Status quo

Status quo or Statu quo is a Latin phrase meaning the existing state of affairs, particularly with regard to social or political issues.[1] In the sociological sense, it generally applies to maintaining or changing existing social structure and/or values.[2] With regard to policy debate, the status quo refers to how conditions are at the time and how the affirmative team can solve these conditions for example "The countries are now trying to maintain a status quo with regards to their nuclear arsenal which will help them if the situation gets any worse."[3]

Status quo is the nominative form of the ablative in the prepositional Latin phrase "in statu quo" – literally "in the state in which", which itself is a shortening of the original phrase in statu quo res erant ante bellum, meaning "in the state in which things were before the war". To maintain the status quo is to keep things the way they presently are. The related phrase status quo ante, literally "the state in which before",[4] means "the state of affairs that existed previously".[4]

Political usage

Social movements are an example of times when the status quo might be challenged. In these instances, status quo refers to the current state of affairs around a particular issue, or perhaps the current culture or social climate of an entire society or nation.[5] The status quo is generally perceived negatively by supporters of the social movement, and people who want to maintain the status quo can be seen as being resistant to progress.[6]

Politicians sometimes refer to a status quo, though such usage is sometimes accused of being a policy of deliberate ambiguity, namely, referring to the "status quo" rather than formalizing or defining the said status. Clark Kerr is reported to have said: "The status quo is the only solution that cannot be vetoed".[7]

Karl Marx viewed organized religion as a means for the bourgeoisie to keep the proletariat content with an unequal status quo.[8]

See also

References

  1. "Status Quo" - Google Definitions
  2. Dr. C. Michael Botterweck. "Glossary for Sociology 100". academics.triton.edu. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  3. Status quo.TheIdioms.com - Online Idioms Dictionary
  4. "Status Quo Definition". dictionary.reference.com. Dictionary.com. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  5. Clark, Pamela (2000). "The Social Climate". The Optimal Environment: Part Four. www.featherpicking.com. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  6. "Status Quo - Dictionary Definition". vocabulary.com. vocabulary.com. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  7. Seymour, Daniel (2015-12-07). Momentum: The Responsibility Paradigm and Virtuous Cycles of Change in Colleges and Universities. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781475821048.
  8. Boundless. "Religion and Social Control." Boundless Sociology. Boundless, 27 Jun. 2014. Retrieved 08 Feb. 2015
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