UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS

MODULE 1.1 - INTRODUCTION TO CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS

NAME: ___________________________________ SECTION: ____________

UNIT OVERVIEW

CHAPTER 1

Introduction to Culture, Society, and Politics introduces the fundamental concepts in

studying the course. The concept of identity is discussed as a significant influence
on individual and group behavior, and the chapter relates it to culture, society, and
change.

Essential to understanding Philippine society and culture are the views, theories, and
ideas taken from the social sciences, particularly Anthropology, Sociology, and
Political Science.

CHAPTER 2

Understanding Culture and Society takes a closer look at society and gives an
overview of its development. Culture, its characteristics, and various aspects are
discussed together with related concepts.

The three disciplines of Anthropology, Sociology, and Political Science are discussed,
focusing on their views regarding the study of society and culture.

FOR QUESTIONS OR FURTHER ASSISTANCE, YOU MAY CONTACT ME THROUGH

THE FOLLOWING:

 GOOGLE EMAIL: joshuapenaranda_shs@ows.edu.ph

 CONTACT #: 09984101928
Or thru my Facebook account/messenger

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS Page 1 of 29

 INTRODUCTION TO CULTURE,
SOCIETY, AND POLITICS

Welcome to the study of culture, society, and politics. As you move forward in the discussions,
you will begin to understand that your daily experiences are connected with the realities and
phenomena that define our society.

The events that have defined your lives up to the present are a product of the processes and
interactions within our society. Social, cultural, and political issues go beyond the news and
classroom discussions. As you learn the concepts, theories, and views that shaped and defined
how we view and examine the various aspects of Philippine culture, society, and politics, you will
realize that these topics have been closely intertwined with our experiences. To study them is
to take a closer and more meaningful look into our own lives and the larger forces that shape
our community and nation.

At the end of the chapter, the students will be able to;

1. define the concept of identity and relate it to society and culture;

2. define the social sciences and describe its various fields of study,
3. discuss how each social science contributes to understanding society, culture, and
politics;
4. describe how social backgrounds shape views about society and the world;
5. analyze social, political, and cultural change, and give examples of each;
6. relate their observations on social differences, social change, and identities, and discuss
their interrelatedness; and,
7. demonstrate an interest and willingness to explore the origins and dynamics of culture,
society, and politics.

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 SPRINGBOARD

NAME: ___________________________________ SCORE: ___________

Have you ever wondered why some people are different from you and from one another?

How will you describe your social background and identities? Try introducing yourself to your
seatmate by telling him or her at least five (5) of your identities. Think of the first five things
that come to mind when describing yourself. You can start by thinking of your identity within your
family (as a daughter, son, grandson, etc.) and within organizations or clubs that you belong to (as
secretary of the student council, member of the drama club, etc.) List them below.

[25 points]

1. __________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

3. __________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

4. __________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

5. __________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Compare your list with that of your classmate,friends or your own family members. What
similarities and differences in identity do you have? Share your list with the class. How similar or
different is your list with the rest of the class? Do you see the possibility of your identities
changing in the future?

If you were to ask your classmates to describe you, do you think they would write the same things
as those in your personal list? How about your closest friends or barkada? If you were to ask your
family members to list down the traits which they think best describe you, would they come up
with the same list of traits as you did?

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

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IDENTITY, CULTURE, AND SOCIETY

Identity is the distinctive characteristic that defines an individual or is shared by those

belonging to a particular group. People may have multiple identities depending on the groups
to which they belong.

In a family, for instance, one's identity can be that of a daughter, son, brother, or sister.
In school, a person may be a member of the student council, a club, or an organization. He
or she may also be known as a football player, music enthusiast, and performance artist.

Identity can also be influenced by other factors such as sexual orientation and gender (male,
female, transgenders, transexuals, intersex, genderqueers) and nationality (Filipino,
Japanese, French, etc.)

Identity can also change over the course of a person's lifetime. It is continuously shaped
and reshaped through the passage of time as well as the overall context of one's life cycle,
including his or her activities within the society and interaction with other people. Young
people, for example, identify themselves as sons or daughters but would eventually become
fathers and mothers when they start their own families. Likewise, when an individual
graduates from school. his or her Identity changes from being a student into that of a
professional doctor, teacher, or police officer.

One can also be a member of the Roman Catholic faith but may convert to a non-Catholic
Christian group or another religious group in the future.

Identities are important because they shape both individual and group behavior as well as
people's views about other people and society. Learning about one's sell, culture, and society
entails knowledge about various identities and how these shape peoples' views and behavior.
Reflecting on this enables a person to appreciate what makes him or her similar to and
different from other people.

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 (Festival and gatherings are ways of expressing collective and individual identities)

It also helps a person to understand that identities are relational and contextual, thereby
avoiding the common pitfall of having misguided notions or prejudices of other people that
are solely based on one's subjective views. One of the food taboos among Muslims, for
instance, is the eating of pork.

A keen sense of other people or group's identities enables a person to understand this
aspect of Muslim culture, and not regard Muslims as "weird" for observing this practice.
Another case in point is neighborhood istambays. They are usually regarded as unruly and
are often suspected of theft and other misdemeanors, However, many of them are people
who have difficulty in finding jobs because of inadequate employment opportunities in the
Philippines. If there are enough factories or offices to hire them, they would not want to
be istambays forever.

Holistic knowledge and understanding of the characteristics and overall identities of one's
self, of other people, and of different groups in society can lead to a better world. One
concrete way of achieving this is through constant dialogue and interaction with each other,

Culture, which is loosely defined as a society's way of life, provides the basis for forging
identities. It allows people to understand themselves in relation to others and provides them
a lens through which they base what is considered the "right way" of doing things. There
are material and nonmaterial aspects associated with culture. Clothes, music, and food are
examples of material things that comprise one's culture for example. Interpretations of
other's behavior, especially the basis of what we regard as "right" or "wrong" are examples
of nonmaterial dimensions of culture. Aside from what is generally regarded as Filipino
culture, there are other subcultures that exist in the Philippines, depending on geographical
origin, religion, and class, among others. All societies have some form of subcultures. The
term "society" refers to a group of people living in a community. According to MacIver and
Page, "it is a web of social relationships, which is always changing."

Social, Cultural, and Political Change

The concept of identity is related to social, cultural, and political change. People's individual
and collective identities have oftentimes transformed social order and paved the way for
lasting change.

For instance, when Filipinos first held elections in the 1900s, only Filipino males could vote
and participate in politics. However, when Filipino women became more educated either in
the Philippines or abroad, they were enlightened about their rights, particularly suffrage or
the right to vote. Consequently, the campaign for women's suffrage gained ground in the

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1930s. The framers of the 1935 Constitution allowed women to vote by virtue of a law that
was passed by the National Assembly. The law mandated a plebiscite on the question of
Filipino women's suffrage, which required at least 300,000 votes to grant women the right
to vote. The results of the plebiscite, held in 1937, yielded more than 400,000 votes in favor
of women's suffrage. The outcome forever changed the way women are regarded in society.
Before attaining the right to vote, women were merely perceived as nurturers of their
families with a limited role in the public sphere. The suffragist movement is said to be the
precursor of current rights that Filipino women enjoy. It is also a good example of how
political and social changes have transformed Filipino women's identities.

Rapidly-advancing technology also has profound implications for socio-cultural and political
change. Because people know more about what is happening elsewhere in the world, trends
in clothing, hairstyle, fashion style, and food choices, among others have also been
transformed. Now, people across the world are becoming more similar in tastes than they
were fifty years ago.

The phenomenon of international migration has also changed Filipino identities and beliefs.
It is said that 10 percent of the Philippine population is now abroad either as temporary
migrants or permanent immigrants. With this, Filipinos have grown accustomed to families
with members whose identities are not entirely Filipino. Some families, for instance, may
have children of mixed races as a result of marriages to foreigners. Filipino emigrants have
also assimilated with other cultures abroad. When they return to the Philippines, they tend
to see the Philippines in the context of what they saw and experienced abroad. Some aspects
of their beliefs and values may have also changed. Because of the perceived success of
Filipino emigrants, there is a high societal expectation for those who return from abroad.
Their relatives and neighbors expect them to bring home pasalubong. They are also regarded
as "modern-day heroes" by both the government and their families for sacrificing to leave
their families and country to earn a better living abroad. Meanwhile, there is also an
increasing number of transnational families, with members living in different parts of the
world. As a result, members of the family, most especially children, no longer identify with
a household whose members live in the same house. Members of transnational families
primarily interact with each other through the Internet and other social media platforms.

This is not to say that Filipinos abroad do not have an impact on their countries of
destination. In the United States, particularly in California, Filipino restaurants and
groceries abound. Filipino nurses are also known abroad because of their kindness and care
for their patients, particularly, the elderly-which is a revered Filipino trait. These examples
manifest that international migration is creating social, cultural, and political changes both
here and abroad.

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS Page 6 of 29

 APPLICATION:

Based on our discussion and your understanding of IDENTITY as presented

through a GENDERBREAD PERSON, create your own illustration/model that
shows your own identity or SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY. Explain
some important detail.

NAME: ___________________________________ SCORE: ____________

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DEFINITION AND SCOPE OF ANTHROPOLOGY

Anthropology is derived from two Greek words Anthropos and logos, which intensively
studies humans and the respective cultures where they were born and actively belong to

Anthropology is considered the father or even grandfather of all social and behavioral
sciences like sociology, economics, and psychology, to name a few. The discipline had its
humble beginnings with early European explore ers and their accounts which produced initial
impressions about the native peoples they encountered in their explorations.

The shift to the New World or North America raised the

discipline to a higher level when some European migrant scholars
hailing from England and Germany brought their expertise and
knowledge in primarily focusing on new settlements and ethnic
minorities including native American Indian tribes. The father of
American anthropology Franz Boas, who initially obtained a college
degree in physics, strongly believed that the same method and
strategy could be applied in measuring culture and human behavior
while conducting research among humans including the uniqueness
of their cultures.

The study of indigenous people led Boas to a discovery that was revolutionary at the time.
Many Western scientists at the time held the view that Western culture was inherently
superior to other cultures. Based on this belief and his studies among the First Nations
people, Boas made a discovery.

He found that all people believe the culture they occupy is superior to others. This led him
to define the theory of cultural relativism, which says that the only culture an individual
truly knows is that individual's own culture. This theory made the
prevailing Western thought make sense, but it also elevated other
cultures in the eyes of those in the West because they understood their
bias.

Cultural relativism is the ability to understand a culture on its own terms

and not to make judgments using the standards of one’s own culture. The goal of this is to
promote an understanding of cultural practices that are not typically part of one’s own
culture. Using the perspective of cultural relativism leads to the view that no one culture is
superior to another culture when compared to systems of morality, law, politics, etc.

Two early American anthropologists Alfred

Kroeber and Lewis Henry Morgan, became
prominent in the field since their specialization
included the championing of indigenous rights like
traditional cultural preservation and ancestral
domain of the American Indian tribes they
intensively studied.

Historical Beginnings

American anthropology gradually generated social and cultural interests in the fields of
folklore and native sexual practices. One anthropologist was Ruth Benedict who was a
student of Franz Boas, the founder of American Anthropology Ruth Benedict became a

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS Page 8 of 29

specialist in anthropology and folklore and authored one of the three famous books utilized
in the academic scene for reference purposes known as Patterns of Culture. She was a
colleague of Margaret Mead who was very much described in the academic circle as
"controversial" for intensively studying the sexual practices among native populations. Such
views gave rise to a relatively new liberal view on sex and sexual practices in the United
States at a time when most Americans were still labeled as conventional and conservative.

In any case, the field of anthropology offers several topics for relevant research and
discussion in various academic fields since its distinct way of data gathering from their
respondents applies participant observation which is central to ethnography or the
ethnographic approach. The founding father of this strategy was Bronislaw Malinowski.
Since common data gathering techniques, from people as respondents, simply involved
unstructured interviews and surveys for their units of analysis.

INVESTIGATE

NAME: ___________________________________ SCORE: ____________

I. Identify the following and cite their major contributions to the field of anthropology.

1. Franz Boas
2. Alfred Kroeber
3. Ruth Benedict
4. Bronislaw Malinowski
5. Lewis Henry Morgan

II. TRUE/FALSE: Write TRUE if the statement is correct; write FALSE if it is

incorrect.

___1. Of all the social and behavioral sciences, anthropology is considered the
oldest.
___2. Anthropology began during the explorations and navigations of the Asian
Explorers.
___3. The preferred method for gathering data among the anthropologist is
participant observation.
___4. Ethnography is undertaken using a survey.
___5. Anthropology’s focus is on culture and the biological basis of behavior.

ELEVATE:

Think of an activity that you have not experienced yet but are interested in. It may be
job-related, a chore, or just a routine activity. For example, have you thought of why
some teens like to join cosplays? Or what it feels like to be a vendor in a busy market?
Or whether you can last a day without your gadgets, including your cell phone?

Be a junior anthropologist and conduct a study on a topic similar to the above using
participant observation. During the activity, be very observant of what you see, hear,
feel, smell, and even taste. Write about your experience in a detailed manner.

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS Page 9 of 29

THE STUDY OF THE SOCIAL WORLD: SOCIOLOGY

LAUNCH!

What's In a Name?

Tom Cruise is Thomas Cruise Mapother IV in real life. Vina Morales is Sharon Magdayao,
Jennifer Lopez, however, is still Jennifer Lopez and Taylor Swift is still Taylor Swift.

What is the story behind showbiz names or screen names of celebri ties? Why do others
change their names while others do not? We may think celebrities choose screen names
that they think sound nice but a deeper analysis would reveal that it is not as simple as
that. What might be the underlying reasons? Is it possible that audience appeal is a big
part of it?

Think About This!

Does this mean that in the decisions that we make our individual selves may be influenced
by factors outside of us?

What Is Sociology?

People make many decisions, both mundane and serious, in the course of their daily living.
We decide what dish to cook, where to buy shirts, what name to give our child, when to get
married, how to best discipline children and others. We take it for granted that when asked
who decides in these matters, we readily say, "Of course, I did! We like to think of ourselves
as independent-minded and that we behave according to choices we make out of our own
free will.

Sociology makes us aware that when we make decisions, such as those mentioned above, it is
within the context of our family, peers, school, nation, and other groups that form our social
world. Just as the seasons affect the clothes we wear and the kind of activities we engage
in our social world guides our life choices.

Does this make sense? Think about it. Even when you think you are making your own choices,
is it not that you are only picking from a fairly limited range of options? For example, during
lunchtime in school, you probably would choose rice and adobo and you would say, "My
personal favorite." Try to think beyond the idea that your food preference is your own
personal favorite. Is it not that your being a Filipino is a large part of the reason why adobo
is your favorite, and in the Philippines, adobo is available in most restaurants? Thus, your
race has played a part in your choice of food.

Let us move on to a more serious matter. Consider dating. The decisions of whether to date,
whom to date, and when to date are very personal. However, a closer look reveals that they
are not. Dating decisions follow certain rules.

For example, in the Philippines, you can only date at a certain age, and your parents have to
know and permit it. Your family places more restrictions you should date someone who comes
from a good family background, preferably the same religion. There are no laws that dictate
that family rules must pervade but try violating them, and you will experience serious

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS Page 10 of 29

consequences. Now, you wonder why everyone cares so much about whom you date.
Congratulations, in doing so, you are already using sociology!

Sociology and the Sociological Perspective

Sociology is the study of society, social institutions, and social relationships, Sociology is
interested in describing and explaining human behavior, especially as it occurs within a social
context (Merriam-Webster). It is less interested in the individuals than in the group of
which they are apart.

Studying sociology is prao tical and useful. As social beings, we gain an understanding of how
the social world operates and of our place in it. C. Wright Mills (1959) calls it the sociological
imagination which he defined as the vivid awareness of the relationship between private
experience and the wider society.

The sociological imagination is the ability to see things socially and how they interact and
influence each other. To have a sociological imagination, a person must be able to pull away
from the situation and think from an alternative point of view.

The most common example of the sociological imagination pertains to unemployment. An

individual facing unemployment might feel defeated, depleted, and discouraged. That person
is likely to look in the mirror and say, "You didn't work hard enough. You didn't try hard
enough…" You, you, you.

Sociology's point of view is distinct from other sciences. Peter Berger explains that the
perspective of sociology enables us to see "general patterns in particular events (Macionis,
2010). This means finding general patterns in particular events. The first systematic study
on suicide provides a good example. Emile Durkheim's pioneering study on suicide in the
1800s revealed that there are categories of people who are more likely to commit suicide.

In France and Central Europe, the suicide rate was higher for the males, Protestants,
wealthy, and the unmarried compared to the females, Catholics, Jews, the poor, and they
married. In general, the more socially integrated people (formed by ties of affection and
obligation) are less likely to end their lives.

Sociology also enables us to see the strange in the familiar. This means detaching ourselves
from common explanations by taking a new look at society. Human behavior is not simply a
matter of what people decide to do; society shapes our thoughts and deeds.

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For example, how does sociology look at cult members who strongly believe in the magical
powers of their leader? W.I. Thomas, an American sociologist, formulated a theorem in 1928
which states: "if people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."
Hence, if cult members consider their leader powerful, then he can perform magic.

History of Sociology as a Science

Coincidentally, sociology emerged with two of the most significant social and political
revolutions in history. The French Revolution of 1789, along with the Industrial Revolution
in England during the eighteenth century, tremendously changed people's lives

The Industrial Revolution was brought about largely by the invention of the steam engine.
Many countryside folks were pushed into the towns as their land was taken away by the
landlords to give way to a factory-based economy. Likewise, the French Revolution from the
1970s to the 1780s, which was influenced by new political ideas spreading in France and
America, created strong negative sentiments against the monarchy. It eventually resulted
in a shift from monarchy to democracy. On a positive note, Europe saw the beginning of the
industrial economy, the growth of cities, and the emergence of different political ideas
which in turn transformed social life. However, problems such as massive unemployment,
increasing crime rate, widespread poverty, etc. also emerged.

Thinkers began to ponder about how to address these difficult problems. The basic concern
is how to solve society's ills. Some of the early thinkers and their ideas are discussed below.

Auguste Comte (1798-1857) is the person who "invented" sociology in 1842, by bringing
together the Greek word socius or "companion" and the Latin word logy or "study." He grew
up in the wake of the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution. He proposed that to
understand society, it should be analyzed as it really was unlike the early philosophers and
theologians who looked at society in its ideal state. He further favored positivism, an
approach to understanding the world based on science. He believed that society operates
according to certain laws, just as the physical world operates according to gravity and other
laws of nature.

Karl Marx (1818-1883) is the forerunner of the conflict theory, one of the most important
sociological theories. Marx, a native of Germany, wrote The Communist Manifesto with
Friedrich Engels in 1847. This book focused on the misery of the lower classes caused by
the existing social order. He reiterated that the political revolution was vital in the
evolutionary process of society, the only means to achieve improvement of social conditions.
He felt that conflict, revolution, and the overthrow of capitalism were inevitable. He
predicted that the bourgeoisie (middle class and owners of factories) would be overthrown
by the proletariat (the factory workers) because they could no longer contain their
frustration over the treatment that the former inflict on them. Although his predictions
did not come true, sociologists still study his insights regarding class conflict, economic
determinism, social stratification, and social change.

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) is associated with the birth of sociology in his native England.
He likened society to an organism with a life and vitality of its own He first used the phrase
survival of the fittest when he proposed the policy of noninterference in human affairs and
society, believing that doing something to help the weak, poor, and needy would interfere
with the natural selection process Hence, governments should not rescue the needy because
this would disturb ongoing natural processes. In this way. society gets better as time passes.

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His ideas justified the enslavement of Blacks. However, his inhuman philosophy, later on,
met with strong resistance, eventually leading to its demise

Emile Durkheim (1858-19171 is the first French sociologist. Durkheim put forward the idea
that individuals are more the products rather than the creators of society, the society itself
is external to the individual. In his book Suicide. Durkheim proved that social forces strongly
impact people's lives and that a seemingly personal event is not personal after all,

Max Weber (1864-1920) is the most important proponent of interpretive sociology. Weber
believed that a sympathetic understanding, verstehen, of the mind of others" was essential
to understanding the behavior of others The qualitative, subjective methods as well as
objective, quantitative methods should be used in the study of social actions. His works The
Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, The Sociology of Hinduism and Buddhism, and
Theory of Social and Economic Organization among others dwelt on the significance of
subjective meanings people give to their interactions with others. Weber asserted that
religion is very influential in the actions and thoughts of people.

Verstehen is a German word meaning to 'understand in a deep way' that also refers to an
approach within sociology. In this approach, when a researcher aims to understand another
person's experience, he can try to put himself in the other person's shoes. He can do this
by learning from the other person, through conversations and interactions that give the
researcher greater insight.

The Development of Sociology in the Philippines

In general, sociology in the Philippines developed in three phases (Pano- pio and Rolda, 2002).
In the first phase, sociology was looked upon as a social philosophy. This orientation started
with the inclusion of sociology in college and university offerings and was taught as a social
philosophy. It was introduced by Fr. Valentin Marin when he initiated a course on criminology
at the University of Santo Tomas. There was little emphasis on the scientific nature of
sociology.

The second phase was when sociology was viewed as a problem or welfare-oriented discipline.
Sociology was seen as a field in which the focus is on analyzing poverty, crime, unemployment,
and other problems that plague society. This view was put forward by Serafin Macaraig, the
first Filipino to acquire a doctorate in sociology and the first to write a sociology textbook
in An Introduction to Sociology published in 1938. Very little social research was done.

The third stage is when sociology started to take the scientific orientation. This started
with the increased number of educational exchange program grantees, the establishment of
social science research centers and councils, the growing frequency of conferences, and the
publication of professional journals. Public and private agencies became increasingly aware
of the significance of social facts in the decision-making process. The data collected for
the government by pioneer Filipino sociologist Benicio Catapusan on the rural Philippines
became the benchmark for the distribution of economic aid to the different regions.

Presently, the mainstreaming of sociology is evident as sociologists appear in mass media,

particularly in public affairs programs. Prof. Randy David, arguably the most prominent
Filipino sociologist, writes for the Philippine Daily Inquirer. His column, Public Lives, appears
every Sunday.

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A. Applying the Concepts: Sociology in Real Life

NAME: ___________________________________ SCORE: ____________

Objective: To illustrate through actual situations the wisdom ology: the social world
guides our life choices.

Materials: pen, paper

Procedure:

1. Students are randomly assigned a partner

2. They are required to chat about their own personal background, including their
family, favorites (movies, songs, activities, singers, actors, food, or places), why
they chose this particular track, their friends, among others,
3. They will also talk about whether they feel satisfaction and contentment with
their present situation and what future they envision.
4. After the chat, students individually reflect on how their partner came to this
point in their life and why they have certain preferences
5. Guide questions:
 Who influenced him/her?
 What are the roles of family, peers, school, and government, and other
groups (as mentioned in their lives?
6. Students then report about their reflection in an essay

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS Page 14 of 29

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS Page 15 of 29
THE STUDY OF POLITICS: POLITICAL SCIENCE

LAUNCH!

WORD HUNT!

Below are words related to politics. Find them in the box.

POWER AUTHORITY INFLUENCE RULE STATE

GOVERNANCE GOVERNMENT POLITICIAN ORDER AFFAIRS

A G O V E R N A N C E
P O W E R B C D E F G
O V H I U O R D E R J
L E K L L M N O P Q R
I R S T E U V W X Y Z
T N Q A F F A I R S W
I M A U T H O R I T Y
C E E R T Y U I O P A
I N F L U E N C E F D
A T S G H J K L Z X C
N V B N M A E I O U B
S T A T E C D F G H K
A Z A B C D E F G H J
K L D D V C X A S D D
F T R E W Q S F F F G
Y U I O P A Z X C V B
N B V D C S N M D S S

MIND-BOGGLING!

1. Why is there a need for politics?

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

2. Can we exist without politics?

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS Page 16 of 29

 Definition of Politics

In general, defining politics depends on one's perspective. A person's principle may affect
his view on politics. But generally, politics is associated with how power is gained and
employed to develop authority and influence on social affairs. It can also be used to
promulgate guiding rules to govern the state. It is also a tactic for upholding collaboration
among members of a community, whether from civil or political organizations. Thus, politics
is the virtuosity of governance.

Concept of Politics

Politics is allied with the government which is considered as the ultimate authority. It is the
primary role of the government to rule society by stimulating and transmitting the basic
laws that will supervise the freedom of its people. Each form of government possesses the
power to attain order that should lead to social justice.

To understand the concept of politics is to recognize the power, order, and justice. Power
is giving someone the authority to lead and influence others. Order is attained through
obedience to the rules set by leaders. Justice is felt in a society with the order.

The process being exercised by the government in the implementation of its duty is what
we call politics.

POWER ORDER
• IS THE ABILITY TO INFLUENCE OTHERS IS ATTAINED THROUGH OBEDIENCE ON THE
IT GIVES AUTHORITY TO LEAD. RULES SET BY LEADERS

ORDER

IS ATTAINED THROUGH OBEDIENCE ON THE

RULES SET BY LEADERS

Politics as an Art

When we talk of art, we look at the style, character, behavior, profer ence, language, and
culture. In considering these, politics is an art. Politics is played with a style depending on
the character and behavior of the leader, The constituents choose their leader based on
their preference. Leaders use their charisma in influencing the people

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Politics as a Science

Science is commonly defined as the knowledge derived from experiments and observations
systematically done. Policy-making and government decisions are done through research,
investigation, analysis, validation, planning, execution, and evaluation. Thus, politics is a
science

Furthermore, in studying politics, we systematically study the state and the government
known as political science, Political science works with other fields of social sciences,
including sociology and anthropology, in understand ing how government performs and how
politics and governance work.

Investigate

Identify the concept being described in each statement

1. It is the process of having power and influencing the community in creating an orderly
and just society.
2. It is the totality of authorities that rule society by implementing the fundamental
laws of the land
3. This is the ultimate goal of every government in the exercise of its power.
4. The exercise of politics when a politician sends flowers to the funeral of a
constituent
5. The use of politics when the senators conduct senate hearing as inquiry in aid of
legislation

Activity: Debate

As you engage in learning, you are expected to explore the concepts and principles
underlying each lesson. Thus, you must be able to argue the notion that politics
strengthens government versus politics weakens the government. Write down your
argument below and use this as your guide in rebutting with your classmates,

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

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D. Convergence of Anthropology, Sociology, and Political Science: A Focus on Society,
Culture, and Politics

Similarities

Anthropology, sociology, and political science share a common interest, particularly on

the subject matter of society of which we are a part of societies have forms of
governments and are founded on cultural processes. Hence, culture, society, and politics
co-exist. One does not or cannot exist without the others.

When politics is exercised in art and science, politics is at its best practice.

Dannug and Campanilla, 2004. 52

Culture and society may have some common elements but they also have differences.
The essential difference is that society is composed of interacting people while culture
consists of knowledge, ideas, customs, traditions, folkways, mores, beliefs, skills,
institutions, organizations, and art. facts that societies create.

Culture plays a vital role in shaping and influencing politics. As a shared set of
traditions, belief systems, and behaviors, culture is shaped by his. tory, religion, ethnic
identity, language, and nationality. In all of these, politics plays a vital role.

Lesson 2: Theoretical Foundations of Culture, Society, and Politics

Humans seek explanations about why things happen Each person has ideas about the
nature of existence, motion, and relationships. Our ideas come from everywhere—from
experiences, conversations, materials we read mass media we access, advertisements
we are exposed to, our teachers, family, friends, and foes—all these are sources of
our ideas

For example, you have observed that your classmate who is an avid K- pop fanatic can
sing K-pop songs really well but when you asked what the lyrics mean, she tells you, "I
don't actually know. Does it matter? I just like K-pop." This intrigues you and you try
to find out how someone could like something he or she cannot understand. Could it be
that the lyrics are secondary to the beat or melody? Trying to go beyond what common
sense tells you is a good thing! When you're seeking explanations, you are starting to
theorize.

A. What Is a Theory?

Our own personal theories about our existence, our society, our world, etc. stem from
our beliefs and assumptions, which may or may not have some factual basis.

Instead of theory, some academicians use the phrase school of thought or paradigm.
A theory is a wide-ranging set of explanations of an important feature of nature that

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is backed up by facts When we formulate a theory, we are making predictions about a
phenomenon that is yet to happen.

Theories are crucial to science because they provide a logical framework for making
sense of scientific observations. An example of a theory is the theory of evolution.
Without this theory, biologists would simply compare and contrast the organisms. The
lack of a plausible explanation would make us question their findings.

What about theories in the social sciences? Certainly, formulating theories about people
is trickier because we can easily change our minds or mask our feelings. Hence, we may
not be truthful in our answers.

B. Theoretical Paradigms

Studying the Social World

LAUNCH!

Just Pure Luck or.?

Ethan, an engineering student woke up late. He rushed to the bath room to take a quick
shower, then wore his uniform and ate his breakfast of rice, eggs, and hotdog in a
flash. Grabbing his backpack, it took him just five minutes to catch a jeepney. He
arrived just in time for his class to start.

Ethan knows that he has made it a habit to always rush every morning for his classes
but so far, he has been lucky. "I am seldom late" he said.

Think About This!

Is it luck, or is there a system that actually works making it possible for people to be
able to go about their lives?

In the example above, how would you explain Ethan's situation? Is it pure luck or is
there something else operating that enables him to be prompt? Trying to formulate
explanations means you are beginning to theorize In sociology, a theory is a set of
general assumptions about the nature of society. It is a set of fundamental assumptions
about society that guides sociological thinking and research which allows us to analyze
effectively any dimension of society.

Macro versus Micro View

Sociologists may study human society by focusing on the large social phenomena or the
big picture," such as social institutions and inequality to see how it operates. This is
the macro view. They can also zero in on the immediate social situations where people
interact with one another by looking at the situational patterns of social interaction.
This is the micro view,

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Sociology offers three major theories. The first one is structural-functionalism or
simply functionalism. This theory uses the macro level of analysis, In functionalism, the
society is seen as a complex system
whose parts function and work in
harmony, bringing stability in the
process. Each part of the society—the
family, school, economy, or state-
performs specific and important
functions for the society as a whole.
All parts are interdependent. The
family, as the basic unit of society,
ensures that there are children who will
become the next generation, the school
prepares this next generation for their
careers, and religious groups help
provide a moral compass to them, and
so on American sociologist Robert
Merton (1910–2003) differentiates two kinds of functions.

The manifest function is intended, recognized, and

obvious function. The latent function is the unintended
and unrecognized function For example, students go to
college to earn a degree. This is the manifest function.
However, it is also true that while in college they may
meet their future wife or husband, and thus the school
may be seen as the biggest marriage market. This is the
latent function.

Functionalism focuses on social order. If something

happens to disrupt this social order, its parts will adjust
in a way that produces new stability Social consensus, a
condition in which most members of the society agree on what would be good for
everybody and cooperate to achieve it, holds the society together, thereby producing
social order.

Emile Durkheim differentiates two forms of social order. The

first one is mechanical solidarity. It is a type of social cohesion
that develops when people do similar work. Most often, it exists
in small-scale traditional societies The second is organic
solidarity. It is a type of social cohesion that is formed in a
society whose members work in specialized jobs. Because of this
specialization, they have to depend on each other for their needs.

Social dysfunctions, the undesirable effects of a social pattern on the operation of

society, may result but society has the ability to adjust. After some time, society will
regain social order and stability.

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 While functionalism can explain how
society establishes stability, it has
weaknesses. First, it focuses only on the
positive functions of social events,
ignoring the negative. For example,
engaging in sports activities may foster
camaraderie among teammates, hence,
sports contributes to stability, But those
who are not sports-minded may feel
excluded during sports events. Second,
because of the emphasis on social
integration, divisions created by race,
gender, position, among others, are
ignored

A selfie here, fie there... Why do you think some people take a lot of selfies every
day? Some say it to document their daily experience, just like a diary. This could be
considered the manifest function of selfies.

But if it is to announce to everyone that they can afford to buy the gadgets they
are posting, they have the means to dine in posh restaurants, or that their
lifestyle is filled with fun stuff that few people are privileged to have, then the
function is hidden.

This would be the latent function of selfies.

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STRUCTURAL CONFLICT/CONFLICT THEORY

The second theory is the structural conflict or conflict

theory. This originated largely from the works of Karl
Marx on the class conflict between the capitalist (the
owners of factories) and the proletariat (the factory
workers) As a macro theory, it is based on the assumption
that society is an arena of inequality and division resulting
to conflict Social change is then desired.

The present system is forcefully imposed by the powerful

on the powerless because they gain from it Groups and
societies have conflicting interests and values and they
compete with each other for values and scarce resources
such as wealth education, prestige, leisure privileges, and
even health care. Powerful groups gain more than less powerful. They continue to seek
more wealth and power, the less powerful groups continue to struggle for more
resources. Conflict exists because of the powerful or the dominant oppress the less
powerful or subordinate.
It highlights division based
on social inequality rich
against poor, white against
colored, men against
women, young against old,
government leaders against
citizens, and other
inequalities. The social
order is forcibly imposed
by the powerful on the
weak It criticizes the
status quo.

Conflict theory directs our attention to inequalities that we see in the world. However,
it only highlights power struggles as the dominant traits of societies. The conflict
perspective ignores unity which is brought about by shared values and interdependence.

The third theory is symbolic interactionism. Using the micro view, this theory argues
that society is continuously recreated when humans interact.

Symbolic interactionism is founded on the premise that we respond based on the

meanings that we attach to the surrounding world, people assign meaning to each other's
words and actions. One of the forerunners is Max Weber, a German sociologist who
said that verstehen (sympathetic understanding is the way to understand people. Hence,
its focus is on how people make sense of the world, on how they experience and define
what they and others are doing, and on how they influence and are influenced by others.

This theory looks at the interactions between individuals, as interactions are symbolic.
Given this, it ignores the larger issues of national and international order and change.
Symbolic interactionism, as a micro theory gives less emphasis on social structures and
institutions, but instead, highlights only the uniqueness in each social scene,

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All these theories validly explain any social phenomenon or issue. Each one of them
differs in their focus and approach to analyzing the problem Thus, a sociologist who
uses functionalism tends to focus on what holds society together, a conflict theorist
looks at what divides it, and an interactionist centers on the meanings that people
attach to the issue or phenomenon.

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A. Title: The Pope's 2015 Visit to the Philippines

Objective: To illustrate the application of the three theories using the visit of Pope
Francis to the Philippines as an example.

Materials pen, paper

Procedure:

1. Find at least five news reports or articles from any local or foreign newspapers
about the January 2015 visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines. These will be
your basis for the Filipino people's impression of the Pope's visit.
2. Go through these reports and fill out the box that follows.
3. Look at your answers. In general, what is the perception of the Filipinos regarding
the Pope's visit? Explain your answer.

THEORY GUIDE QUESTION ANSWERS

FUNCTIONALISM Why did the Pope visit the
Philippines?

What were the effects of

his visit to the people?
What were the intentional
and unintentional purposes
of the visit?

What different parts of

our society helped during
the visit? In which area
did they help? How did
they help?

What were the effects

particularly on the aspect
of religion that resulted
from the visit?

What about the business

aspect?

CONFLICT Which groups were

advantaged by the visit?
disadvantaged?

Who was able to enter

the places where the pope
went?
Who found it difficult to
get a closer look at the
pope? Why?

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 SYMBOLIC How did the Catholics
INTERACTIONISM feel? the non-Catholics?

For those who were close

enough to see the pope,
what was their reaction?

For those who watched

from afar or through
their television?
B. Internet Link

Go to http://www.sociologyonline.co.uk/ to learn more about sociological theories

and their proponents.

Philosophy of Politics: Idealism. Rationalism, Realism, Extremism

Philosophy of politics embraces different ideologies which are characterized by the

common political culture and standards followed by people and government. These
ideologies explain the political blueprint for social order in society. Thus, it is important
to understand the different political ideologies.

Situational Analysis

Fernando Poe Jr. once said in an interview that he has no intention of running into
politics. According to him, he can serve his fellow countrymen even if he is not into
politics. Nevertheless, in 2004, he ran for Presidency although he lost.

Leni Robredo, the wife of the late DILG Secretary Jessie Robredo who is known for
good governance, likewise believes that she can serve her fellowmen even if she is not
into politics. However, she still ran for a congressional seat and won as such.

Political leaders and constituents think and act differently because of the different
ideologies they believe in. Among these ideologies are:

1. Idealism is an approach that envisages ideals and tries to realize them. It tells
me what is right. In idealism, the greatest welfare for the greatest number is
considered in the exercise of power and influence.
2. Rationalism is an approach based on the exposition of principles. This proposes
the power of reason over the reason of power in every relationship of men and
states. The exercise of power and influence is based on logical viewpoints,
dialogues, and judgments.
3. Realism is an approach based on facts and reality. It believes that the object
of sense-perception really exists. The exercise of power and influence should be
founded on reality.
4. Extremism is an approach beyond what is ordinary The exercise of power and
influence is far from the context and the reality of the existing social era.

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It is important to note that whatever approaches the leaders will utilize, what matters
most is how efficient they are in delivering what they believe is for the good of their
constituents.

ELEVATE!

Read and analyze the commentary of Claro M. Recto entitled Rizal, the Realist and
Bonifacio, the Idealist. Point out the reasons why Jose Rizal is considered a realist and
Andres Bonifacio an idealist.

Society and Culture

Society is a group of individuals sharing a common culture, geographical location, and

government. Human beings are considered to be naturally inclined to establish societies
since it is in interacting with others that they are able to ensure their survival by
establishing mutually beneficial relationships with one another. Societies enable
individuals to acquire necessary survival skills, maximize their potential, and share
resources.

The classic definition of society is based on E.B. Tylor's concept which states that
society is that complex whole that encompasses beliefs, practices, values, attitudes,
laws, norms, artifacts, symbols, knowledge, and everything that a person learns and
shares as a member of society."

A society is characterized by the presence of the following elements:

a) social solidarity, whereby members of the community live together for mutual benefit;
b) shared identity and culture among members that serve as a basis for their patterns
of action and behavior;

c) a common language;

d) a large population and the ability to sustain succeeding generations of members:

e) definite geographical area, and

f) political, economic, and social organization.

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Social scientists have also identified five (5) major types of societies according to how
they changed and developed over time.

Hunting and gathering communities date as far back as several million years ago and
were considered the first societies. The basic social and economic units were the family
and local clan which organized hunting and gathering activities and distributed the
accumulated food supply. The earliest societies soon gave way to horticultural and
pastoral societies.

Their emergence was brought about by the gradual shift from the hunting-and-
gathering lifestyle to a more sedentary life, and the introduction of agriculture as a
more stable food production method. Horticultural societies relied on the cultivation of
plants as their primary source of food, while pastoral societies depended on the
domestication of animals. Around 10,000 years ago, the development and spread of
agriculture led to the emergence of civilizations in Mesopotamia and China, and this
brought about the establishment of agricultural societies. Food production became more
efficient due to the new methods of farming, the invention of more advanced tools,
and the establishment of permanent settlements. Meanwhile, the beginning of the
Industrial Revolution in England during the latter half of the 18th century transformed
agricultural societies into industrial societies. Technological advancements resulted in
the invention of machines that improved production. The rise of urban centers or cities
was also a major development during this period. Since the latter portion of the 20th
century, many countries have become post industrialist societies, where knowledge is a
commodity, and technological innovation is key to long-lasting growth and development.

Culture is one of the important bases that define and influence society. Culture refers
to the set of beliefs, ideas, values, practices, knowledge, history, and shared
experiences, attitudes, as well as material objects and possessions accumulated over
time and shared by the members of society.

There are two primary categories of culture: material culture and nonmaterial culture.
Material culture is composed of the physical or tangible objects produced, shared, and
utilized within society such as tools or implements, paintings, and other works of art,
architectural styles, weaponry, and toys.

Nonmaterial culture, meanwhile, consists of the intangible properties and elements of

society that influence the patterns of action and behavior of its members. Examples of
nonmaterial culture include language, beliefs, values. attitudes, ideas, and norms shared
among members of society. The community stories and other types of narratives shared
within societies are collectively called folklore. Folklore, which comes in the form of
myths, legends, folktales (kuwentong bayan), proverbs, and riddles, embodies the
history, beliefs, ideas, values, and practices that define a society, One example of
such is the story of Malakas at Maganda, a creation myth that tells about the origin
of the Filipino people.

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