EXAM REVISION Flashcards
Coercion
To persuade or convince another party to do what you want
Autocratic
A form of leadership in which one person makes orders and demands rather than consulting a group or committee.
EG: Hitker, Giddafi
Democracy/Democratic
A form of governance in which free and fair elections are he’d to determine which individuals lead a group or people
Power
An inherent quality, where one entity has influence/control over another, and is able to alter that entities’ actions or opinions
Nation state
A group of people who share a similar identity and live within a specific territory governed by a state
Military power
Refers to the use of coercive force to control a situation in or outside a country. Most often used for peacekeeping (East Timor) or disaster relief (natural disasters). 2 types: Current and Potential (the power that could be used in all troops are deployed and equipment used)
Political and Legal
Refers to the use of laws and regulations to control and govern society or a group. Power is exercised by the coercive power of the state through its executive control and ability to enforce the laws
Economic power
The use of use of money or use of financial inducements to control a person or group. Comes in the form of bribery or extortion. Could also be used in the form of tax, economic sanctions that governments use to control other countries’ economies.
Social or cultural power
The way certain values, tradition, lifestyles or language may impact on the way people live or view themselves. Can be used at a personal level with peer pressure. Can also be at a go all level with Ideologies (Capitaliam, Communism)
PSYCO,obi all power
The way in which thought is controlled in situations. Can be used at a personal level by appealing to emotions, insecurities or guilt. At a government level, can be used with propaganda or re education camps
Authority?
The official power given to an entity to do someone, the legal right to do something
Power vs Authority?
Power will always be there in the world, and can be weirded by anyone. Authority formalises power and gives it structure.
The state.
The state is an agency within a nation that deals with T he governance of a specific area and the individuals within it.
The nation
A group of people who hold common characteristics, such as geographical location, culture, language or religion.
What is democracy?
A system of government in which people are elected by society to act as a governing body
Thomas Hobbes’ beliefs
Believed that a society without a state would be so terrible that the people in the society would be willing to forgo some of their liberties to feel safe. This state would consist of officials that had been elected and received power through legitimate and free elections. A society required a functioning state to it to function itself, and ensure the safety of the individuals within.
[FEATURES OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACY] Freedom
The freedom to have choices, make decisions, hold opinions and religious beliefs
[FEATURES OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACY] Popular Sovereignty
Government is formed with the consent of its citizens, and can have its authority removed by them
[FEATURES OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACY] Representative Government
Individuals are elected to government to make decisions on their behalf. The elected representative can act as a delegate for the specific interests of their electors or act as a trustee
[FEATURES OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACY] Limited Government
The governments power is limited by the constitution and law, to ensure that it does not infringe on personal liberties or rights.
[FEATURES OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACY] Rule of Law
No one is above or outside the law, this includes those in government
[FEATURES OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACY] Responsible or Accountable government
The government should be transparent in its decision making process, and justify its choices to the public. The public should be able to criticise them.
[FEATURES OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACY] Separation of Powers
The powers of the state must be separated to ensure that one person or froup doesn’t have complete control or power.
- Legislative, Executive and Judicial
[FEATURES OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACY] Free, Frequent and Fair Elections
Elections should be held regularly, and an elector must not feel obligated or pressured to vote for any particular person or party. This is why a secret ballot must be employed to ensure this does not happen.
Aspects of Australian Democratic system
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT: The Australian people bite for members of parliament who then go on to form government
CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY: The head of the state is Queen Betty, but is represented by the Governor General
WESTMINSTER SYSTEM: Parlimentary system consisting of 2 houses and a Governor General
American Democratic System
- The people vote for the president, who then appoints a parliament and key ministers
- The head of America is the President
- 2 Houses of Parliament; House of reps and the senate
Reasons for involvement- Joining a Party
- Meet people with likeminded ideas
- Place to develop public speaking skills
- Voice opinions and suggest changes to the party
- Start a political career
Reasons for running for office
- Advance the aims and goals of the party
- Voice opinion to ministers and party members in areas of concern
- Advocate for the needs of your community p
- Develop a career path to a ministerial role
Reasons FOR compulsory voting
- Ensures everyone has a say and is participating
- Ensures that factors such as ‘wealth’ or ‘weather’ have less of an impact
- Limits the influence of powerful groups manipulating the system
Reasons AGAINST compulsory voting
- Forcing someone to vote who is political apathetic will only increase the likelihood of a ‘donkey vote’
- The people who were going to throw their vote away could be influenced by wealthy or powerful groups or people to vote for a particular party
- Infringes on the democratic right of freedom of apathy
How does Machiavelli describe a gods leader?
- Can make solid alliances
- Is able to mai actin a favourable public image
- Is willing to use immoral tactics to gain and hold onto their power
- Is able to grow and cultivate his followers
The types of Authority according to Max Weber
TRADITIONAL: Appeals to customs and past practices to rule. Acts as a father figure to his followers and demands loyalty. EG: Tony Abbott
LEGAL/RATIONAL: The reliance on laws and the processes of government to establish authority. EG: Julia G, Bill Shorten
CHARISMATIC: Relies on a persons personality and public image to gain respect from his followers. The leader must keep demonstrating his prowess or he may risk loosing followers. EG: Fidel Castro, Addie
Joseph Nye’s Types of power
HARD POWER: A coercive form of power that relies on the use of force to make people change their position.
SOFT POWER: Motivating and inspiring people to change their position, being nice and attracting them
Populist
Someone who exercises power and makes decisions that appear to be aimed at getting the support of the people.
EG: John Howard, Tony ‘Onion Eater’ Abbott
Dictatorial
A person who achieves leadership status, but does not consult wit others when making decisions
EG: Fidelio Castro, Saddam Hussien,
Max Weber line
Positive Coercion Negative Coercion
Charismatic Populist Dictatorial
Consultative Leadership
A leader’s ability to take into account lots of different ideas before making decisions
EG: JFK, Danny Andrews
Pragmatic Leader
A leader who is able to make decisions that have a realistic potential and practical foundation.
EG: Fraiser, Carter, Bush
Fundamentalist Leader
A leader who is able to strictly adheres to a iteration or narrow interpretation of a religious text and formulates laws and regulations that ensure its adherence.
EG: Khomeni, King Salman
Policy Making Line
HARD SOFT
Consultative Pragmatic Fundamentalist
Transformational Leader
One who empowers and motivates their followers p, and puts their collective self interests above his own
Transactional Leader
Appeals to the self interest of his followers through punishment, reward and self interest
Contextual intelligence
The ability to discern trends in the face of complexity and adaptability while trying to shape events
Agent of change
Leader who take it upon themselves to make things happen. Often seen as radical, can be both positive and negative, if the public do t accept or share the vision of the leader.
EG: JFK, Fiddle Castro
Agent of Continuity
Safest and most common method of leadership. The leaders maintain the current status quo, rather than change it
EG: John Howard
Resistor of change
Leaders that actively oppose inevitable social or political changes. Characterised by their stubbornness or unwillingness to move from their current situation.
EG: Anthony ‘Budgie Smuglers’ Abbott
What is an ideology.
A set of beliefs or attitudes towards politics
CAPITALISM
- created with Adam Smith’s ideas of a free market; one that has title or no government intervention
- based solely on competition among buyers and sellers, which determines the natural price of goods and services
- Hinges on 2 Main Principles
- Laissez Faire Economics
- The self interest of individuals to succeed - Had severe problems; 1929 stock market crash
- adopted by nearly every country in some form
POSITIVES - Rewards individual effort accordingly
- competition provides motivation
- private enterprise: you get what you’ve earned
NEGATIVES - Class system
- enforces inequality
- owners are able to exploit workers
- doesn’t protect the individual
Communism
- Social system whereby the means of production are distributed evenly amongst society as a whole
- Marx and Engels saw the way societies evolved:
- Primitive Communism
- Feudalism
- Capitalism
- So ci al is m
- C O M M U N I S M - Modern socialism cam to be during the industrial revolution where’d many factory workers were unhappy with their working conditions and pay
- involves: Abolishment of private property, a classless society, the equal rights of man woman and child.
POSITICES - Classless society
- no inequality
- no poverty
- no discrimination
NEGATIVES - Often devolves into dictatorship
- limits the individuals freedoms
- no competition and therefore a lack of efficiency and innovation
Separation of powers
When the judicial, executive and legislative branches of a government are split up into 3 independent bodies. This ensures that 1 person doesn’t have complete control over the entire government. This also ensures that they are able to keep others in check. Written into the American constitution
Formal vs Informal power
- FORMAL POWER comes from official positions held within an organisation, such as government. This type of power is acknowledged by the authority, and given to someone.
-INFORMAL POWER is when you have power, however that power is not seen as legitimate by the government or authority figures. This type of power is most often given by the people and used in coups or takeovers.
EG: Fiddle Castro taking over Cuba.
Socialism vs Communism
Socialism is a transitional stage between capitalism and communism. Much like communism it focuses on equality between and the abolishment of classes, but unlike communism it unequally divides resources and pay according to work done.
