When you think of the idea of democracy, what comes to mind first? Chances are that you are thinking of majority rule! However, democracy isn’t always based on majority rule or majority will as many imagine. Modern democracies can exhibit themselves in many ways. But the most common types of democracies are Participatory, Pluralist, and …
How can people work harmoniously together in the political process despite having diverse religions, interests, cultures, backgrounds, and political opinions (sometimes sharply clashing)? The answer is political pluralism. Political pluralism is a political theory that advocates for people of diversity to have a say in participating or shaping the political affairs of their country. This …
The federal government provides many services for citizens. They usually require implementation at the state or local government level. These programs are structured as federal-state partnerships for which federal grants are provided. The grants fall into various categories, including competitive, pass-through, continuation, or formula grants. Formula grants are economic aids or fundings that are distributed …
Why do you like certain foods and not others? Do you like the ideas of Luther King? Who taught you some table manners? All these ideas and opinions were shaped by other people or experiences, either consciously or as part of your learning process. Those influences that helped shape your opinions and behaviors are called …
Have you ever found yourself blending nicely into another culture even though it is foreign to you? Cultural convergence is a process where cultures that come into contact tend to become similar with increasing interaction. It causes members of either culture to embrace elements of the other culture and make them part of their own. …
When cultures come into contact, a number of interesting things happen. Acculturation is where elements are transferred from one culture to the other. This is due to intercultural interaction which causes people to acquire new cultural practices without abandoning their own culture. It can happen at both social and individual levels. Acculturation can be clearly …
Change is an integral part of life and the environment. However, in organizations, change needs to be introduced in a more purposeful and predictable way. Kurt Lewin’s model of change is a systematic way of implementing change. It’s based on the fact that change cannot be introduced at once or too quickly. Therefore, it is …
How jealously do you guard your personal space? In psychology, proxemics studies how personal space is defined and practiced in many cultures. Different cultures around the world apply personal space differently producing a wide variety of perspectives. The result is that people unconsciously protect their personal space in ways that are quite different depending on …
We all exist in a society that has good and evil. We celebrate the good in society and criticize the bad with vigor. We may praise or criticize society directly by pointing fingers at people and institutions that fail. Alternatively, we can use works of art and create characters that give a true picture of …
Have you ever wondered why some people have more ability to influence other people’s behavior than others? It is due to an uneven social system where some people wield more social power while others don’t. This is a kind of social interaction where some people can produce conformity from others even if they resist them. …