Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Cynical definition

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Empirical vs Normative

A

Empirical = what is
Normative = what ought to be

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Qualitative vs Quantitative

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is people power?

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is political philosophy?

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the two defining political institutions in Canada?

A

Parliament and Federalism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is federalism?

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is realism?

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Who coined “escaping the state of nature” ?

A

thomas hobbes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

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

A

Harold Laswell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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’ ?

24
Q

What is a modern state?

A

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

25
Define sovereignty
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
Define Nation
group of persons who share an identity based on, but not limited to, shared ethnic, religious, civil, cultural, or linguistic qualities
27
Define Nation-state
autonomous political unit of people who share a predominant common culture, language, ethnicity or history
28
Define Organizations
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
What is political power?
ability to achieve goals in a political system and to have others do as you wish them too
30
Examples of conceptions of power/influence
- authority by law - elections - personal charisma - wealth - military - people power
31
Hard power vs Soft power
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
Define Authority
power or right to force obedience
33
Who had three forms of authority?
Max Weber
34
What are the three forms of authority?
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
Legitimacy meaning (political)
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
Liberal Democracy definition
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
What is a right? ( + examples)
socially acceptable, morally correct and just privileges granted to members of a political community Ex. right to vote, freedom of expression etc.
38
Liberty Definition
freedom from despotic control (unfair power)
39
Positive liberty definition
freedom to achieve ones full potential
40
Welfare definition
legislation or social action take to provide citizens with physical, financial, health, or other assistance
41
Political equality definition
Equal participation and treatment in a politcal system
42
Social Equality defintion
personal charcteristics (race, gender, religion)
43
Economic equality definition
approximately even distribution of money
44
Law definition
rules imposed on society by governing authority (meant to discourage activities through threat of punishment)
45
Legislation definition
laws enacted by a governing authority
46
Policy definition
anything a government chooses to do or not to do
47
Examples of seperation of powers
Legislature, executive, judiciary
48
Authoritarianism definition
one leader has all the power, people have little to no say in decisions
49
Monarchy + examples
a country ruled by a single hereditary ruler who holds at least nominally absolute power
50
What is absolute monarchy? + example
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
What is a constitutional monarchy? + example
monarch's power is limited by a constitution Ex. prime minister of canada
52
Tyranny Definition
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)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions