Comparative Politics Flashcards
Example of a failed state
Libya - civil war due to leadership of Colonel Gaddafi, who was ousted in 2011
GDP Per Capita of Haiti and Dominican Republic in 2016
Haiti: $740
Dominican Republic: $6720
(geographically adjacent - importance of statehood)
When has a nation’s sovereignty been infringed?
US-led coalition invading Iraq in 2003 to overthrow government of Saddam Hussein
State capacity
The ability of the state to achieve its objectives
Primordialism (nationalism)
People are passionately loyal to the area in which they reside
Nations are seen as primordial units
Modernism (nationalism)
Nationalism did not exist until the 18th century
Idea of social equality and the importance of state sovereignty
Primordial bonds
Groups conflict with each other when they feel the integrity of their identity is under threat
Outdated amendments to US Constitution
2nd (right to bear arms) and 3rd (housing of soldiers without permission)
Sources of UK constitution
Legislation, convention, judicial precedent, authoritative works
Authoritative works UK Constitution
Bagehot’s The English Constitution (1867)
AV Dicey’s An Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution (1885)
Parliamentarism
Prime Ministers are drawn from the legislature and are directly accountable to it
No fixed terms and can face no-confidence votes
Presidentialism
Presidents are directly elected to fixed terms
They are not necessarily directly accountable to the legislature
USA Checks by legislature on executive
Impeachment, control the budget, override veto with 2/3 majority, reject cabinet appointments, reject treaties negotiated by president
USA Checks by executive on legislature
Presidential veto, recess appointments, pocket veto, commander in chief
Example of Presidential veto
Obama vetoed Presidential Allowance Modernization Act (2016)
Example of Congress overriding veto
Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (2016)
UK Checks by legislature on executive
Vote down bills, no-confidence vote, bill amendments, select committee scrutiny
UK Checks by executive on legislature
Negotiate international treaties, appoints cabinet, appoints peers, use of party whips
Dual legitimacy
Disagreement of jurisdiction between federal and state governments
Political regime
The system of relations between a society and the state
Procedural vs substantive definitions of democracy
Procedural: minimalistic, focus on how the system works
Substantive: Focus on results of political system
Modernisation theory (democratisation)
As a country’s economy grows it becomes more democratic
Authoritarian coups in MENA
1953 Iran Coup
1956 Suez Crisis
Regime types in MENA according to Economist Intelligence Unit (2017)
Flawed democracies: 2 (Israel and Tunisia)
Hybrid Regimes: 4
Authoritarian regimes: 14
