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The concept of neo-feudalism posits a contemporary resurgence of policies and societal structures that exhibit parallels with historical feudal systems.
Answer: True
Explanation: Neo-feudalism is understood as a theoretical framework describing a modern recurrence of policies and societal arrangements reminiscent of historical feudal societies.
A key characteristic attributed to neo-feudal societies is the equitable distribution of rights and legal protections across all societal strata.
Answer: False
Explanation: Contrary to equitable distribution, a defining characteristic of neo-feudal societies is the unequal application of rights and legal protections, often favoring an elite class over the general populace.
In its contemporary application, the term 'neo-feudalism' primarily refers to societal models originating from the late medieval period in Western Europe.
Answer: False
Explanation: While drawing parallels to historical feudalism, the term 'neo-feudalism' predominantly refers to contemporary, 21st-century societal models and structures, rather than exclusively to the historical period itself.
The term 'neo-feudalism' was initially employed exclusively as a critique directed at political ideologies on the Right.
Answer: False
Explanation: Historical usage indicates that the term 'neo-feudalism' was initially applied as a critique encompassing both the political Left and the political Right, rather than being exclusive to one side.
Neo-feudalism is exclusively an economic construct, devoid of implications for governance or broader public life.
Answer: False
Explanation: The concept of neo-feudalism extends beyond purely economic dimensions, encompassing significant implications for governance structures, legal frameworks, and the overall organization of public life.
The absence of social mobility is considered a hallmark of neo-feudalism due to its congruence with the rigid social hierarchies characteristic of historical feudal systems.
Answer: True
Explanation: A lack of social mobility, where individuals' positions are largely fixed by birth or inherited status, is a key characteristic of neo-feudalism, mirroring the stratified social structures of historical feudalism.
What is the fundamental concept of neo-feudalism?
Answer: A theoretical concept describing a modern resurgence of policies reminiscent of historical feudal societies.
Explanation: Neo-feudalism is fundamentally a theoretical concept that describes a contemporary resurgence of policies and societal structures mirroring those found in historical feudal societies.
Which of the following is NOT listed as a key characteristic of neo-feudal societies in the provided material?
Answer: High levels of social mobility and opportunity for all classes.
Explanation: High levels of social mobility are contrary to the characteristics of neo-feudalism, which typically involves rigid social stratification and limited opportunities for advancement.
According to the text, to which period does the term neo-feudalism primarily refer in its contemporary application?
Answer: 21st-century societal models.
Explanation: In its contemporary usage, the term neo-feudalism primarily pertains to 21st-century societal structures and dynamics, drawing parallels with historical feudalism.
How was the term 'neo-feudalism' initially used, according to the source?
Answer: As a critique directed at both the political Left and the political Right.
Explanation: The initial application of the term 'neo-feudalism' served as a critique directed towards political ideologies across the spectrum, encompassing both the Left and the Right.
What is 'class stratification' in relation to neo-feudalism?
Answer: The hierarchical division of society into distinct layers with limited movement between them.
Explanation: Class stratification, in the context of neo-feudalism, refers to the rigid hierarchical division of society into distinct social layers with minimal mobility between them.
Clifford Shearing's theoretical framework focused on the proliferation of 'gated' domains, characterized by control exerted by private entities.
Answer: True
Explanation: Shearing's analysis highlighted the emergence of 'gated' communities and other private domains as a significant feature within discussions of neo-feudalism, emphasizing the role of private control.
Lucia Zedner critiqued Shearing's application of the neo-feudalism concept, arguing it was overly broad and encompassed too many disparate historical parallels.
Answer: False
Explanation: Zedner's critique suggested that Shearing's use of neo-feudalism was not sufficiently grounded in historical parallels, implying it was too narrowly applied or lacked robust comparative analysis with earlier governance structures.
Bruce Baker defined the neo-feudal order primarily through the lens of commercial interests and administrative reach across extensive territories.
Answer: True
Explanation: Baker's perspective emphasizes that commercial interests and the administration of large geographical areas are central defining features of the neo-feudal order.
Randy Lippert and Daniel O'Connor identified that in neo-feudalism, state entities possess powers analogous to those traditionally held by corporations.
Answer: False
Explanation: Lippert and O'Connor's analysis highlights the inverse: in neo-feudalism, corporations often wield powers that are similar to those traditionally associated with state authority.
Marina Caparini suggests that the widening wealth gap contributes to neo-feudalism, particularly when marginalized populations are excluded from state security provisions.
Answer: True
Explanation: Caparini posits that a significant wealth gap, exacerbated by the exclusion of marginalized groups from state security services, can foster conditions conducive to neo-feudalism, citing South Africa as an example.
Ian Loader posits that the commodification of policing signifies the erosion of shared citizenship within a neo-feudal context.
Answer: True
Explanation: Loader argues that the commodification of policing, where security becomes a purchasable service, represents a fundamental shift away from the concept of universal citizenship in neo-feudal societies.
Martha K. Huggins identifies the increasing governance of individuals' public lives by non-profit organizations as a primary characteristic of neo-feudalism.
Answer: False
Explanation: Huggins identifies the increasing governance of individuals' public lives by business corporations, rather than non-profit organizations, as a key characteristic of neo-feudalism.
John Braithwaite notes that business corporations' need for profit maximization influences governance in a neo-feudal context.
Answer: False
Explanation: Braithwaite specifically points to the corporate need for loss reduction, rather than profit maximization, as a factor influencing governance within a neo-feudal framework.
Which scholar focused on the emergence of 'gated' domains of mass private property as a feature of neo-feudalism?
Answer: Clifford Shearing
Explanation: Clifford Shearing's theoretical approach highlighted the emergence of 'gated' domains of mass private property as a significant aspect within the discourse on neo-feudalism.
Lucia Zedner's criticism of Clifford Shearing's use of neo-feudalism was that it:
Answer: Did not draw enough parallels with earlier governance structures.
Explanation: Zedner contended that Shearing's application of neo-feudalism lacked sufficient comparative grounding with historical governance structures, suggesting a need for more robust historical parallels.
According to Bruce Baker, what defines the order in neo-feudalism?
Answer: Commercial interests and administration across large areas.
Explanation: Bruce Baker posits that the neo-feudal order is primarily defined by the influence of commercial interests and the administration of extensive territories.
What significant power dynamic did Randy Lippert and Daniel O'Connor identify in neo-feudalism?
Answer: Corporations wielding powers similar to those traditionally held by states.
Explanation: Lippert and O'Connor highlighted a crucial dynamic where corporations increasingly exercise powers traditionally associated with state authority, a key feature in neo-feudal analyses.
Marina Caparini suggests that the widening wealth gap can lead to neo-feudalism, particularly when:
Answer: Poor and marginalized people are excluded from state security provisions.
Explanation: Caparini argues that a significant wealth gap, coupled with the exclusion of impoverished and marginalized populations from state security provisions, can precipitate neo-feudal conditions.
What consequence of the commodification of policing does Ian Loader highlight in a neo-feudal context?
Answer: The end of shared citizenship as security becomes a purchasable service.
Explanation: Loader emphasizes that the commodification of policing signifies the end of shared citizenship, as security transforms into a service available for purchase rather than a universal right.
According to Martha K. Huggins, what is a primary characteristic of neo-feudalism concerning individuals' lives?
Answer: Governance of public lives increasingly by business corporations.
Explanation: Huggins identifies the increasing governance of individuals' public lives by business corporations as a principal characteristic of neo-feudalism.
What specific need of business corporations does John Braithwaite suggest influences governance in a neo-feudal context?
Answer: The need for loss reduction.
Explanation: Braithwaite highlights the specific corporate imperative for loss reduction as a factor influencing governance dynamics within a neo-feudal framework.
What does the 'commodification of policing' mean in the context of neo-feudalism?
Answer: Policing and security services are treated as goods or services that can be bought and sold.
Explanation: The 'commodification of policing' signifies that security and policing services are viewed and traded as market commodities, potentially accessible based on purchasing power rather than universal right.
Immanuel Wallerstein conceptualized neo-feudalism as regions defined by autarky and the exclusive availability of advanced technological goods for an elite segment of the population.
Answer: True
Explanation: Wallerstein's analysis identified neo-feudal regions by characteristics such as autarky (economic self-sufficiency), localized hierarchical structures, and the restricted access to high-technology goods, which were primarily available only to the elite.
Immanuel Wallerstein characterized neo-feudal regions by which combination of features?
Answer: Autarky, localized hierarchy, and high-tech goods exclusively for the elite.
Explanation: Wallerstein identified neo-feudal regions by their autarky (economic self-sufficiency), localized hierarchical structures, and the exclusive availability of high-tech goods to the elite.
In Wallerstein's theoretical framework, 'autarky' within neo-feudal regions signifies a strong dependence on extensive global trade networks.
Answer: False
Explanation: Autarky, as used by Wallerstein in the context of neo-feudalism, refers to economic self-sufficiency and independence, the opposite of dependence on global trade networks.
Immanuel Wallerstein characterized neo-feudal regions by which combination of features?
Answer: Autarky, localized hierarchy, and high-tech goods exclusively for the elite.
Explanation: Wallerstein identified neo-feudal regions by their autarky (economic self-sufficiency), localized hierarchical structures, and the exclusive availability of high-tech goods to the elite.
Sighard Neckel argued that a specific economic shift represented a 'refeudalisation.' What was this shift?
Answer: The rise of financial-market-based capitalism in the late 20th century.
Explanation: Neckel identified the ascendancy of financial-market-based capitalism during the late 20th century as the economic transformation that signified a 'refeudalisation' of the economy.
What does the term 'autarky' mean in the context of Immanuel Wallerstein's views on neo-feudalism?
Answer: Economic self-sufficiency and independence.
Explanation: In Wallerstein's analysis of neo-feudalism, 'autarky' refers to regions characterized by economic self-sufficiency and independence from external trade networks.
In Frank Herbert's *Dune* series, the Imperium adopted a neo-feudal structure subsequent to prohibiting 'thinking machine technology.'
Answer: True
Explanation: The neo-feudal structure of the Imperium in Frank Herbert's *Dune* arose after the prohibition of 'thinking machine technology' following the Butlerian Jihad, leading to a balance of power among noble houses.
David Brin's novel *Existence* depicts American politicians actively campaigning to transition the United States into a neo-feudalist society.
Answer: True
Explanation: In David Brin's novel *Existence*, a narrative element involves American politicians advocating for and campaigning on the platform of legally establishing a neo-feudalist system within the United States.
The 'Butlerian Jihad' in Frank Herbert's *Dune* series was a conflict that resulted in the prohibition of all 'thinking machine technology.'
Answer: True
Explanation: The Butlerian Jihad in Frank Herbert's *Dune* was a pivotal historical event that led to a strict prohibition against artificial intelligence and complex computing systems, profoundly shaping the subsequent societal structure.
How is neo-feudalism depicted in Frank Herbert's *Dune* series?
Answer: As a galactic empire (Imperium) with a balance of power among royal houses after banning 'thinking machines'.
Explanation: In Frank Herbert's *Dune*, the Imperium exhibits neo-feudal characteristics, featuring a balance of power among noble houses within a galactic empire established after the prohibition of advanced artificial intelligence.
In David Brin's novel *Existence*, what political scenario is presented regarding neo-feudalism?
Answer: American politicians campaigning to legally transition the US into a neo-feudalist society.
Explanation: David Brin's novel *Existence* includes a scenario where American politicians actively campaign for the legal transition of the United States into a neo-feudalist societal structure.
What is 'thinking machine technology' in the context of the *Dune* series?
Answer: Artificial intelligence and complex computing systems.
Explanation: In the *Dune* series, 'thinking machine technology' refers to advanced artificial intelligence and sophisticated computing systems, the prohibition of which significantly shaped the fictional society.
Jürgen Habermas utilized the precise term 'neo-feudalism' in his 1962 publication to characterize the privatization of communication.
Answer: False
Explanation: Jürgen Habermas, in his 1962 work, employed the term 'Refeudalisierung' (refeudalization) to describe the privatization of communication and its impact on the public sphere, rather than the exact term 'neo-feudalism'.
What concept did Jürgen Habermas introduce in *The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere* that is related to neo-feudalism?
Answer: Refeudalisierung (refeudalization)
Explanation: Habermas introduced the concept of 'Refeudalisierung' (refeudalization) in his 1962 work, which critiques the privatization of communication and its impact on the public sphere, bearing conceptual similarities to neo-feudalism.
The 'lordship' in a feudal context refers to:
Answer: The authority and control exercised by a feudal lord over territory and people.
Explanation: In historical feudalism, 'lordship' denoted the comprehensive authority and control a feudal lord exercised over their domain, including territory, vassals, and inhabitants.
What is the 'public sphere' as discussed by J. Habermas?
Answer: A social space where individuals discuss public affairs and form public opinion.
Explanation: Habermas defined the 'public sphere' as a social arena where citizens engage in rational discourse on public matters, forming opinions that can hold the state accountable.
Which of the following concepts is NOT directly mentioned in the source text as being associated with or critiqued in relation to neo-feudalism?
Answer: Mercantilism
Explanation: While globalization, neoconservative foreign policy, and class stratification are discussed as associated issues or critiques of neo-feudalism, mercantilism is not directly mentioned in the provided source material in this context.
Jorge Majfud began discussing concepts analogous to neo-feudalism around the year 2015.
Answer: False
Explanation: Jorge Majfud had been engaging with concepts similar to neo-feudalism since 2010, predating the year 2015.
Nick Hanauer observed a transformation of the United States into a feudal society following the 2008 financial crisis.
Answer: True
Explanation: Following the 2008 financial crisis, Nick Hanauer noted a significant societal shift in the United States towards feudal structures.
Icelandic novelists interpreted the post-2008 financial crisis as a period signaling a return to democratic structures.
Answer: False
Explanation: Rather than a return to democracy, Icelandic novelists interpreted the post-2008 financial crisis as indicative of a societal regression towards feudal structures of power.
Nick Hanauer observed a significant societal shift in the United States after which event?
Answer: The 2008 financial crisis.
Explanation: Nick Hanauer's observation regarding the transformation of the United States into a more feudal society followed the significant economic repercussions of the 2008 financial crisis.
What does Björgólfur Thor Björgólfsson's view on societal structures echo, according to the text?
Answer: The views of Nick Hanauer regarding a shift towards feudal structures.
Explanation: Björgólfur Thor Björgólfsson's perspective on societal shifts aligns with and echoes the views expressed by Nick Hanauer concerning a move towards feudal structures.