What Is Sociology?

1
What Is Sociology?

• The study of human interaction
  and organization.

2
Why Should We Learn About Cda?

• To acquire self-knowledge who we are what are
  our life chances, etc
• To prevent false conceptions of ourselves
• To develop realistic solutions to unique Cdn
  problems and constellations of problems

3
National Unity, Nation-Building Societal
Integration

• Introduction a) Meaning of National Unity b)
  Paradox c) Socgical Artificiality of Cdn
  Society
• Means Used by The State to Promote Ntl Unity
• a) Policy Legislation (name the law) b)
  Institutions c) Other State Means
• Non-State Factors Contributing to Ntl Unity

4
Policy Legislative Means Used by The State to
Promote Ntl Integration

• Unity Bill/Clarity Act, 2001
• National Energy Policy, 1980
• Constitution Act, 1982
• Charter of Rts Freedoms Recognition of
  Aboriginal Rts Sec. 28 Gender Equality (to
  here 02Sept13)
• Official Languages Act, 1969
• Creation of Cdn Flag
• Adoption of National Anthem Currency
• Immigration Laws Procedures
• CRTC Canadian Content Regulations
• Macdonalds National Policy
• Residential Schools
• Cda Health Act

5
Nation-Bldg (contd.) Additional State Policy
Legislative Means
6
Institutions Created by The Stateto Promote Ntl
Integration

• CBC NFB Mint
• CNR
• Cdn Council for the Arts
• Social Safety Net (e.g. CPP EI)
• Military (incl. Coercive integration)
• RCMP
• Festivals and Honorific Awards
• Parks Canada
• Cdn Olympic Association

7
Non- State Aspects of Cdn Society That Promote
National Integration

• Sport
• Shared Myths, Symbols Institns
• Shared Values
• Inertia based on fear and conservatism
• Cross-cutting cleavages
• Displacement of aggression escapist responses
  of some oppressed peoples/ limits challenges to
  the system
• Cumulative Exper. Conflict Resoln
• Spread of Nationalistic Ideology in Face of
  External Threats (Notable exceptions are
  conscription crises of WWI and WWII.)

8
What is The Social Fabric

• A set of taken-for-granted social expectations,
  based on common understandings, ideals, and norms
  that define what individuals can count on when
  dealing with others and with institutions (and
  those institutions agents)
• In assessing the state of societal cohesion, we
  need to assess -how well these expectations
  are being met - peoples sense of indebtedness to
  society - norms of reciprocity (sense of
  obligation)

9
The Implicit Social Covenant Expectations
Comprisingthe Social Fabric

• Implicit social covenant defines what
  individuals can expect from society what
  society can expect from them.
• Full acceptance sense of belonging to larger
  whole
• Respect
• Fair treatment
• Trustworthiness of others
• Recognition of the contributions made to
  community or society
• Thus, membership in society entails
  OBLIGATIONS members owe something to each
  other.

10
Social Change and the Social Fabric

• Some social change strengthens the social fabric
  some weakens it.
• The social fabric is particularly vulnerable to
  weakening during periods of rapid social
  change. i.e., when it produces frustrations,
  social tensions, status anxieties
• Those who see little chance of winning become
  alienated and marginalized.

11
Social Changes Affecting the Social Fabric

• Emergence of a market culture.
• Society as simply a set of individuals engaged
  in economic transactions as consumers of goods
  services, as taxpayers buying services from govt,
  as entrepreneurs competing for markets, etc.
• Quiet Revolution in Quebec
• Multiculturalism Policy
• Immigrn Policy Incr. In Visible Minorities
• Emergence of Indigenous Isolates
• Womens Movement
• Globalization Major Technological Change
• Multiplication of Interest Groups

12
Concept Social Capital

• Social capital refers to certain properties of
  relationships and networks, including
• trust,
• norms of reciprocity,
• norms prohibiting anti-social behaviour, and
• norms compelling beneficial action.

13
Sociologists ConcernsAbout the Market
Culture(p. 1 of 2)

• Angus Reid (pollster) Canadas reserves of
  social capital are at risk of being quickly
  depleted by the mean-spirited individualism of
  the new economy and undermined by one-dimensional
  arguments that focus solely on the need for
  greater economic freedom.
• Charles Taylor (The Malaise of Modernity)
  Concern that people have lost the broader view
  and feel less a part of the larger social order
  because they focus on their individual
  lives.

14
Sociologists ConcernsAbout the Market
Culture(p. 2 of 2)

• Market Culture Emphasizes Self-Interest
  Self-Reliance - might discourage the sense
  that we owe something to others to the
  community (sense of indebtedness to
  society) - encourages a sense of self-worth
  based on economic success
• Market Culture Endorses a Business Framework as
  the Main Template for Social Relations
  Institutions - What counts is the bottom
  line. e.g., universities business
  plan students as customers
• i.e. market culture as a de-stabilizing
  force that strains the social fabric.

15
How Fragile is the Social Fabric?Research
Findings

• Sense of Belonging Strong re communities in
  which we live and the larger society.
• Feeling of Indebtedness to Society Strong
• Sense of Obligation to Help Others Strong, and
  we walk the talk. Sense of obligation to help
  anyone in need is much stronger than our sense of
  obligation to the social groups of which we are
  members Strong commitment to common good
• Sense of Mutual Dependence Strong
• Diversity Seen as Source of Strength

16
Disquieting Trends Cleavages

• Generation Gap
• Regional Differences esp. in sense of trust,
  commitment, recognition
• Social Class Cleavages
• Gulf Between Elites Masses

17
How Can We Reinforce the Social Fabric?

• Encourage countervailing forces to the
  individualism of the market culture.
• Eliminate unfairness in distribution of
  opportunities and in practices of institutions
• Bridge social boundaries
• Achieve fairness in social recognition
• Narrow the gap between citizens and leaders
• Foster community involvement