2. Three Competing Traditions/Basic Unit of Analysis

Question 1

The 3 competing approaches ?

Answer 1

• Rational Choice
• Culturalist
• Structuralist

Question 2

3 defenders of the rational choice theory ?

Answer 2

Hobbes, Pareto, Smith

Question 3

Content of the rational choice theory ?

Answer 3

Mathematical reasoning, individual actors deliberately maximize. Theory that can apply to everything

Question 4

Classic works of rational choice theory

Answer 4

• Anthony Downs (1957) An Economic Theory of Democracy
• Mancur Olson (1968) The Logic of Collective Action
• William Riker (1962) The Theory of Political Coalitions

Question 5

Content of the culturalist theory ?

Answer 5

Culture is a much better explanation of political phenomena than abstractions. Immerge themselves in the culture ≠ rational choice theorists collect data

Question 6

3 types of studies in the culturalist theory ?

Answer 6

Area studies, single-country studies and case studies

Question 7

3 periods of Predominant Qualitative VS Quantitative approaches (Culturalist or rational choice ?)

Answer 7

• 1940s-1950s : “Small-N” qualitative approaches = culturalists : study of one country or a limited nb of countries. Focus on Western countries as representative of the rest
• 1960s : “behavioural revolution” in the US, “Large-N studies” quantitative = rational choice.
• 1980s : combination, they gather data but use case studies to go in-depth.

Question 8

Content of the structuralist theory ?

Answer 8

Marxist. Concentrate on structures and institutions.

Question 9

Comparativist definition of a political system ?

Answer 9

Method or system of government in a country (institutions and processes)

Question 10

Primary characteristic of a nation-state

Answer 10

Sovereignty

Question 11

Definition of a sovereign nation-state ?

Answer 11

A territory that has a population and government that have legitimate control over their territory and people who live there.

Question 12

Origins of the idea of sovereignty

Answer 12

17th century, Jean Bodin and Hobbes, Leviathan

Question 13

4 types of sovereignty according to Stephen Krasner

Answer 13

• Domestic sovereignty
• Interdependence sovereignty
• Westphalian sovereignty
• International legal sovereignty

Question 14

Domestic sovereignty ?

Answer 14

Control of the behaviour of people by the state

Question 15

Interdependence sovereignty ?

Answer 15

Control of the borders and in-and-out flows : the lack of sovereignty is emphasized by illegal immigration. Rare because of the globalized context

Question 16

Westphalia Treaty

Answer 16

1648

Question 17

Westphalian soverignty ?

Answer 17

Absence of external control over a Nation-State

Question 18

International legal sovereignty

Answer 18

formal recognition by other nation-states (UN)

Question 19

First typology of states (2 kinds)

Answer 19

• De facto : exist but not recognized as such internationally (China between 1949 and 1970, Taiwan)
• De jure : recognized but so weak they don’t have control over territory (Libya, Syria)

Question 20

Second typology of states (5 types)

Answer 20

• Effective states (legitimate governments, stable institutions)
• Weak States : Mali f.i., opposite of effective
• Failed states : economic and political dysfunction, no state authority, conflictive situation (civil war f.i.), weak institutions
• Collapsed states : total vacuum of authority, ran by sb else than the national gvt illegitimate in the international area
• Mafia States : Venezuela, Bulgaria, Guinea-Bissau, Russia

Question 21

Economic categories of states :

Answer 21

1st, 2nd and third world states : world bank classification by HDI (IDH)

Question 22

4 explanations for a state fragility

Answer 22

• Colonialism : elite not used to compromising
• Wealth
• Reliance on external goods : FR, the US have “client states”
• The “resource curse” : rente