Politics is the process by which decisions are made within groups. Although the term is generally applied to behavior within governments, politics is also observed in all human group interactions, including corporate, academic, and religious institutions. Politics Politics Portal Politics by country Political campaigns Political science Political philosophy Ideology History of democracy Direct democracy Representativ ...

Including:

• Politics - A natural state
• Politics - Early history
• Politics - Definitions
• Politics - Political power
• Politics - The Normative 'Faces of Power' Debate
• Politics - The Postmodern Challenge of Normative Views of Power
• Politics - Sociological Views of Power
• Politics - Authority and legitimacy
• Politics - Traditional
• Politics - Charismatic
• Politics - Legal-rational
• Politics - References

Read more here: » Politics: Encyclopedia - Politics

Antonio Gramsci (January 22, 1891 – April 27, 1937) was an Italian writer, politician, leader and theorist of Socialism, Communism and Anti-Fascism. Antonio Gramsci - Life. Gramsci was born in Ales, Italy, on the island of Sardinia, a relatively remote region of Italy that was mostly ignored by the Italian government in favor of the industrialized North. He was the fourth of seven sons of Francesco Gramsci. His father's family was Arbëreshë and probably the family name was related to Gramsh, an Albanian ...

Including:

• Antonio Gramsci - Life
• Antonio Gramsci - Thought
• Antonio Gramsci - Hegemony
• Antonio Gramsci - Intellectuals and Education
• Antonio Gramsci - State and Civil Society
• Antonio Gramsci - Historicism
• Antonio Gramsci - Critique of 'Economism'
• Antonio Gramsci - Critique of Materialism
• Antonio Gramsci - Influence
• Antonio Gramsci - Sources

Read more here: » Antonio Gramsci: Encyclopedia - Antonio Gramsci

If we forget precursors such as Umberto Eco and Roland Barthes for a moment, popular culture studies as we know them today were developed in the late seventies and the eighties. The first influential works were generally politically left-wing and rejected the "aristocratic" view. However, they also criticized the pessimism of the Frankfurt School: contemporary studies on mass culture accept that, apparently, popular culture forms do respond to widespread needs of the public. They also emphasized the capacity of the consumers to resist indoct ...

See also:

Popular culture studies, Popular culture studies - Traditional theories of popular culture, Popular culture studies - The theory of mass society, Popular culture studies - The theory of culture industry, Popular culture studies - The theory of progressive evolution, Popular culture studies - Contemporary popular culture studies, Popular culture studies - Traces of the theory of culture industry, Popular culture studies - Contemporary liberal pluralism, Popular culture studies - Contemporary apocalyptic thought, Popular culture studies - Recurring issues in popular culture studies, Popular culture studies - The interactions between popular and legitimized culture, Popular culture studies - The possibility of a subversive popular culture, Popular culture studies - Relevant articles

Read more here: » Popular culture studies: Encyclopedia II - Popular culture studies - Contemporary popular culture studies

The thought of Friedrich Nietzsche underlies much 20th century analysis of power. Nietzsche disseminated ideas on the "will to power," which he saw as the domination of other humans as much as the exercise of control over one's environment. Some schools of psychology, notably that associated with Alfred Adler, place power dynamics at the core of their theory (where orthodox Freudians might place sexuality). ...

See also:

Power sociology, Power sociology - Analysis and operation of power, Power sociology - Types and sources of power, Power sociology - Theories of power, Power sociology - A rational choice framework, Power sociology - Marxism, Power sociology - Feminism, Power sociology - Foucault, Power sociology - Lukes, Power sociology - Toffler, Power sociology - Unmarked categories, Power sociology - Representation/Counterpower, Power sociology - Power by order, Power sociology - Sources

Read more here: » Power sociology: Encyclopedia II - Power sociology - Theories of power

In much the same way that the selfish gene concept offers a fruitful way of understanding and reasoning about aspects of biological evolution, the meme concept allegedly can conceivably assist in the better understanding of some otherwise puzzling aspects of human culture (and learned behaviors of other animals as well). However, if one cannot test for "better" empirically, the question will remain whether or not the meme concept counts as a valid scientific theory. Memetics thus remains a science in its infancy, a protoscience (although critics sometimes label it a pseudoscience). ...

See also:

Meme, Meme - Basic introduction, Meme - History of the concept of the meme, Meme - Ideas have a life of their own, Meme - Memetics, Meme - Memetic engineering, Meme - Memetic evolution, Meme - Do cultures evolve?, Meme - Propagation of memes, Meme - Biological analogies, Meme - Thoughts as discrete units, Meme - Evolution of memes, Meme - Evolutionary forces affecting memes, Meme - Memetic virus exchange?, Meme - Non-natural selection, Meme - Reproductive isolation in meme speciation, Meme - Forms taken by memes in the brain, Meme - The be happy and make others happy memes, Meme - Religion, Meme - Science, Meme - Meme resistance, Meme - Examples of memes, Meme - Common misconceptions

Read more here: » Meme: Encyclopedia II - Meme - Biological analogies

The thought of Friedrich Nietzsche underlies much 20th century analysis of power. Nietzsche disseminated ideas on the "will to power," which he saw as the domination of other humans as much as the exercise of control over one's environment. Some schools of psychology, notably that associated with Alfred Adler, place power dynamics at the core of their theory (where orthodox Freudians might place sexuality). ...

See also:

Power sociology, Power sociology - Analysis and operation of power, Power sociology - Types and sources of power, Power sociology - Theories of power, Power sociology - A rational choice framework, Power sociology - Marxism, Power sociology - Feminism, Power sociology - Foucault, Power sociology - Lukes, Power sociology - Toffler, Power sociology - Unmarked Categories, Power sociology - Representation/Counterpower, Power sociology - Power by Order, Power sociology - Source, Power sociology - See Also

Read more here: » Power sociology: Encyclopedia II - Power sociology - Theories of power

In much the same way that the selfish gene concept offers a fruitful way of understanding and reasoning about aspects of biological evolution, the meme concept allegedly can conceivably assist in the better understanding of some otherwise puzzling aspects of human culture (and learned behaviors of other animals as well). However, if one cannot test for "better" empirically, the question will remain whether or not the meme concept counts as a valid scientific theory. Memetics thus remains a science in its infancy, a protoscience (although critics sometimes label it a pseudoscience). ...

See also:

Meme, Meme - Introduction and definitions, Meme - Dawkins genetic analogy, Meme - Meme complexes and horizontal transmission, Meme - Historical usage of the meme concept, Meme - Quotation: Ideas have a life of their own, Meme - Memetics, Meme - Memetic evolution, Meme - Do cultures evolve?, Meme - Propagation of memes, Meme - Internet propagation, Meme - Memetic engineering, Meme - Biological analogies, Meme - Thoughts as discrete units, Meme - Evolution of memes, Meme - Evolutionary forces affecting memes, Meme - Memetic virus exchange?, Meme - Non-natural selection, Meme - Reproductive isolation in meme speciation, Meme - Forms taken by memes in the brain, Meme - The be happy and make others happy memes, Meme - Religion, Meme - Science, Meme - Meme resistance, Meme - Examples, Meme - Common misconceptions

Read more here: » Meme: Encyclopedia II - Meme - Biological analogies

Many questions surround the political notion of power with both positive and negative aspects attached to it. Generally, power is considered integral in politics and is the subject of a great deal of debate and definitions have evolved over time. Many academics define political power by referring to various academic disciplines including politics, sociology, group psychology, economics, and other facets of society. The multiple notions of political power that are put forth range from conventional views that simply revolve around the actions ...

See also:

Politics, Politics - A natural state, Politics - Early history, Politics - Definitions, Politics - Political power, Politics - The Normative 'Faces of Power' Debate, Politics - The Postmodern Challenge of Normative Views of Power, Politics - Sociological Views of Power, Politics - Authority and legitimacy, Politics - Traditional, Politics - Charismatic, Politics - Legal-rational

Read more here: » Politics: Encyclopedia II - Politics - Political power

Meta-ideology is the study of the structure, form, and manifestation of ideologies. Meta-ideology posits that ideology is a coherant system of ideas, relying upon a few basic assumptions about reality that may or may not have any factual basis, but are subjective choices that serve as the seed around which further thought grows. According to this perspective, ideologies are neither right nor wrong, but only a relativistic intellectual strategy for categorizing the world. The works of George Walford and Harold Walsby, done under the heading of systematic ideology, are attempts to explore t ...

See also:

Ideology, Ideology - Ideology in everyday society, Ideology - History of the concept of ideology, Ideology - The analysis of ideology, Ideology - Ideology as an instrument of social reproduction, Ideology - Feminism as critique of ideology, Ideology - Political ideologies, Ideology - List of political ideologies, Ideology - Epistemological ideologies

Read more here: » Ideology: Encyclopedia II - Ideology - The analysis of ideology

Meta-ideology is the study of the structure, form, and manifestation of ideologies. Meta-ideology posits that ideology is a coherent system of ideas, relying upon a few basic assumptions about reality that may or may not have any factual basis, but are subjective choices that serve as the seed around which further thought grows. According to this perspective, ideologies are neither right nor wrong, but only a relativistic intellectual strategy for categorizing the world. The works of George Walford and Harold Walsby, done under the heading of systematic ideology, are attempts to explore t ...

See also:

Ideology, Ideology - Ideology in everyday society, Ideology - History of the concept of ideology, Ideology - The analysis of ideology, Ideology - Ideology as an instrument of social reproduction, Ideology - Louis Althusser's Ideological State Apparatuses, Ideology - Feminism as critique of ideology, Ideology - Political ideologies, Ideology - List of political ideologies, Ideology - Epistemological ideologies

Read more here: » Ideology: Encyclopedia II - Ideology - The analysis of ideology

Within normative political analysis, there are also various levels of power as described by academics that add depth into the understanding of the notion of power and its political implications. Robert Dahl, a prominent American political scientist, first ascribed to political power the trait of decision-making as the source and main indicator of power. Later, two other political scientists, Peter Bachrach and Morton Baratz, decided that simply ascribing decision-making as the basis of power was too simplistic and they added what they termed ...

See also:

Political power, Political power - Political Science Perspectives, Political power - Source

Read more here: » Political power: Encyclopedia II - Political power - Political Science Perspectives

Many questions surround the political notion of power with both positive and negative aspects attached to it. Generally, power is considered integral in politics and is the subject of a great deal of debate and definitions have evolved over time. Many academics define political power by referring to various academic disciplines including politics, sociology, group psychology, economics, and other facets of society. The multiple notions of political power that are put forth range from conventional views that simply revolve around the actions ...

See also:

Politics, Politics - A natural state, Politics - Early history, Politics - Definitions, Politics - Political power, Politics - The Normative 'Faces of Power' Debate, Politics - The Postmodern Challenge of Normative Views of Power, Politics - Sociological Views of Power, Politics - Authority and legitimacy, Politics - Traditional, Politics - Charismatic, Politics - Legal-rational, Politics - References

Read more here: » Politics: Encyclopedia II - Politics - Political power

English is the second or third most widely spoken language in the world today. A total of 600–700 million people use the various dialects of English regularly. About 377 million people use one the versions of English as their mother tongue, and an equal number of people use them as their second or foreign language. English is used widely in either the public or private sphere in more than 100 countries all over the world. In addition, the language has occupied a primary place in international academic and business communities. The current ...

See also:

English language, English language - History, English language - Classification and related languages, English language - Geographic distribution, English language - English as a global language, English language - Dialects and regional variants, English language - Constructed variants of English, English language - Sounds, English language - Vowels, English language - Consonants, English language - Intonation, English language - Tone groups, English language - Characteristics of intonation, English language - Grammar, English language - Vocabulary, English language - Number of words in English, English language - Word origins, English language - Writing system, English language - Basic sound-letter correspondence, English language - Written accents, English language - Dialects, English language - Pronunciation, English language - Social cultural or political, English language - Grammar, English language - Usage, English language - Dictionaries

Read more here: » English language: Encyclopedia II - English language - Geographic distribution

Gramsci wrote more than 30 notebooks of history and analysis during his imprisonment. These writings, known as the Prison Notebooks, contain Gramsci's tracing of Italian history and nationalism, as well as some ideas in Marxist theory, critical theory and educational theory associated with his name, such as: Cultural hegemony as a means of maintaining the capitalist state The need for popular workers' education to encourage development of intellectuals from the working class. The distinction between poli ...

See also:

Antonio Gramsci, Antonio Gramsci - Life, Antonio Gramsci - Thought, Antonio Gramsci - Hegemony, Antonio Gramsci - Intellectuals and Education, Antonio Gramsci - State and Civil Society, Antonio Gramsci - Historicism, Antonio Gramsci - Critique of 'Economism', Antonio Gramsci - Critique of Materialism, Antonio Gramsci - Influence, Antonio Gramsci - Sources

Read more here: » Antonio Gramsci: Encyclopedia II - Antonio Gramsci - Thought

Perhaps the most accessible source for the original meaning of "ideology" is Hippolyte Taine's work on the Ancien Regime (first volume of "Origins of Contemporary France"). He describes ideology as rather like teaching philosophy by the Socratic method, but without extending the vocabulary beyond what the general reader already possessed, and without the examples from observation which practical science would require. Taine identifies it not just with Destutt de Tracy, but wi ...

See also:

Ideology, Ideology - Ideology in everyday society, Ideology - History of the concept of ideology, Ideology - The analysis of ideology, Ideology - Ideology as an instrument of social reproduction, Ideology - Louis Althusser's Ideological State Apparatuses, Ideology - Feminism as critique of ideology, Ideology - Political ideologies, Ideology - List of political ideologies, Ideology - Epistemological ideologies

Read more here: » Ideology: Encyclopedia II - Ideology - History of the concept of ideology

In public discussions, some ideas seem to arise more commonly than others. Indeed, often completely separate people may be found to think alike in startling ways. For social scientists, one way of explaining such instances of common opinion is the presence of an ideology. Every society has an ideology that forms the basis of the "public opinion" or common sense, a basis that usually remains invisible to most people within the society. This dominant ideology appears as "neutral", holding to assumptions that are largely unchallenged. Me ...

See also:

Ideology, Ideology - Ideology in everyday society, Ideology - History of the concept of ideology, Ideology - The analysis of ideology, Ideology - Ideology as an instrument of social reproduction, Ideology - Feminism as critique of ideology, Ideology - Political ideologies, Ideology - List of political ideologies, Ideology - Epistemological ideologies

Read more here: » Ideology: Encyclopedia II - Ideology - Ideology in everyday society

In social studies, a political ideology is a certain ethical, set of ideals, principles, doctrines, myths or symbols of a social movement, institution, class, or large group that explain how society should work, and offer some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social order. A political ideology largely concerns itself with how to allocate power and to what ends it should be used. It can be a construct of political thought, often defining political parties and their policy. Studies of the concept of ideology itself (rather than specific ideologies) have been c ...

See also:

Ideology, Ideology - Ideology in everyday society, Ideology - History of the concept of ideology, Ideology - The analysis of ideology, Ideology - Ideology as an instrument of social reproduction, Ideology - Louis Althusser's Ideological State Apparatuses, Ideology - Feminism as critique of ideology, Ideology - Political ideologies, Ideology - List of political ideologies, Ideology - Epistemological ideologies

Read more here: » Ideology: Encyclopedia II - Ideology - Political ideologies

In public discussions, some ideas seem to arise more commonly than others. Indeed, often completely separate people may be found to think alike in startling ways. For social scientists, one way of explaining such instances of common opinion is the presence of an ideology. Every society has an ideology that forms the basis of the "public opinion" or common sense, a basis that usually remains invisible to most people within the society. This dominant ideology appears as "neutral", holding to assumptions that are largely unchallenged. Me ...

See also:

Ideology, Ideology - Ideology in everyday society, Ideology - History of the concept of ideology, Ideology - The analysis of ideology, Ideology - Ideology as an instrument of social reproduction, Ideology - Louis Althusser's Ideological State Apparatuses, Ideology - Feminism as critique of ideology, Ideology - Political ideologies, Ideology - List of political ideologies, Ideology - Epistemological ideologies

Read more here: » Ideology: Encyclopedia II - Ideology - Ideology in everyday society

The English language belongs to the western subbranch of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Apart from English-lexified creole languages such as Tok Pisin and Bislama, the nearest living relative of English is Scots (Lallans), spoken mostly in Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland. Like English, Scots is a direct descendant of Old English, also known as Anglo-Saxon. After Scots, the next closest relative is Frisian—spoken in Germany and the Netherlands. Other less closely related living languages include ...

See also:

English language, English language - History, English language - Classification and related languages, English language - Geographic distribution, English language - English as a global language, English language - Dialects and regional variants, English language - Constructed variants of English, English language - Sounds, English language - Vowels, English language - Consonants, English language - Intonation, English language - Tone groups, English language - Characteristics of intonation, English language - Grammar, English language - Vocabulary, English language - Number of words in English, English language - Word origins, English language - Writing system, English language - Basic sound-letter correspondence, English language - Written accents, English language - Dialects, English language - Pronunciation, English language - Social cultural or political, English language - Grammar, English language - Usage, English language - Dictionaries

Read more here: » English language: Encyclopedia II - English language - Classification and related languages

V.G. Childe describes the transformation of human society that took place around 6000 BCE as an urban revolution. Among the features of this new type of civilization were the institutionalization of social stratification, non-agricultural specialised crafts (including priests and lawyers), taxation, and writing. All of which require clusters of densely populated settlements - city-states. The word "Politics" is derived from the Greek word for city-state, "Polis". Corporate, religious, academic and every other polity, especially those ...

See also:

Politics, Politics - A natural state, Politics - Early history, Politics - Definitions, Politics - Political power, Politics - The Normative 'Faces of Power' Debate, Politics - The Postmodern Challenge of Normative Views of Power, Politics - Sociological Views of Power, Politics - Authority and legitimacy, Politics - Traditional, Politics - Charismatic, Politics - Legal-rational

Read more here: » Politics: Encyclopedia II - Politics - Early history