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NATIONALISM. An individual's internalization of the set of beliefs and values expressing love, pride and identification with a given nation state. Ritual and symbols are important tools in fostering nationalism among the citizenry.

NATION-STATE. The modern state in which a government has sovereign power within a defined territorial area, and the mass of the population are citizens.

NEO-COLONIALISM. The informal dominance of some nations over others by means of unequal conditions of economic exchange (as between industrial and Third World countries)..

NEO-LOCALITY. A family residential pattern in which the married couple lives apart from the place of residence of both the bride's and the husband's parents .

NON-STATE ACTORS. International agencies, such as the U.N. or the World Health Organization, which play a part in the world system.

NORMS. Rules and expectations of conduct which either prescribes a given type of behavior, or forbids it.

NUCLEAR FAMILY. A basic family group consisting of married female and male parents and dependent children, living away from other relatives.

O

OBJECTIVITY. Objectivity means striving as far as possible to reduce or eliminate bias in the conduct of research.

ORGANIZATION. A large group of individuals that is formally organized for the purpose of attaining a goal.

OLIGARCHY. Rule by a few within an organization or in the society as a whole.

OLIGOPOLY. A situation in which a small number of firms dominate a given industry or market. When four or fewer firms supply fifty percent or more of a given market the effects of oligopoly become apparent. These effects are reputed to be a rise in price and a lowering of quality because of the decline of competition.

OPEN LINEAGE FAMILY. A family system found in pre-industrial Europe in which family relationships are closely intertwined with the local community.

ORGANIZED CRIME. Criminal activities carried out by organizations established as businesses.

OZONE DEPLETION. Theory that societies production of chlorofluorocarbons and other gasses is depleting the ozone layer that protects plant and animal life from harmful ultra-violet radiation.

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PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY. A system of democracy in which all members of a group or community participate collectively in major decisions. Most nation states today are to large and complex for participatory democracy to be a feasible form of government.

PASTORAL SOCIETIES. Societies whose subsistence is based on domesticated animals.

PATRIARCHY. Social organization that structures the dominance of men over women.

PATRILINEAL DESCENT. The practice of tracing kinship only through the male line.

PEASANTS. People in agrarian societies who produce food from the land, using traditional farming methods of plow and animal power. Farm workers in agrarian societies.

PEER GROUP. A friendship group with common interests and position composed of individuals of similar age.

PERIPHERY COUNTRIES. The term refers to countries which have a marginal role in the world economy and are dependent on 'core' countries in their trading relationships .

PLURALIST THEORY. An analysis of politics emphasizing the role of diverse and competing interest groups in preventing too much power being accumulated in the hands of political and economic elites.

POLITICS. Attempts to influence governmental activities.

POLITICAL PARTY. An organization of people with similar interests and attitudes established with the aim of achieving legitimate control of government and using that power to pursue a specific program.

POLLUTION. One of the principal constraints of the environment. Refers to the contamination of soil, water, or air by noxious substances.

POLYANDRY. A form of marriage in which a woman may have more than one husband.

POLYGAMY. A form of marriage in which a person may have more than one spouse.

POLYGYNY. A form of marriage in which a man may have more than one wife.

POLYTHEISM. A form of belief in which a person has two or more gods.

POSITIVISM. A philosophical position according to which there are close ties between the social and natural sciences, which share a common logical framework.

POSTINDUSTRIAL SOCIETY. A society based on the production of services and information rather than material goods. A notion advocated by those who believe that the industrial order is passing.

POWER. The ability to achieve aims or further the interests you hold even when opposed by others.

POWER ELITE. According to C. Wright Mills the power elite are men in the highest positions of government, corporations and the military who hold enormous power in modern industrial societies.

PREJUDICE. The holding of unfounded ideas about a group, ideas that are resistant to change.

PRESTIGE. Social respect accorded to an individual or group because of the status of their position.

PRIMARY DEVIANCE. The deviant act itself, the violation of a norm.

PRIMARY GROUP. A typically small group of individuals standing in an enduring personal relationship to one another--examples would include parents, spouse, or close friends .

PRIMARY GROUP STRUCTURE. A term used in socio-cultural materialism to refer to structural groups in which members tend to interact on an intimate basis. They perform many functions such as regulating production, reproduction, socialization, education, and enforcing social discipline. Examples include family, community, voluntary organizations, and friendship networks.

PRIMARY LABOR MARKET. The term refers to the economic position of individuals engaged in occupations that provide secure jobs, and good benefits and working conditions.

PRIMARY SECTOR. That part of a modern economy based on the extraction of natural resources directly from the natural environment--includes such areas as mining and agricultural production.

PRIVATE HEALTH CARE. Fee-for-service health care available only to those who pay the full cost of them.

PROFESSIONS. Occupations requiring extensive educational qualifications, with high social prestige, subject to codes of conduct laid down by central bodies (or professional associations).

PROSTITUTION. Having sex for economic gain.

PSYCHOPATH. A personality type that denotes a lack of moral sense and concern for others.

PSYCHOSIS. A serious mental disorder that involves a failure to distinguish between internal and external reality, the affected person cannot function effectively in social life.

PUBLIC HEALTH CARE. Government funded health-care services available to all members of the population.

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The kingdom of the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah. He indeed is able to do all things. -Quran, Al-Imran, Surah 3:189

Somayya