Final Flashcards
What are the different systems of government?
Unitary, Federal, Confederal
Unitary Government System
hierarchical organization with central government at top
how is power divided in a unitary system?
through devolution
delegates certain responsibilities to lower levels of gov’t
Federal Government System
two levels of government; federal and provincial
how is power split in the federal system?
responsibilities divided between federal and provincial levels
constitutional changes need to be approved by both gov’t to pass
concument
certain responsibilities in a federal system that both federal and provincial gov’t are responsible for
eg management of transportation and infrastructure
two types of federal goverment
centralized: when there is a very strong central government
decentralized: when there are very strong provincial governments
benefits of the unitary system
everyone works toward common good
national unity because there is more of a focus on national issues
easy to have central government held accountable for actions
same level of government services in all regions
efficient
benefits of the federal system
provincial/state gov’t sensitive to needs of population
able to cover more ppl in rural places, geographically concentrated minorities
check for abuse of power
easier to participate in policy-making processes
greater recognitions of cultural diversity
limits concentration of gov’t
disadvantages of federal gov’t
suited to interests of geographically dispersed minorities
conflicts between different levels of government; harder agree on things and get shit done
promotes parochialism, weakens national identity
confederal system
sovereign states agreeing to delegate some of their authority while maintaining their sovereignty
institutions only have the powers given to them by the gov’t
example of confederal system
European Union
key features of confederal system
free movement of people, goods, services, capital
common currency throughout
democratic consolidation
all interest groups understand that democratic means is the best method for power
everyone understands and accepts new rules
cannot veto the actions of democratically elected decision makers
why reach democracy?
gives freedom, creates civil society
closely related to development
people are more integrated into society
what are the concepts of human development?
literacy rates
mortality rates
economic growth
conceptualizing democracy
- focus on source of authority -> PEOPLE are the authority. rule of people, power from within
- output of government
what is gov’t doing?
what can it do better? - procedures for constituting the government
5 differences between democratic and non-democratic gov’t
- cannot reliably by controlled by citizens; no accountability
- restrict citizen’s participation in politics
- limit pluralism, only allow organizations aligned with regime
- justice is politicized and partial
- info is limited and censored
3 goals of development
- satisfy the basic needs of everyone (food, housing, water, education, health care, employment)
- more diversified and sophisticated economy
- environmentally sustainable development
challenges in developing countries
- social stability
- health and social care
- public education
- civil rights and equality
- rule of law; equal and open to all
- restrain the use of force on citizens
- having military in politics
- territorial integrity; borders secure? accepted?
modernization theory
poor countries have to change traditional values
copy developed countries
dependency theory
underdevelopment is a result of power imbalance between countries
political socialization
process which values, beliefs, political cultures are transmitted to members of a country
agents of socialization
family, friends, media, education, peers, religion, workplace, state actots
