Delkurs 3 Flashcards
Government
A government has a monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a state. Securing internal and external sovereignty of the state are major tasks of any government.
Webers def of sovereignty
Sovereignty: The state possesses the monopoly of the use of physical force. Only then can it impose its rule and realize its claim as the most important community.
22
People
A group of people whose common conscious and identity makes them a collective entity
(Persons living together)
20
The first three articles of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
Paris 1789
1 Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good
2 The aim of all political association is the preservation of the natural and imprescriptible right of man. These rights are Liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression
3 The principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the nation. No body or individual may exercise any authority which does not proceed directly from the nation.
Internal vs external sovereignty
Internal: within its own territory every state can act as it wishes and is independent of other powers
External: referring to the fact that the state is recognized as a state by other states
21
Failed state
A country that has lost control of some of its territory and government authority and is unable to fulfill the basic functions of a sovereign state
30
Rokkan four phases of nation-state development
State formation Nation building Mass democracies Welfare states 25
Nation-state
A state based in the acceptance of a common culture, a common history and a common fate, irrespective of whatever political, social and economic difference may exist between the members of the nation-state
23
Namn four state theories
Constitutional Ethical and moral Conflict Pluralist 31
When is state force seen as used legitimately according to the people?
When the use of power is in accordance with the norms and values of its citizens
33
What does constitutional state theories imply?
That a state is established as a contract between citizens and rulers. Defines the major functions and tasks for the state and the rulers.
31
Territory
Terrain or geographical area
20
What are the three general patterns for state development?
Transformation - France, Britain
Unification - Germany, Italy
Secession- breakup of Ottoman Empire
24
Empirical political theories
Theories that try to understand, by examining the evidence, how the political world actually works and why it works that way
31
What is a state?
A way to organize government.
Individual political entities each of them recognized by others as a state
States are characterized as having: territory, people and sovereignty
17
Sovereignty
The highest power that gives the state freedom of action within its own territory
21
How can war be seen as a driving force for state building historically?
Partly because when the armies baca me more and more dependent on expensive equipment it became difficult for local lords to fund this and the state was the only organ who could afford it and thus they attained the monopoly on force.
Then wars has been fought between states and shaper we and then and shaped the territory.
28
State
the organization that issues and I forces binding rules for the people within a territory.
Territory, people, sovereignty
20
Country
An imprecise synonym or short-hand term for state or nation state
20
What does ethical and moral state theory approaches imply?
How can we organize the state so people can live in peace and harmony? Minimal state, collectivist, rule of God, anarchy
31
What did Aristotle think of states?
They are no abstract construct but a variant of human social life. It is also the most important one. It is the most important community because it embraces all the rest. And in order to keep its place as the highest and most encompassing community, a state must be more powerful than any of the communities it incorporates
18
Citizen
A legally recognized member or subject of a state (or commonwealth) with all the individual rights and duties of that state
20
Webers def of a state
Territory, people, sovereignty
The monopoly of force must be legitimate, not just legally.
“A compulsory political organization with continuous operation will be called a “state” insofar as its administrative staff successfully uphold the claim to the Monopoly of the Legitimate use of physical force in the enforcement of its order”
23
Normative political theories
Theories about how the world should be
31
What does conflict state theory approaches imply?
Stresses the conflict nature of interests and values in society and see the state as necessary to regulate these conflicts.
Marxism. Feminism
32
What does pluralist state theory approaches imply?
The state is the main instrument for the regulation of conflicts and reconciliation of competing interests.
They see the state as the peaceful battleground for different groups and interests, not as an arena where the elite oppresses the masses.
32
How can capitalism be seen as a generator of state building?
Production requires a safe and available infrastructure.
Investment and profit depend on sisal and physical security and stability.
For the laborer it is good to have education and health facilities.
Police, legal system, banking
28
Twofold assertion when debating formation and development of states
The state concept is bound to western political thought and European history
There is no uniform or general law they governs the appearance of disappearance of states
24
Power
The ability to make other people do what they not want to do. Power is the ability to apply force
Globalisation
The growing interdependencies and interconnected was of the world that reduces autonomy of individual states and the importance of boundaries between them
37
NGO
Non-profit, private and non-violent organizations that are independent of government but seek to influence or control public policy without actually seeking government office
37
Human rights
The innate, inalienable and inviolable right if humans to life, liberty and security of person, as the UN Charter puts it. Such rights cannot be bestowed, granted, limited, bartered or sold away. Inalienable rights can only be secured or violated
41
Representative democracy
That form of democracy in which citizens elect leaders who govern in their name
42
Participatory democracy
That form of democracy in which citizens actively and directly participate in government
42
GDP
The value of all final goods and services produced within a state in a given year. In order to compare the wealth of states the measure used is normally GDP per capita
50
Etatism
A very strong emphasis on state power and an accompanying reduction of social and individual rights
52
Democratistion
The sustainable process of transformator a politisk system towards more democratic arrangements
57
Authoritarian rule
Obedience and submission to authority - that is, the concentration of power in the hands of a leader or elite that is not responsible to parliament. No overt opposition is allowed to compete for power
58
Focusing on the state is right because?
National sovereignty and globalization
States still claim sovereignty and a very small part of the world (EU), has established transnational forms of government that mag render the state obsolete
38
Focusing on the state is wrong, because?
National sovereignty and globalization
The rise of regional and transnational firms of government (EU, NAFTA and UN), of international government agencies (IMF, World Bank) of international NGOs (Greenpeace, ILO) and MNCs (Microsoft, Ford) shows that national sovereignty is losing its relevance
38
Focusing on the state is right because?
Power
States are still the most important actors in politics and they are in charge of military and economic power
38
Focusing on the state is wrong because?
Power
Only a few large states are important. Organizations such as the EU, Microsoft and the World Bank have more power than many states
38
Focusing on the state is right brackish?
Financial liability and security
ING states can regulate markets and are able to accept liabilities when private actors and NGOs fail.
38
Focusing on the state is wrong because?
Financial liability and security
Market failure and crises show the lack of power of states to protect the citizens. Only international action can deal with these problems.
38
Name the year for a few countries of when they incorporated the principle of parliamentary accountability to citizens
France 1870 Germany 1918 Spain 1976 Netherlands 1848 (1866) Sweden 1809 Norway 1805 (1814)
42
Seymour Martin Lipset definition of a democracy
First, competition exists for government positions, and fair elections for public office occurs at regular intervals without the use of force and without excluding any social group. Second, citizens participate in selecting their leaders and forming policies. And, third, civil and political liberties exist to ensure the integrity of political competition and participation.
44
How if freedom house study freedom in the world structured?
195 countries Political rights and civil rights 1 most free - 7 least free 25 indicators Free, partly free, not free
Free 89
Real world rights and freedoms enjoyed by individuals.
Freedom and democracy are seen as the same
46
How is the economist democracy index structured?
Electoral processes and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of government, political participation and political culture
1 least democratic - 10 most democratic
60 indicators
Full democracy, flawed democracy, hybrid regimes, authoritarian regimes
Full democracy 24
Freedom and democracy not the same but democracy usually institutionalize freedom.
47
In empirisk state theories there are four major approaches to the relationship between state and society. Which?
State supremacy
State dependency
Interdependency
Separation and autonomy
52
When where the three waves of democratization?
1920 - nation states
after WW2 to 1960s - decolonization
1975-2000 - spews of democracy Asia and Latin America, disintegration of Soviet
Name five arguments for why a middle class is crucial for the development of a democracy
- Create a middle ground between elite and masses
- In order to secure their economic position and political power they will demand personal freedom and right to participate in government affairs
- Employers and military press for education, health care, improved housing and geographical mobility
- They will organize the civic society and put pressure on old elite
- Moderating impact on social conflicts
59
Consolidation
Process of maturing and stabilizing a new political system by strengthening and institutionalizing its basic arrangements
63
Name four steps of the process from a non democratic state to a democratic one
1 initial phase - opposition towards ruling elite. Demands for Liberty.
- Emerging phase - old I democratic arrangement don’t work. New ones set up. Liberty is focus.
- Advanced phase - Liberty takes for granted. Focus on achievement of democracy. Group interest must be satisfied.
- Phase of consolidation - democratic arrangements institutionalized. Demands by late part of population met.
63
Embedded democracy
A consolidates and stable system that is founded on a well-developed civil society, secure civil and political rights, a set of autonomous institutions of government that act within the rule of law, a system of free and fair elections, and a government with effective power to preform its duties.
65
Name four main examples of what can be lacking in a democracy for it to be a defective democracy
1. Incomplete suffrage Limited, male, oligarchical democracy 2. Not free electoral competition Controller, de facto one-party, restrictive democracy 3. Not guaranteed civil liberties Electoral, hard, illiberal democracy 4. Ineffective government Guarded, protected, tutelary democracy
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Defective democracy
Systems of government that are neither democratic nor I democratic, but maintain some democratic characteristics as well as some I democratic ones that damage and disrupt the institutional logic of embedded democracy
66
Constitution
A set of fundamental laws that determine the central institutions and offices, and power and duties of the state
75
What are the four normal features of constitutions?
Fundamental laws - the political procedures to make laws
Entrenched status - special legal status
Codified document - written down
Allocation of power - outline the proper relationship between institutions and offices, and between government and citizens
76
What are the four normal parts of a constitutions?
Preamble - declaration of nationhood and history, often inspirational
Fundamental rights - list och civil and political rights
Institutions and offices of government - the main structures described
Amendment - the procedure to be followed in Amerindians the constitution
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What are the seven principles usually in a constitution?
Rule of law Transfer of power Separation of power Relations between government and citizens Locus of power Government accountability Final arbiter
79
What is strong and weak bicameralism?
Strong is two assemblies of equal strength. Weak is unequal.
The lower house, congress, is usually stronger and directly elected
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Judiciary
The branch of government mainly responsible for the authoritative interpretation and application of law
84
Judicial review
The binding power of the courts to provide an authoritative interpretation of laws, including constitutional law, and to overturn executive, or legislative actions they hold to be illegal or unconstitutional
84
Two arguments against having a judicial review
Difficult to have non-partisan judges
In a democracy the elites legislature should have the right to interpret the constitution, not a judiciary
85
Judicial activism
Involves the court taking a broad and active view of their role as interpreters of the constitution and reviewers of executive and legislative action
85
Federal state
Federal state combine a central authority with a degree of constitutionally defined autonomy for sub-central, territorial units of government
86
Unitary states
In unitary states the central government is the only sovereign body. It does not share constitutional authority with any sub-central units of government
86
Name the three constitutional and institutional theories
Old constitutionalism - focuses on the words and formulations on paper
New constitutionalism - how the constitution is filled and works in reality
New institutionalism - skeptical towards the merit of constitutions. Institutions are the important thing governing politics and minds
89
What are the four main features of presidential government
Firstly the president is the executive body
- head of state and government
- The execution of policy
- Dependence on the legislative branch
- Fixed tenure
95
Explain the parliamentary system structure in four parts
They have
1. Directly elected legislative body
2. Fused executive and legislative institutions
3. A collective executive that emerges from the legislature and is responsible to it
4 separation of head of state and head of government
97
Explain a semi presidential system
Government consists of a directly elected president, the electorate, and a prime minister who is appointed by the president from the elected legislature and accountable to it. The president and prime minister share executive power.
100
Confederation
Organization whose members lend some power to a body that manages affairs of common interest, while retaining their own independence
110
Supra-national government
Organizations in which countries pool their sovereignty on certain matters to allow joint decision making
111
Sub-central government
All levels of government below central/national government.
Weaker in unitary than federal states
112
Devolution
When higher levels of government grant decision making powers to lower levels while maintaining their constitutional subordinate status
118
Fused system
The system of local government in unitary states in which central officials directly supervise the work of local government
122
Dual system
The system of local government in unitary states in which local authorities have more independence than in fused systems but within the authority of central government
122
Local self-government
Like Sweden where they even have their own tax and more freedom of local action
123
Subsidiaries principle
The principle that decisions should be taken at the lowest possible level of government, that is, the level closest to the people affected by the decisions. Usually the term subsidiary is used in connection with the territorial decentralization of government, but it is not limited to this form
124
Meso-government
A middle level of tier of government between central and local authorities, and often known as state, regional, provincial, or country government
127
Pluralist theories on multi-level government
Democracies should have many centers of power so that people can exercise different issues in different political arenas
131
Rational choice theory of multi-level government
Assumes politics is based on the rational calculations of actors who are self interested and who try to maximize their own utility.
131
Delegated legislation
Laws or decrees made by ministers, not by legislatures, though in accordance with powers granted to them by the legislative body
141
Legislative oversight
The role of the legislature that invokes the scrutiny or supervision of other branches of government, especially the executive and the public bureaucracy
148
Majoritarian democracy
Consent ration of executive power Fusion of executive and legislative power Since party system Two-party system Simple majority electoral system Unitary government and centralization Asymmetric bicameralism or unicameralism Constitutional flexibility Absence of judicial review
151
Consensus democracy
Executive power sharing Separation of powers Coalition government Multi-party system Proportional electoral system Federalism and decentralization Balanced bicameralism Constitutional inflexibility Judicial review
151
Name the three normal kinds of senior bureaucrats
Permanent administrators
Political appointments
Policy advisors
159
What are Webers three arguments for why civil servants are the masters rather than the servants of the sate
Qualifications and experience
Permanence
Experience
161
Political culture
The pattern of attitudes values and beliefs about politics, whether they are conscious or unconscious, explicit or implicit
175
New public management
Reform of the public sector in the 1980s and 1990s, based mainly on what was thought to be private-sector practice and consisting mainly of privatisation, deregulation, business management techniques and marketisation a known also as reinventing government, it is said to have had the effect of hollowing out the state
164
Name three theories of public bureaucracy
The rational-legal ideal-type - Weber. Society modernises itself by becoming more bureaucratic. Hierarchy of command, professionals appointed by merit, formal rules, rationality, record keeping.
Clientelism - political use of public office for personal gain. A public patron distributing favours, thus not by merit
Rational choice, NPM - bureaucrats are self interested trying to maximise their position by expanding budget and staff. “Agency problem”
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Political identity
The way in which people label themselves as belonging to a particular group (nation-state, class or caste, ethnic group, religious group)
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