AP COMP INTRO UNIT Flashcards
Nation-State
a defined territory, a sovereign community, and a population that shares a common identity
Nation
a group of people who share the same culture
Subnational Governments
regional or local governments within a country that have certain powers delegated to them by the national government
Federal Governments
a system of government where power is divided by a central and regional government (Mexico, Russia, Nigeria)
Unitary Governments
a system where power resides in a centralized national government, with limited or no power given to local entities (China, Iran, UK)
State’s sovereignty
an independent state that has complete control over its territory without foreign interference
What is the difference between regime and government?
Regime: overarching system or rules by which a state is governed
Government: Government: specific group of people in power
Political Regime
Political Regime: the type of government that a country has
Democracy & Authoritarianism
Democracy: power lies w/ people
Authoritarianism: power lies w/ a leader
Examples of participation in a democratic regime
voting, running for office, political protest, engaging in civil society
Examples of participation in an authoritarian regime
authoritarian is more limited/controlled, involves participation through state-approved channels
Free/Fair elections in a democratic regime
elections are transparent, eligible voters can participate equally
Political participation
one’s political participation can influence the political process
Political legitimacy
the acceptance of a govt or regime by its people as rightfully holding power, high legitimacy can result from democratic elections, rule of law, transparency
Illiberal democracy
a govt holds elections but does not fully protect civil liberties or uses rule by law (democratic features are limited)
Civil Societies
: non govt organizations and groups that operate independently from the state, plays a role in advocating for social/economic/political issues
Which countries would limit civil society? Why? Why might Russia or China be concerned by an active civil society
Russia & China limit civil society to prevent challenges to govt control, fearing independent groups could inspire political dissent and promote democracy, invite foreign influence
Examples of civil society in UK, Russia (how does it compare to the other European states such as the UK)
UK -free vibrant social society, active NGOs & advocacy groups
Russia: controls and restricts civil society (independent organizations are “foreign agents”
Describe/ explain conditions within a political system that would enable a civil society to thrive? How does civil society impact legitimacy in democratic or authoritarian regimes?
in democratic regimes, a strong civil society enhances legitimacy by promoting transparency and accountability
in authoritarian regimes, civil society can threaten legitimacy by challenging government control and exposing abuses
Gini coefficient
measures income inequality within a population (0=perfect equality, 1= maximum inequality)
Freedom House
measures political and civil liberties in countries around the world, rates nations on a scale of freedom
Which countries have the greatest freedom?
countries with the greatest freedom, a well-established democracy that ensures political rights, civil liberties, and rule of law (ex: UK)
Political efficacy & political apathy
when people feel they have high political efficacy (the belief that they can influence government and political outcomes), they are more likely to participate in politics
low political efficacy (not wanting to participate in politics) leads to higher political apathy, as individuals feel their involvement won’t make a difference, reducing their engagement in political processes
Democratization
process where a country transitions from an authoritarian state to a democratic
Political culture
the collection of attitudes, beliefs, values that influence how people perceive and engage with their government and political system
Political socialization
the process by which individuals learn and adopt political values and behaviors, shaped by family, education, media, peers
Transparency
a government openly operates, allows citizens to see how decisions are made (can increase political legitimacy)
Rule of law
all individuals, including the those in the government are accountable under the law
fosters transparency and political legitimacy by ensuring accountability, protecting individual rights, providing a clear framework for dispute resolution, and promoting public trust in institutions, which together create a stable environment conducive to social cohesion and economic development
Impact of corruption on regime type
Corruption undermines trust in democratic institutions, weakens governance in authoritarian regimes, and destabilizes hybrid systems, ultimately leading to political instability, social unrest, and challenges to legitimacy across all regime types.
Theocracy
a system of government in which priests rule in the name of God (Iran)
What does CPI measure?
the perceived levels of public sector corruption in different countries (ranks countries based on how corrupt their public sectors are perceived to be)
What does GDP measure?
the total value of goods and services produced in a country during a specific period of time
