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

1) The Road to War

1.1) German Foreign Policy

From the Congress of Vienna, international relations were governed by the attempt to achieve a balance between the European powers. The UK sought to preserve its maritime dominance. Since German unification, the new empire was in power at the center of the continent, changing the orientation of international relations.

Initially, Otto von Bismarck directed his diplomatic activities to prevent anti-German coalition-building and became the arbiter of European diplomacy. His main interest was the isolation of France. To this end, he built a system of alliances around Germany, which attracted Austria-Hungary and Russia. But because of the rivalry between Austria-Hungary and Russia, Germany sought new allies,... Continue reading "European Power Shifts Leading to World War I" »

Political Philosophy

Political philosophy's primary objective must be rational. The state must be devoted to studying political phenomena as they are. Its purpose is to establish how they should be to become righteous.

Domain

Domain is the capacity that an individual or group of individuals can have to impose their will on others.

Political Power

Political power is when some individuals or groups of individuals, intending to organize tasks, perform the task of directing the actions of members of the group or society. They make decisions that affect the entire community and even exercise some control over others, thereby forcing all members of the community to follow their guidelines and instructions.

State

State is a socio-political organization whose... Continue reading "Key Concepts in Political Philosophy and Governance" »

Public Services in Spain

The public sector's role has been instrumental in the growth of service activities in Spain over the last few decades. The generalization of the so-called welfare state has made public spending on education, health, and other social services an essential part of national budgets.

The Public Administration

In Spain, the State is organized territorially into municipalities, provinces, and autonomous regions, with services provided at local and regional levels. These services are often concentrated in urban centers, which act as administrative capitals serving the rest of their provinces and communities.

Social Protection and Key Services

Spain operates as a welfare state, or social state, meaning the government has assumed... Continue reading "Spain's Public Services and Welfare State System" »

Provisional Government and the Constitution of 1931

In the municipal elections of April 12, 1931, the Republican coalition obtained an absolute majority. This victory forced Alfonso XIII to flee the country and led to the peaceful proclamation of the Republic.

After the exile of the king and the proclamation of the Republic, the stage of the Interim Government began:

• It brought together all republican forces (right, center, and left). Monarchists and radical leftist groups (anarchists and communists) were excluded.
• It immediately began a series of reforms affecting the structure of the army, the territorial organization of the state, agrarian poverty, and relations between Church and State.

Regarding the conflicts arising from the new arrangements... Continue reading "Spain's Second Republic: Provisional Government and the 1931 Constitution" »

Reconstruction, 1945-1950: Consequences of the Second War

Reconstruction, 1945-1950. The consequences of the 2nd war.

After the Second World War, in addition to the process of rebuilding national economies, developed countries initiated the reconstruction of a liberal world order that had been damaged by previous years. As a result, this led to a second economic globalization that favored the strong mobility of production and structural changes that enhanced wealth creation.

Economic Effects

• Strong human losses (42 million deaths throughout Europe) and frequent migration. These facts led to a decline in labor supply and human capital.
• Material losses. This generated a sharp deterioration of infrastructure and capital equipment.
• Deterioration of

Company Policies and Their Purpose

In clearer terms, considering their purpose, we can distinguish two kinds of companies:

1. Private Companies: These have defined purposes, voluntarily chosen by their members. Their activities are aimed directly and immediately at the goal that inspired their creation through a conscious and voluntary act.
2. General-Purpose Companies: These have an indefinite and generic purpose, creating the conditions necessary for individuals and other companies that integrate into them to reach their particular purposes. Participation in these societies almost always depends on an act of will.

Companies are commonly referred to as general-purpose political societies precisely because they are not attached to a particular purpose... Continue reading "Understanding Company Policies and the Origin of the State" »

Origins of Sociology

Interest in social life is very old, dating back to ancient social philosophy. However, sociology as a distinct discipline emerged in the nineteenth century. Its founder was Auguste Comte, who coined the term "sociology." The emergence of sociology was closely linked to the Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution, as Comte himself grew up amidst these transformative events. These revolutions brought about significant political and social changes. Among those who sought to explain this new social reality were Comte, Durkheim, Marx, and Weber.

Study Subjects

Sociology is the social science dedicated to the systematic study of society, social action, and the groups within it. It examines how organizations and institutions... Continue reading "Understanding Sociology: Key Concepts and Culture" »

Values and Their Influence on Human Behavior

Values are deeply held convictions of human beings that determine their character and guide their behavior. Partnerships involve a multitude of individuals who are grouped by preserving their individuality and harmonized coexistence through mutual cooperation to achieve common goals.

Understanding Neoliberalism

What is neoliberalism, and what is its background? Neoliberalism, also known as neoliberal institutionalism, is a political theory that aims to maximize the reduction of state intervention. It is associated with the free market and capitalism in economic terms.

Fundamentals of Economics

Economics focuses on the best use of assets to meet existing needs.

The Role of the State in the Economy

The State... Continue reading "Understanding Values, Neoliberalism, Economics, and Social Structures" »

Ethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism is judging the world through one's own culture's parameters. It often involves believing one's race or ethnic group is superior. People using this ideology judge other groups based on their own culture, particularly regarding language, customs, behavior, religion, and beliefs—aspects that define cultural identity.

Subjectivity

Subjectivity has two meanings: referring to knowledge or the subject. In knowledge theory, subjectivity describes perceptions, arguments, and language based on a subject's viewpoint, influenced by their interests and desires. This contrasts with objectivity, which is inter-subjective, unbiased, and verifiable.

Authoritarianism

Authoritarianism is the extreme exercise of authority, lacking consensus... Continue reading "Ethnocentrism, Subjectivity, and Authoritarianism" »

Model Test Context

This document presents a model test for college access, focusing on Castilian (Spanish Language) skills, drawing on over 25 years of experience in academic assessment.

Article Excerpt: The Coming Ice Age

A glaciation will arrive in the not-too-distant future in geological terms, a few thousand years from now – perhaps in one or two millennia. So states the team of scientists from the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) in its latest study, conducted and coordinated by scientist Joan Grimalt. A future Ice Age is one of the conclusions of this study, which has examined our climate over the past 250,000 years. The Alboran Sea, which separates the Iberian Peninsula from Africa, has provided significant clues... Continue reading "Future Glaciation: Scientific Predictions and Linguistic Challenges" »