Kadri: Social 30-2

Fall 2015/RI-3
Name: ______________________

Chapter 3: Exploring Collectivism

Collectivism emphasizes the role of human interdependence in society:
Ideas of collectivism can be found in many cultures. Anthropological studies tell us that most if
not all of the earliest human societies were collectivist because they could survive only by
working and hunting as part of a group. Many Aboriginal peoples in Canada have values of
collectivism in their traditional cultures. These values are reflected in a concern for the common
good when dealing with issues such as land management and community decision making.
Roots of Collectivism in Politics
1. What is the social contract?
2. Why did Karl Marx not like the capitalistic system?
3. What are the two aspects of collective responsibility?
Labour Unions as a Collective
At the turn of the last century (early 1900s), labour began to form as a way to advocate for
workers. They made several gains for the working class. Their impact included:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Roots of Collectivism in Economics
In the 1800s, many countries in Europe and North ______________ (rimceAa)
experienced a period called the Industrial Revolution. During this time, new mechanical
______________ (snintioven) were used to produce goods, such as textiles (fabrics) which had
traditionally been created by hand at___________ (moeh). Large factories were built and the
middle class (factory owners and bankers) grew larger and ______________ (althierwe).
Industrialization created a great deal of new wealth, but many people felt that workers were not
receiving their fair share. Factory ______________ (kowsrer) could spend twelve to fourteen
hours a day ______________ (vlasing) in terrible working conditions just so they could have
something to eat at the end of the day. Many people such as Karl Marx, a nineteenth century
German philosopher, felt that the working class was being ______________ (eieotlxpd). They
were the ______________ (bbkncaoe) of production but received very little in return. What the
poor did receive was pollution, urban crowding and generally a miserable _________ (file).

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Fall 2015/RI-3

Political ideas that focused on the growing gap

between the rich and the poor began to develop and
______________ (dearsp). The rich will do anything
for the poor but get off their backs is a quotation widely
attributed to Karl Marx. Marx believed that to get rid of
economic and social ______________ (equalityin),
workers had to unite and take over industrial production
by staging a ______________ (tervoluion).
You have nothing to lose but your __________ (chinsa)
he said. This revolution would require violence as the
upper class would not willingly give up their wealth it
would need to be taken from them. Once the working
class was in ______________ (crntool) of production,
they could share in the wealth evenly. This, Marx believed, would be fair as the working class
were the ones doing all the work.
Marx also believed that the different classes in society (the middle and upper class)
would eventually ______________ (peardsipa) and people would live in communism. In many
ways, Marx was very concerned with the rights and freedoms of individuals, and this motivated
his beliefs. For example, he did not believe that one individual had the right to rule over another.
Many of Marxs beliefs were ______________ (ivistcollect), and he believed strongly in such
ideas as working co-operatively for the common good sharing property.
1. How do we create economic equality?
2. At the end of page 79 it reads: Canadian society integrates the values of both
collectivism and individualism when it comes to the economy. In what ways do
Canadians share the wealth?
3. Choose one of the five headlines from page 80 and answer the following question:
Should the government have played a role in the situation? Why or why not?
4. What is public property?
5. What is the single sentence that sums up the theory of communism?
6. What, according to some supporters, would be a benefit if everyone shared ownership of
everything in society?
7. What did critics of collectivism say is the problem of complete public ownership?
a. Crown Corporations:

Kadri: Social 30-2

Fall 2015/RI-3

Different governments have different ideas about whether resources should be managed
by private interests or by the government. Those with more collectivist values generally prefer
government ownership, and those with more individualist values usually prefer private
ownership; however, some type of balance between the two may also be considered desirable by
some with collectivist and individuals values. Many countries allow private enterprises to
extract natural resources for commercial profit. In Canada, the extraction and production of
natural resources such as oil, natural gas, and lumber by privately owned companies forms a
major segment of our national economy, and millions of people benefit economically from these
activities both directly and indirectly. Privatization is the transfer of property or resources from
public or government to private control. Some people argue that the harvesting and privatization
of natural resources can have harmful consequences for society. Countries must balance the
need or desire for economic activity with the needs of the environment and sustainable
development.
Social Expressions of Collectivism
In a collectivist society, individuals are asked to co-operate and demonstrate collective
responsibility. Through co-operation, individuals begin to see past the idea of caring only for
themselves and see the larger picture of needing to work together to achieve common goals.
Adherence to collective norms is also another way to examine to what extent individuals are
adopting a similar collective behaviour, value system, and overall attitude towards the goals of
society.
Read All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum on the top
right of page 87.
1. Do you agree with most of what is written?
2. Can you expand on this list? Add two more items that are more applicable to high school.
a.
b.
Adherence to Collective Norms
Re-write each sentence in your own words
1. Adherence to collective norms can be a way society or a group can influence the actions
of its members?

2. Sometimes individuals who are members of a group will support or respect societal
expectations and values, which may or may not reflect their personal beliefs.

In either a large or smaller group setting:

Kadri: Social 30-2

Fall 2015/RI-3

1. Have you ever done something that you didnt want to in order to go along with the
group?
2. Have you ever done something you wanted to do in order to go along with the group?

Adherence to collective norms can be a powerful tool in society to get people to play ball.
It would be very difficult for society to function well if everybody wanted to do their own thing.
We can pass laws, of course, but it would be next to impossible to have a law regarding all our
actions on a day to day bases. Going along with the norm is a collectivist idea that allows us to
live in harmony together. Using the first one as an example, write three other societal norms.
1. Holding the door open for someone who comes after you (perhaps a mall or restaurant).
2.
3.