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112 Cards in this Set
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comparative politics |
The study and comparison of domestic politics across countries |
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international relations |
A field in political science which concentrates on relations between countries, such as foreign policy, war, trade, and foreign aid |
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institution |
An organization or activity that is self-perpetuating and valued for its own sake |
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politics
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The struggle in any group for power that will give one or more persons the ability to make decisions for the larger group
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power
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The ability to influence others or impose one's will on them
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comparative method
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The means by which social scientists make comparisons across cases
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inductive reasoning
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Research that works from case studies in order to generate hypotheses
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deductive reasoning
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Research that works from a hypothesis that is then tested against data
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correlation
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An apparent relationship between two or more variables
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causal relationship
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cause and effect
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multicausality
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When variables are interconnected and interact together to produce particular outcomes
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area studies
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A regional focus when studying political science, rather than studying parts of the world where similar variables are clustered
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selection bias
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A focus on effects rather than causes, which can lead to inaccurate conclusions about correlation or causation
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endogeneity
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The issue that cause and effect are not often clear, in that variables may be both cause and effect in relationship to one another
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theory
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An integrated set of hypotheses, assumptions, and facts
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modernization theory
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A theory asserting that as societies developed, they would take on a set of common characteristics, including democracy and capitalism
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behavioral revolution
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A movement within political science during the 1950s and 1960s to develop general theories about individual political behavior that could be applied across all countries
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qualitative method
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Study through an in-depth investigation of a limited number of cases
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quantitative method
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Study through statistical data from many cases
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rational choice
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Approach that assumes that individuals weigh the costs and benefits and make choices to maximize their benefits
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game theory
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An approach that emphasizes how actors or organizations behave in their goal to influence others. Built upon assumptions of rational choice
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formal institutions
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Institutions usually based on officially sanctioned rules that are relatively clear
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informal institutions
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Institutions with unwritten and unofficial rules
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freedom
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The ability of an individual to act independently, without fear of restriction or punishment by the state or other individuals or groups in society
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equality
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A shared material standard of individuals within a community, society, or country
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state
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(1) The organization that maintains a monopoly of force over a given territory; (2) A set of political institutions to generate and execute policy regarding freedom and equality
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sovereignty
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The ability of a state to carry out actions or policies within a territory independently from external actors or internal rivals
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regime
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The fundamental rules and norms of politics, embodying long-term goals regarding individual freedom and collective equality, where power should reside, and the use of that power
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government
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The leadership or elite in charge of running the state
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country
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Term used to refer to state, government, regime, and the people who live within that political system
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legitimacy
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A value whereby an institution is accepted by the public as right and proper, thus giving it authority and power
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traditional legitimacy
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Legitimacy that accepts aspects of politics because they have been institutionalized over a long period of time
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charismatic legitimacy
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Legitimacy built on the force of ideas embodied by an individual leader
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rational-legal legitimacy
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Legitimacy based on a system of laws and procedures that are highly institutionalized
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federalism
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A system in which significant state powers, such as taxation, lawmaking, and security, are devolved to regional or local bodies
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asymmetric federalism
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When power is divided unevenly between regional bodies; For example, some regions are given greater power over taxation or language rights than others--a more likely outcome in a country with significant ethnic divisions |
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unitary state
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A state in which most political power exists at the national level, with limited local authority
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devolution
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A process in which political power is ""sent down"" to lower levels of state and government
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strong state
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A state that is able to fulfill basic tasks, such as defending territory, making and enforcing rules, collecting taxes, and managing the economy |
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weak state
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A state that has difficulty fulfilling basic tasks, such as defending territory, making and enforcing rules, collecting taxes, and managing the economy
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failed state
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A state so weak that its political structures collapse, leading to anarchy and violence
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capacity
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The ability of the state to wield power to carry out basic tasks, such as defending territory, making and enforcing rules, collecting taxes, and managing the economy
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autonomy
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The ability of the state to wield its power independently of the public
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society
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Complex human organization, a collection of people bound by shared institutions that define how human relations should be conducted
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ethnic identity/ethnicity
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Specific attributes and societal institutions that make one group of people culturally different from others
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nation
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A group that desires self-government through an independent state
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national identity
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A sense of belonging to a nation and a belief in its political aspirations
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nationalism
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Pride in one's people and the belief that they have a unique political destiny
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citizenship
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An individual's relationship to the state, wherein citizens swear allegiance to that state and the state in return is obligated to provide rights to those citizens
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patriotism
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Pride in one's state
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nation-state
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A state encompassing one dominant nation that it claims to embody and represent
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ethnic conflict
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A conflict in which different ethnic groups struggle to achieve certain political or economic goals at each other's expense
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national conflict
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A conflict in which one or more groups within a country develop clear aspirations for political independence, clashing with others as a result
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political attitudes
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Description of one's views regarding the speed and methods with which political changes should take place in a given society
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radicals
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Those with a political attitude that favors dramatic, often revolutionary change
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conservatives
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Those with a political attitude that is skeptical of change and supports the current order
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reactionary
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Someone who seeks to restore the institutions of a real or imagined earlier order
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political ideology
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The basic values held by an individual about the fundamental goals of politics or the ideal balance of freedom and equality
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liberalism
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(1) A political attitude that favors evolutionary transformation; (2) An ideology and political system that favors a limited state role in society and the economy, and places a high priority on individual political and economic freedom
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liberal democracy
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A political system that promotes participation, competition, and liberty and emphasizes individual freedom and civil rights
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communism
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(1) A political-economic system in which all wealth and property are shared so as to eliminate exploitation, oppression, and, ultimately, the need for political institutions such as the state; (2) A political ideology that advocates such a system
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social democracy (socialism)
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(1) A political-economic system in which freedom and equality are balanced through the state's management of the economy and the provision of social expenditures; (2) A political ideology that advocates such a system
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fascism
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A political ideology that asserts the superiority and inferiority of different groups of people and stresses a low degree of both freedom and equality in order to achieve a powerful state
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anarchism
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A political ideology that stresses the elimination of the state and private property as a way to achieve both freedom and equality for all |
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fundamentalism
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A view of religion as absolute and inerrant that should be legally enforced by making faith the sovereign authority
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culture
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Basic institutions that define a society
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political culture
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The basic norms for political activity in a society
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democracy
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A political system in which political power is exercised either directly or indirectly by the people
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liberal democracy
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A political system that promotes participation, competition, and liberty and emphasizes individual freedom and civil rights
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republicanism
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Indirect democracy that emphasizes the separation of powers within a state and the representation of the public through elected officials
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separation of powers
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The clear division of power between different branches of government and the provision that specific branches may check the power of other branches
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direct democracy
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Democracy that allows the public to participate directly in government decision making
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indirect democracy
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Democracy in which representatives of the public are responsible for government decision making
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civil society
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Organizations outside of the state that help people define and advance their own interests
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executive
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The branch of government that carries out the laws and policies of a state
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head of state
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The executive role that symbolizes and represents the people both nationally and internationally
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head of government
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The executive role that deals with the everyday tasks of running the state, such as formulating and executing policy
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legislature
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The branch of government charged with making laws
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bicameral system
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A political system in which the legislature comprises two houses
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unicameral system
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A political system in which the legislature comprises one house
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rule of law
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A system in which all individuals and groups, including those in government, are subject to the law, irrespective of their power or authority
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constitutional court
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The highest judicial body in a political system that decides whether laws and policies violate the constitution
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judicial review
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The mechanism by which courts can review the actions of government and overturn those that violate the constitution
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concrete review
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Judicial review that allows the constitutional court to rule on the basis of actual legal disputes brought before it
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abstract review
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Judicial review that allows the constitutional court to rule on questions that do not arise from actual legal disputes
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parliamentary system
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A political system in which the roles of head of state and head of government are assigned to separate executive offices
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vote of no confidence
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Vote taken by a legislature as to whether its members continue to support the current prime minister; Depending on the country, a vote of no confidence can force the resignation of the prime minister and/or lead to new parlimentary elections
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presidential system
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A political system in which the roles of head of state and head of government are combined in one executive offices
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semipresidential system
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An executive system that divides power between two strong executives, a president and a prime minister
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electoral system
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A set of rules that decide how votes are cast, counted, and translated into seats in a legislature
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constituency
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A geographical area that an elected official represents
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single-member-district (SMD) |
(SMD) An electoral district with one seat |
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proportional representation (PR) |
(PR) An electoral system in which political parties compete in multimember districts, voters choose between parties, and the seats in the district are awarded proportionally according to the results of the vote |
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first past the post (FPTP) |
(FPTP) An electoral system in which individual candidates compete in singlemember districts; voters choose between candidates, and the candidate with the largest share of the vote wins the seat |
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multi-member district (MMD) |
(MMD) An electoral district with more than one seat |
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mixed system
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An electoral system that uses a combination of single-member districts and proportional representation
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referendum
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A national vote called by a government to address a specific proposal, often a change to the constitution
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initiative
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A national vote called by members of the public to address a specific proposal
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civil rights
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Individual rights regarding equality that are created by the constitution and the political regime
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civil liberties
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Individual rights regarding freedom that are created by the constitution and the political regime |
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contingent legitimacy |
-legitimacy based on performance of government -can be powerful but unstable |
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karl marx |
-started theory of structuralism which states things that change slowly matter most -example: social class sizes |
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robert dahl |
Came up with polyarchy as useful operationalization of democracy |
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charles tilly |
-Theory of state formation -War made state and state made war -political communities inherently compete through war -weak communities were defeated and absorbed by stronger ones -technology (weapons, logistics) are crucial -origin of state is similar to mob |
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seymour martin lipsets |
-Socialist and one of the founders of contemporary comparative politics -"A person who only knows one country knows no countries" -by looking at others we can better understand own -values are prevalent and distinct -anti-statism/individualism |
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adam smith |
-New institutionalism/ Rational choice -Humans weigh costs/benefit rationally and behave accordingly -political science to human behavior to economics (all three relate) |
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max weber |
-defined state as organization that has monopoly of violence (force) over given territory -Culturalism- culture, beleifs, and sometimes norms matter most -political science is bad at understanding culture -organizations/activities regarded as valuable -suspect/racist claims |
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polyarchy |
-latin for many rule -form of government in which power is invested in multiple people -Dahl's useful operationalization of democracy -2 parts (Do incumbents lose?)(Do most people vote?)
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reinforcing cleavages |
when two of more social cleavages overlap bringing individuals together into similar circumstances |
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cross-cutting cleavages |
when one of more social cleavages cause division within one or more other cleavages |
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system legitimacy |
-legitimacy based on broad agreement on system used to select ruler -determines office duration and policy -relates to minority rights and alterations in power -hard to establish but very stable once it is |
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political cleavages |
-society can become contentiously divided through fault lines of political disputes that exist deep within a given society -examples: ethnicity, class, linguistics, religion, region, generation |
