun is a name that identifies a particular person, place, or thing, e.g. Steven, Africa, London, Monday. In written English, proper nouns begin with capital letters.

Concrete noun A concrete noun is a noun which refers to people and to things that exist physically and can be seen, touched, smelled, heard, or tasted. Examples include dog, building, coffee, tree, rain, beach, tune.

Abstract noun An abstract noun is a noun which refers to ideas, qualities, and conditions - things that cannot be seen or touched and things which have no physical reality, e.g. truth, danger, happiness,

After the Civil War, while the South was being physically and politically reconstructed, the North was being industrialized. In 1890, the frontier was closed when the Native Americans were displaced; they were finally defeated in the Battle of Wounded Knee (South Dakota). In 1893, the Columbian Exposition took place.

The Closing of the Frontier

The closing of the frontier had a psychological effect because it put an end to the national epic conquest of the West. On the one hand, it created a sense of being self-contained, meaning they couldn’t easily start from scratch as before. On the other hand, it brought the satisfaction of having defeated the wilderness.

Expansion and the Transcontinental Railroad

Connected with that were two events that... Continue reading "The Gilded Age and American Industrialization" »