This document provides an overview of culture, society, and political identities. It discusses cultural diversity and the different types of social stratification like caste, class, estate, and slavery. Regarding political identities, it outlines various forms of government around the world such as parliamentary republics, presidential republics, and constitutional monarchies. The significance of studying these topics through social sciences like anthropology, sociology, and political science is also highlighted. Anthropology examines culture and human evolution and development. Sociology studies relationships within society. Political science analyzes political systems and behavior.

1. Chapter 1
STARTING POINT FOR THE
UNDERSTANDING OF CULTURE,
SOCIETY AND POLITICAL
IDENTITIES

2. I. Manifestations of Human variations through
cultural diversity, social differences and
political identities.
 Cultural diversity:
Culture refers to “that complex whole which
encompasses beliefs, practices, values, attitudes, laws,
norms, artifacts, symbols, knowledge, and everything
that a person learns and share as a member of society.

3.  Social differences/ stratification
 Which describes the relative social position of persons in a given social group,
category, geographical region or other social unit.
4 major types of social stratification:
a. caste- hereditary endogamous social group in which a persons rank and hiss/ her
rights and obligations are ascribed or on her birth into a particular group.
b. Class- a person’s position is based upon achievement.
c. estate- gives emphasis to birth as well as wealth and possessions.
d. Slavery- had economic basis wherein the master shows power over a slave.

4.  Political identities
Government- is the system by which a state or community is controlled so as to
put an order.
different types of government around the world.
1. Parliamentary republics
2. Presidential republics- Executive presidency linked to a parliament
3. Semi- presidential republics
4. Full- Presidential republics
5. Parliamentary constitutional monarchies
6. Constitutional monarchies
7. Absolute monarchies
8. Republics- dominant role of a single party is codified in the constitution.
9. Constitutional provisions for government have been suspended.

5. II. Significance of studying culture,
society and politics
 Social science is a very complex study.
 It is divided many areas:
a. anthropology( culture)
b. Sociology ( society)
c. Political science ( political identities and government)

6.  Anthropology
Is the “holistic science of man” a science of the totality of human
existence.
2 broad fields of anthropology:
a. physical anthropology/ biological- is mainly concerned about how humans
emerged and evolved through time.
b. cultural anthropology- is basically concerned with the differences of
cultures from time to time.
3 main branches of cultural anthropology:
a. archeology- studies past cultures through tangible or material remains.
b. anthropological linguistics- study of languages where experts explain the
differences of languages by culture and how it is constructed.
c. ethnology- study of recent or present cultures.

7.  Sociology
 Is the study of relationships among people. It is the study of society and the
behavior of people in the society.
2 major approaches to examine human society:
1. from a macrolevel perspective
2. microlevel perspective

8.  Political science
 Deals with the systems of government and the analysis of political activity and political
behavior.
 Subfields of Political science:
a. comparative politics
b. international relation
c. political theory
d. public administration
e. constitutional laws
f. public policy

9. Reference:
Understanding, Culture, Society and Politics. 2016. Myla M. Arcinas Ph. D. pp 1-13.