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Poli Sci > Chapter 1 > Flashcards

Chapter 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What is political science?

A

the study of politics and power from domestic, international, and comparative perspectives

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2
Q

What is skepticism?

A

Doubt of the truth of something. Healthy skepticism is good, as it keeps us informed and focused on improving our system

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3
Q

Cynical definition

A

the belief that people are motivated by purely self interest, distrustful of human sincerity

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4
Q

Empirical vs Normative

A

Empirical = what is
Normative = what ought to be

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5
Q

Qualitative vs Quantitative

A

Qualitative = analysis of non-numerical data (ex. text) to understand concepts
Quantitative = statistical analysis (numbers)

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6
Q

What is people power?

A

Using political protests, marches, and sit ins to create change

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7
Q

What are competing ideas (philosophies/ideologies) about government?

A

Anarchists don’t believe in a role for government, while Socialists believe in a strong role for government in ensuring social welfare and human equality

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8
Q

What is political philosophy?

A

Seeks to describe politics and to make normative claims about how politics should be conducted

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9
Q

Who does political philosophy stem from?

A

Aristotle and Plato.
- Aristotle thought politics was inherently human; That only humans possess “language” and “reason”

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10
Q

What are the two defining political institutions in Canada?

A

Parliament and Federalism

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11
Q

What is the Parliament?

A

Canada’s legislature, the federal institution with the power to make laws, to raise taxes, and to authorize government spending

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12
Q

What is federalism?

A

the division of powers between Canadian (international) and provincial governments

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13
Q

What is comparative politics?

A

searching to explain why different political systems have similarities or differences and how developmental changes came to be between them (comparing)

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14
Q

What is international relations/global politics?

A

the political, social, cultural and economic forces that shape interactions between states and other global actors in the contemporary world

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15
Q

What is realism?

A

a view of international politics that stresses its competitive and conflictual side

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16
Q

What is liberalism?

A

a political and moral philosophy based on the rights of the individual, liberty, consent of the governed, political equality, right to private property and equality before the law

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17
Q

What is marxism?

A

a social, economic and political philosophy that analyses the impact of the ruling class on the laborers, leading to uneven distribution of wealth and privileges in the society

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18
Q

Who coined “escaping the state of nature” ?

A

thomas hobbes

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19
Q

What is escaping the state of nature?

A

humans in a state of nature (without political organization) would be motivated only be self interest, leading to a life that is solitary, poor, nasty etc.

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20
Q

Who coined “Who gets What, When, How” ?

A

Harold Laswell

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21
Q

What is “Who gets What, When, How” ?

A

politics is fundamentally about the distribution of resources, power, and benefits within a society

22
Q

What is “The State”

A

recognized political unit, considered to be sovereign, with a defined territory and people and a central government responsible for administration

23
Q

Who developed the idea of a ‘modern state’ ?

A

Max Weber

24
Q

What is a modern state?

A

state has a monopoly on the legitimate use of force with a defined territory

25
Q

Define sovereignty

A

the power or authority of a state to govern itself without interference from outside forces. It means that a country or government has the ultimate control over its own laws, policies, and decisions within its borders

26
Q

Define Nation

A

group of persons who share an identity based on, but not limited to, shared ethnic, religious, civil, cultural, or linguistic qualities

27
Q

Define Nation-state

A

autonomous political unit of people who share a predominant common culture, language, ethnicity or history

28
Q

Define Organizations

A

Structured relations within a political community that are established to distribute both responsibilities and privileges that arise from formal association with others
Ex. United Nations

29
Q

What is political power?

A

ability to achieve goals in a political system and to have others do as you wish them too

30
Q

Examples of conceptions of power/influence

A
  • authority by law
  • elections
  • personal charisma
  • wealth
  • military
  • people power
31
Q

Hard power vs Soft power

A

Hard power = incentives and punishments used to exercise control (ex. military power, money)

Soft power = persuasion to exercise control (use of ideas, culture, media to pursuade)

32
Q

Define Authority

A

power or right to force obedience

33
Q

Who had three forms of authority?

A

Max Weber

34
Q

What are the three forms of authority?

A

Traditional (passing down of power through monarchy)

Rational-legal (respect for accepted laws, norms, rules)

Charismatic (right to rule based upon personal qualities of individuals)

35
Q

Legitimacy meaning (political)

A

belief that those in authority are there for justifiable and worthy reasons; what is lawful, proper, and conforms to the standards of a political system

36
Q

Liberal Democracy definition

A

Liberal = political system that emphasizes freedom

Democracy = a system of government where the people have the power to make decisions about how they are ruled, usually by voting for leaders or on laws. In a democracy, everyone has a say, either directly or through elected representatives

37
Q

What is a right? ( + examples)

A

socially acceptable, morally correct and just privileges granted to members of a political community

Ex. right to vote, freedom of expression etc.

38
Q

Liberty Definition

A

freedom from despotic control (unfair power)

39
Q

Positive liberty definition

A

freedom to achieve ones full potential

40
Q

Welfare definition

A

legislation or social action take to provide citizens with physical, financial, health, or other assistance

41
Q

Political equality definition

A

Equal participation and treatment in a politcal system

42
Q

Social Equality defintion

A

personal charcteristics (race, gender, religion)

43
Q

Economic equality definition

A

approximately even distribution of money

44
Q

Law definition

A

rules imposed on society by governing authority (meant to discourage activities through threat of punishment)

45
Q

Legislation definition

A

laws enacted by a governing authority

46
Q

Policy definition

A

anything a government chooses to do or not to do

47
Q

Examples of seperation of powers

A

Legislature, executive, judiciary

48
Q

Authoritarianism definition

A

one leader has all the power, people have little to no say in decisions

49
Q

Monarchy + examples

A

a country ruled by a single hereditary ruler who holds at least nominally absolute power

50
Q

What is absolute monarchy? + example

A

a system of government where a single ruler rules by some inherent right and has complete centralized authority or sovereignty over the state and government

Ex. saudi arabia (king is both head of state and head of government)

51
Q

What is a constitutional monarchy? + example

A

monarch’s power is limited by a constitution
Ex. prime minister of canada

52
Q

Tyranny Definition

A

one person or a small group takes complete control over a country and rules in a cruel or unfair way. The ruler uses power to benefit themselves, often ignoring laws, freedoms, and the well-being of the people

Poli Sci (4 decks)

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