Democracy

Question 1

Democratic Regime

Answer 1

Set of institutions that allow the citizens to choose the makers of policy in free, competitive elections.

Question 2

Procedural Democracy

Answer 2

At a minimum, countries with free and fair elections for the real policymakers and eligibility of all adults.

Question 3

Substantive Democracy

Answer 3

Political rights and civil liberties beyond a procedural democracy.

Question 4

Democratization

Answer 4

Transformation process from a nondemocratic regime to a procedural democracy to a substantive democracy

Question 5

Three Waves of Democratization

Answer 5

First wave in late 19th Century that started with demands from increasingly educated and urbanized citizens.
Several collapsed due to Great Depression on Nazi Germany.

Second wave after Allied victory of WWII and breakup of colonial empires in Africa, Asia, and Caribbean.
Several failed or were overthrown.

Third wave starting in late 1970s which started in Southern Europe, spread through Latin America and Asia and accelerated with the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Question 6

Preconditions of Democracy

Answer 6

None, but two influence the likelihood of democracy: level of economic development and international environment of democracy.

Question 7

International Environment of Democracy

Answer 7

Powerful states may prohibit or impose democracy. Success of other democracies may affect democracy’s prestige. The prospect of joining other democratic states may also provide incentives
(EU, etc.)

Question 8

Authoritarian Breakdown

Answer 8

Poor economic performance and leadership struggles.

Question 9

Democratization from Above

Answer 9

Electoral competition and political freedoms introduced by current rulers.

Question 10

Democratization from Below

Answer 10

Democratic reforms pressed rapidly by mass demonstrations from democratically inclined citizens.

Question 11

Military Dictatorships

Answer 11

Military leadership held in place by unified strength of armed forces.

Question 12

Personalistic Authoritarian Regimes

Answer 12

Leadership held together by personality and alliances of the individual leader, his/her family, and sometimes their tribe/clan.

Question 13

Single Party Authoritarian Regimes

Answer 13

Political organization, penetration of the society, and unifying set of beliefs that make it possible to recruit ambitious and talented people into the party and crush opposition.
(e.g. Soviet Union and Mexico PRI)

Question 14

Democratic Consolidation

Answer 14

Stable political system in which all major actors seeking political influence accept democratic competition, citizen participation, and the rule of law.

Question 15

Military Coup

Answer 15

Overthrow of civilian leadership by the military

Question 16

Executive Coup

Answer 16

Curtailment of freedoms by government leaders
(e.g. “State of Emergency.”)

Question 17

Illiberal, Electoral, or Partial Democracies

Answer 17

Democratic regimes with authoritarian elements to distinguish them from free, substantive democracies.

Question 18

Authoritarian Regime

Answer 18

Concentration of power in one or more people who are not constitutionally responsible to the people. May or may not allow social and economic institutions not under the control of the government. Tend to rely on passive mass acceptance rather than popular support.

Question 19

Rule of Law

Answer 19

Political philosophy that all citizens and institutions within a country, state, or community are accountable to the same laws, including lawmakers and leaders.

Question 20

Nation

Answer 20

A body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language inhabiting a particular country or territory
OR
A body of people who make up an imagined, limited, or sovereign community

Question 21

National Consciousness

Answer 21

Sense of collective identity, unit, and bonding between people in a
particular country – see themselves as part of a group

Question 22

Nationalism

Answer 22

Identification with and support for one’s country (often at detriment of other nations)

Question 23

Imagined Community

Answer 23

Individuals trust that the rest of their community is present and similar to the people they have already met

Question 24

Government

Answer 24

Governing body of a nation, state, or community

Question 25

State

Answer 25

An association of people characterized by formal institutions of government, including laws; permanent territorial boundaries; and sovereignty.

Question 26

Regime

Answer 26

Form of government or the set of rules, cultural or social norms, etc. that regulate the operation of a government or institution and its interactions with society.

Question 27

Sovereignty

Answer 27

Independent control of internal affairs
- Ukraine technically still sovereign (still has control over their own
government, military, etc)

Question 28

Power

Answer 28

Capacity to direct or influence the behavior of others/course of events

Question 29

Authority

Answer 29

Right or ability to direct or influence behavior/course of events
- Ideally legitimized/accepted
- Can be done by force (military)
- People voted for the decision
- Other countries recognize the government’s right to rule

Question 30

Sources of Power and Authority

Answer 30

• Constitutions
• Legislatures
• Popular support
• Religions
• Military forces
• Political parties

Question 31

Primary Elites

Answer 31

Officials; have authority to make decisions and influence gov’t decisions

Question 32

Secondary Elites

Answer 32

Members of society with influence through their association (not a part of the gov’t)
Examples: Bill Gates, Andrew Carnegie, etc

Question 33

Socialism

Answer 33

A system in which the state plays a leading role in organizing the economy, owns most productive resources and property and actively promotes equality. Private ownership of property is allowed. Allows some capitalism

Question 34

Communism

Answer 34

According to Marxism, the stage of development that follows Socialism and in which all property is publicly owned, economic production is coordinated for the common good, and a radical degree of equality has been achieved

Question 35

Centrally Planned Economy

Answer 35

Economic system in which the state directs the economy through bureaucratic plans for the production and distribution of goods. The government, rather than the market is the main influence on the economy

Question 36

Guerilla Warfare

Answer 36

Military strategy based on small, highly mobile bands of soldiers.