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Social Studies skills: Difference between revisions

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** we can think of causality as a "chain"
** we can think of causality as a "chain"


=== Agency, catalysts & triggers ===
=== Agency, catalysts, triggers & constraints ===
* = things that contribute to, facilitate, or make or things happen (or not)
* = things that contribute to, facilitate, or make or things happen (or not)


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* "agent" = someone who makes something happen, such as:
* "agent" = someone who makes something happen, such as:
** "travel agents" make travel happen, "secret agents" make secrets/spying happen
** "travel agents" make travel happen, "secret agents" make secrets/spying happen
* see "human agency" below


==== Catalysts ====
==== Catalyst ====
* similar to an agent but may not be deliberate
* similar to an agent but may not be deliberate
** more like a condition that creates or facilitates change  
** more like a condition that creates or facilitates change  
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* not necessarily deliberate
* not necessarily deliberate
** such as, the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand by Serbian nationalists triggered World War I"
** such as, the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand by Serbian nationalists triggered World War I"
==== Constraint ====
* whereas outcomes are shaped by agency, catalysts, and triggers,
** constraints always exist and shape outcomes
* "constraint" =
** '''''con-'''''  (with) '''+''' ''*'''strain''''' (bound, pulled together)
** thus "with limits"


=== Necessary v. sufficient causes ===
=== Necessary v. sufficient causes ===
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*** i.e., leaders of an inland country, say Mongolia, will not likely choose or be able to create a maritime empire
*** i.e., leaders of an inland country, say Mongolia, will not likely choose or be able to create a maritime empire
**** instead, effective leadership did organize Mongolia into a land-based empire using existing structural elements of Mongolian geography, economy, and culture
**** instead, effective leadership did organize Mongolia into a land-based empire using existing structural elements of Mongolian geography, economy, and culture
**** then, using that land-based power, the Mongols conquered China, established the Yuan Dynasty, and used Chinese structures and culture to build a maritime power.
* see [[Leadership]] entry
* see [[Leadership]] entry