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Comparative Politics > Final > Flashcards

Final Flashcards

1
Q

Political violence

A

violence outside of state control that is politically motivated

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2
Q

ideational

A

having to do with ideas

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3
Q

revolution

A

public seizure of the state in order to overturn the existing government and regime

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4
Q

coup d’etat

A

a move in which military forces take control of the government by force

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5
Q

relative deprivation

A

model that predicts revolution when public expectations outpace the rate of domestic change

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6
Q

terrorism

A

the use of violence by nonstate actors against civilians in order to achieve a political goal

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7
Q

state-sponsored terrorism

A

terrorism supported directly by a state as an instrument of foreign policy

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8
Q

guerilla war

A

a conflict whereby nonstate combatants who largely abide by the rules of war target the state

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9
Q

nihilism

A

a belief that all institutions and values are essentially meaningless and that the only redeeming value is violence

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10
Q

integration

A

a process by which states pool their sovereignty, surrendering some individual powers in order to gain shared political, economic, or societal benefits

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11
Q

advanced democracy

A

a country with institutionalized democracy and a high level of economic development

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12
Q

modern

A

characterized as secular, rational, materialistic, technological, and bureaucratic, and placing a greater emphasis on individual freedom than in the past

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13
Q

postmodern

A

characterized by a set of values that center on “quality of life” considerations and give less attention to material gain

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14
Q

intergovernmental system

A

a system in which two or more countries cooperate on issues

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15
Q

supranational system

A

an intergovernmental system with its own sovereign powers over member states

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16
Q

postindustrialism

A

the shift during the last half century from an economy based primarily on industry and manufacturing to one in which the majority of people are employed in the service sector, which produces the bulk of profits

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17
Q

service sector

A

work that does not involve creating tangible goods

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18
Q

communism

A

1) a political-economic system in which all wealth and property are shared so as to eliminate exploitation, oppression, and, ultimately, the need for political institutions such as the state; 2) a political ideology that advocates for such a system

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19
Q

base

A

the economic system of a society, made up of technology (the means of production) and class relations between people (the relations of production)

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20
Q

superstructure

A

all noneconomic institutions in a society (e.g., religion, culture, national identity); these ideas and values derive from the base and serve to legitimize the current system of exploitation

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21
Q

bourgeoisie

A

the property owning class

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22
Q

dialectical materialism

A

process of historical change that is not evolutionary but revolutionary; the existing base and superstructure (thesis) would come into conflict with new technological innovations, generating growing opposition to the existing order (antithesis) - this would culminate in revolution, overthrowing the old base and superstructure (synthesis)

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23
Q

proletariat

A

the working class

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24
Q

vanguard of the proletariat

A

Lenin’s argument that an elite communist party would have to carry out revolution, because as a result of false consciousness, historical conditions would not automatically lead to capitalism’s demise

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25
Q

nomenklatura

A

politically sensitive or influential jobs in the state, society, or economy that were staffed by people chosen or approved by the Communist Party

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26
Q

Politburo

A

the legislature-like body of a communist party

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27
Q

party-state

A

a political system in which power flows directly from the ruling political party (usually a communist party) to the state, bypassing government structures

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28
Q

central planning

A

a communist economic system in which the state explicitly allocates resources by planning what should be produced and in what amounts, the final prices of goods, and where they should be sold

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29
Q

glasnot

A

literally, openness; the policy of political liberalization in the Soviet Union in the late 1980s

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30
Q

perestroika

A

literally, restructuring; the policy of political and economic liberalization implemented in the Soviet Union in the late 1980s

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31
Q

shock therapy

A

a process of rapid marketization

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32
Q

Newly industrializing countries

A

a historically less-developed country that has experienced significant economic growth and democratization

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33
Q

less developed countries

A

a country that lacks significant economic development or political institutionalization or both

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34
Q

empire

A

a single political authority that has under its sovereignty a large number of external regions or territories and different peoples

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35
Q

imperialism

A

a system in which a state extends its power to directly control territory, resources, and people beyond its borders

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36
Q

colonialism

A

an imperialist system of physically occupying a foreign territory using military force, businesses, or settlers

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37
Q

neocolonialism

A

an indirect form of imperialism in which powerful countries overly influence the economies of less-developed countries

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38
Q

import substitution

A

a mercantilist strategy for economic growth in which a country restricts imports in order to spur demand for locally produced goods

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39
Q

export-oriented industrialization

A

a mercantilist strategy for economic growth in which a country seeks out technologies and develops industries focused specifically on the export market

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40
Q

structural adjustment programs

A

a policy of economic liberalization adopted in exchange for financial support from liberal international organizations; typically includes privatizing state-run firms, ending subsidies, reducing tariff barriers, shrinking the size of the state, and welcoming foreign investment

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41
Q

informal economy

A

a segment of the economy that is not regulated or taxed by the state

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42
Q

microcredit

A

a system in which small loans are channeled to the poor through borrowing groups whose members jointly take responsibility for repayment

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43
Q

microfinance

A

a loan system covering a broad spectrum, including credit, savings, insurance, and financial transfers

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44
Q

comparative politics

A

the study and comparison of domestic politics across countries

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45
Q

international relations

A

a field in political science which concentrates on relations between countries, such as foreign policy, war, trade, and foreign aid

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46
Q

institution

A

the humanly devised constraints that structure political, economic, and social interaction

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47
Q

politics

A

the struggle in any group for power that will give one or more persons the ability to make decisions for the larger group

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48
Q

power

A

the ability to influence others or impose one’s will on them

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49
Q

comparative method

A

the means by which social scientists make comparisons across cases

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50
Q

inductive reasoning

A

research that works from case studies in order to generate hypotheses

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51
Q

correlation

A

an apparent relationship between two or more variables

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52
Q

causal relationship

A

a connection between two entities that occurs because one produces, or brings about, the other with complete or great regularity

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53
Q

multicausality

A

when variables are interconnected and interact together to produce particular outcomes

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54
Q

area studies

A

a regional focus when studying political science, rather than studying parts of the world where similar variables are clustered

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55
Q

selection bias

A

a focus on effects rather than causes, which can lead to inaccurate conclusions about correlation or causation

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56
Q

endogeneity

A

the issue that cause and effect are not often clear, in that variables may be both cause and effect in relationship to one another

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57
Q

theory

A

a systematic, detailed means of explaining why a social phenomenon exists that recognizes the influence of a multitude of factors, is subject to change, and avoids moral arguments in favor of empirical arguments

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58
Q

modernization theory

A

a theory asserting that democracy can be expected as a consequence of the emergence of economic development, industrialization, education, and urbanization, all of which contribute to the emergence of a middle class

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59
Q

behavioral revolution

A

a movement within political science during the 1950s and 1960s to develop general theories about individual political behavior that could be applied across all countries

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60
Q

qualitative method

A

study through an in-depth investigation of a limited number of cases

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61
Q

quantitative method

A

study through statistical data from many cases

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62
Q

rational choice

A

approach that assumes that individuals weigh the costs and benefits and make choices to maximize their benefits

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63
Q

game theory

A

an approach that emphasizes how actors or organizations behave in their goal to influence others; build upon assumptions of rational choice

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64
Q

formal institutions

A

institutions usually based on officially sanctioned rules that are relatively clear

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65
Q

informal institutions

A

institutions with unwritten and unofficial rules

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66
Q

freedom

A

the ability of an individual to act independently, without fear of restriction or punishment by the state or other individuals or groups in society

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67
Q

equality

A

a shared material standard of individuals within a community, society, or country

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68
Q

state

A

the human community that successfully claims a monopoly of legitimate force over a given territory

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69
Q

sovereignty

A

the legal authority of a state to carry out actions or policies within a territory independently from external actors or internal rivals

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70
Q

regime

A

the fundamental rules and norms of politics, embodying long-term goals regarding individual freedom and collective equality, where power should reside, and the use of that power

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71
Q

government

A

the leadership or elite in charge of running the state

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72
Q

country

A

term used to refer to state, government, regime, and the people who live within that political system

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73
Q

legitimacy

A

a value whereby an institution is accepted by the public as right and proper, thus giving it authority and power

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74
Q

traditional legitimacy

A

legitimacy that accepts aspects of politics because they have been institutionalized over a long period of time

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75
Q

charismatic legitimacy

A

legitimacy built on the force of ideas embodied by an individual leader

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76
Q

rational-legal legitimacy

A

legitimacy based on a system of laws and procedures that are highly institutionalized

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77
Q

federalism

A

a system in which significant governing powers, such as taxation, lawmaking, and security, are divided between a national government and several subnational governments, each of which is legally supreme in its assigned sphere; the powers of each level of governance are usually specified in a federal constitution

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78
Q

asymmetric federalism

A

when power is divided unevenly between regional bodies; for example, some regions are given greater power over taxation or language rights than others

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79
Q

unitary state

A

a state in which most political power exists at the national level, with limited local authority

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80
Q

devolution

A

a process in which political power is “sent down” to lower levels of state and govenment

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81
Q

strong state

A

a state that is able to fulfill basic tasks, such as defending territory, making and enforcing rules, collecting taxes, and managing the economy

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82
Q

weak state

A

a state that has difficulty fulfilling basic tasks, such as defending territory, making and enforcing rules, collecting taxes, and managing the economy

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83
Q

failed state

A

a state so weak that its political structures collapse, leading to anarchy and violence

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84
Q

capacity

A

the ability of the state to wield power to carry out basic tasks, such as defending territory, making and enforcing rules, collecting taxes, and managing the economy

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85
Q

autonomy

A

the ability of the state to wield its power independently of the public, external actors or internal rivals

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86
Q

society

A

complex human organization, a collection of people bound by shared institutions that define how human relations should be conducted

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87
Q

ethnic identity

A

specific attributes and societal institutions that make one group of people culturally different from others

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88
Q

nation

A

a group that desires self-government through an independent state

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89
Q

national identity

A

a sense of belonging to a nation and a belief in its political aspirations

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90
Q

nationalism

A

pride in one’s people and the belief that they have a unique political destiny

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91
Q

citizenship

A

an individual’s relationship to the state, wherein citizens swear allegiance to that state and the state in return is obligated to provide rights to those citizens

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92
Q

patriotism

A

pride in one’s state

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93
Q

nation-state

A

a state encompassing one dominant nation that it claims to embody and represent

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94
Q

ethnic conflict

A

a conflict in which different ethnic groups struggle to achieve certain political or economic goals at each other’s expense

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95
Q

national conflict

A

a conflict in which one or more groups within a country develop clear aspirations for political independence, clashing with others as a result

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96
Q

political attitudes

A

description of one’s views regarding the speed and methods with which political changes should take place in a given society

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97
Q

radicals

A

those with a political attitude that favors dramatic, often revolutionary change

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98
Q

conservatives

A

those with a political attitude that is skeptical of change and supports the current order

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99
Q

reactionary

A

someone who seeks to restore the institutions of a real or imagined earlier order

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100
Q

political ideology

A

the basic values held by an individual about the fundamental goals of politics or the ideal balance of freedom and equality

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101
Q

liberalism

A

1) a political attitude that favors evolutionary transformation; 2) an ideology and political system that favors a limited state role in society and the economy, and places a high priority on individual political and economic freedom

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102
Q

social democracy

A

1) a political-economic system in which freedom and equality are balanced through the state’s management of the economy and the provision of social expenditures; 2) a political ideology that advocates such a system

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103
Q

fascism

A

a political ideology that asserts the superiority and inferiority of different groups of people and stresses a low degree of both freedom and equality in order to achieve a powerful state

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104
Q

anarchism

A

a political ideology that stresses the elimination of the state and private property as a way to achieve both freedom and equality for all

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105
Q

fundamentalism

A

a view of religion as absolute and inerrant that should be legally enforced by making faith the sovereign authority

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106
Q

culture

A

a complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by humans as members of society

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107
Q

political culture

A

set of attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments that provide basic assumptions and rules that govern political behavior

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108
Q

political economy

A

the study of the interaction between states and markets

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109
Q

market

A

the interaction between the forces of supply and demand that allocates resources

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110
Q

property

A

goods or services that are owned by an individual or group, privately or publicly

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111
Q

public goods

A

goods, provided or secured by the state, available to society and which no private person or organization can own

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112
Q

social expenditures

A

state provision of public benefits, such as education, health care, and transportation

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113
Q

gross domestic product

A

the total market value of all goods and services produced by a country over a period of one year

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114
Q

central bank

A

the state institution that controls how much money is flowing through the economy, as well as how much it costs to borrow money in that economy

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115
Q

inflation

A

an outstripping of supply by demand, resulting in an increase in the general price level of goods and services and the resulting loss of value in a country’s currency

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116
Q

hyperinflation

A

inflation of more than 50 percent a month for more than two months in row

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117
Q

deflation

A

a period of falling prices and values for goods, services, investments, and wages

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118
Q

regulation

A

a rule or order that sets the boundaries of a given procedure

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119
Q

monopoly

A

a single producer that is able to dominate the market for a good or service without effective competition

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120
Q

tariff

A

a tax on imported goods

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121
Q

quota

A

a nontariff barrier that limits the quantity of a good that may be imported into a country

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122
Q

nontariff regulatory barriers

A

policies and regulations used to limit imports through methods other than taxation

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123
Q

comparative advantage

A

the ability of one country to produce a particular good or service more efficiently relative to other countries’ efficiency in producing the same good or service

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124
Q

political-economic system

A

the relationship between political and economic institutions in a particular country and the policies and outcomes they create

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125
Q

laissez-faire

A

the principle that the economy should be “allowed to do” what it wishes; a liberal system of minimal state interference in the economy

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126
Q

capitalism

A

a system of production based on private property and free markets

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127
Q

neocorporatism

A

a system of social democratic policy making in which a limited number of organizations representing business and labor work with the state to set economic policy

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128
Q

mercantilism

A

a political-economic system in which national economic power is paramount and the domestic economy is viewed as an instrument that exists primarily to serve the needs of the state

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129
Q

parastatal

A

industry partially owned by the state

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130
Q

purchasing power parity

A

a statistical tool that attempts to estimate the buying power of income across different countries by using prices in the U.S. as a benchmark

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131
Q

Gini index

A

a statistical formula that measures the amount of inequality in a society; its scale ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 corresponds to perfect equality and 100 to perfect inequality

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132
Q

human development index (HDI)

A

a statistical tool that attempts to evaluate the overall wealth, health, and knowledge of a country’s people

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133
Q

economic liberalization

A

changes consistent with liberalism that aim to limit the power of the state and increase the power of the market and private property in an economy

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134
Q

democracy

A

a political system in which political is exercised either directly or indirectly by the people

135
Q

liberal democracy

A

a political system that promotes participation, competition, and liberty and emphasizes individual freedom and civil rights

136
Q

republicanism

A

indirect democracy that emphasizes the separation of powers within a state and the representation of the public through elected officials

137
Q

separation of powers

A

the clear division of power between different branches of government and the provision that specific branches may check the power of other branches

138
Q

direct democracy

A

democracy that allows the public to participate directly in government decision-making

139
Q

indirect democracy

A

democracy in which representatives of the public are responsible for government decision-making

140
Q

civil society

A

organizations outside of the state that help people define and advance their own interests

141
Q

executive

A

the branch of government that carries out the laws and policies of a state

142
Q

head of state

A

the executive role that symbolizes and represents the people both nationally and internationally

143
Q

head of government

A

the executive role that deals with the everyday tasks of running the state, such as formulating and executing policy

144
Q

legislature

A

the branch of government charged with making laws

145
Q

bicameral system

A

a political system in which the legislature comprises two houses

146
Q

unicameral system

A

a political system in which the legislature comprises one house

147
Q

rule of law

A

a system in which all individuals and groups, including those in government, are subject to the law, irrespective of their power or authority

148
Q

constitutional court

A

the highest judicial body in a political system that decides whether laws and policies violate the constitution

149
Q

judicial review

A

the mechanism by which courts can review the actions of government and overturn those that violate the constitution

150
Q

concrete review

A

judicial review that allows the constitutional court to rule on the basis of actual legal disputes brought before it

151
Q

abstract reveiw

A

judicial review that allows the constitutional court to rule on questions that do not arise from actual legal disputes

152
Q

parliamentary system

A

a political system in which the roles of head of state and head of government are assigned to separate executive offices

153
Q

vote of no confidence

A

vote taken by a legislature as to whether its members continue to support the current prime minister; depending on the country, a vote of no confidence can force the resignation of the prime minister and/or lead to new parliamentary elections

154
Q

presidential system

A

a political system in which the roles of head of state and head of government are combined in one executive office

155
Q

semi-presidential system

A

an executive system that divides power between two strong executives, president and a prime minister

156
Q

electoral system

A

a set of rules that decide how votes are cast, counted, and translated into seats in a legislature

157
Q

constituency

A

a geographical area that an elected official represents

158
Q

single-member district

A

an electoral district with one seat

159
Q

proportional representation

A

an electoral system in which political parties compete in multimember districts, voters choose between parties, and the seats in the district are awarded proportionally according to the results of the vote

160
Q

first past the post

A

an electoral system in which individual candidates compete in single member districts; voters choose between candidates, and the candidate with the largest share of the vote wins the seat

161
Q

multi-member district

A

an electoral with more than one seat

162
Q

mixed system

A

an electoral system that uses a combination of single-member districts and proportional representation

163
Q

referendum

A

a national vote called by a government to address a specific proposal, often a change to the constitution

164
Q

initiative

A

a national vote called by members of the public to address a specific proposal

165
Q

civil rights

A

individual rights regarding equality that are created by the constitution and the political regime

166
Q

civil liberties

A

individual rights regarding freedom that are created by the constitution and the political regime

167
Q

authoritarianism

A

a political system in which a small group of individuals exercises power over the state without being constitutionally responsible to the public

168
Q

nondemocratic regimes

A

a political regime that is controlled by a small group of individuals who exercise power over the state without being constitutionally responsible to the public

169
Q

totalitarianism

A

a nondemocratic regime that is highly centralized, possessing some form of strong ideology that seeks to transform and absorb fundamental aspects of state, society, and the economy, using a wide array of institutions

170
Q

populism

A

a political view that does not have a consistent ideological foundation, but that emphasizes hostility toward elites and established state and economic institutions and favors greater power in the hands of the public

171
Q

coercion

A

compelling behavior by threatening harm

172
Q

co-optation

A

the process by which individuals are brought into a beneficial relationship with the state, making them dependent on the state for certain rewards

173
Q

corporatism

A

a method of co-optation whereby authoritarian systems create or sanction a limited number of organizations to represent the interests of the public and restrict those not set up or approved by the state

174
Q

clientelism

A

a process by which the state co-opts members of the public by providing specific benefits or favors to single person or small group in return for public support

175
Q

rent seeking

A

a process in which political leaders essentially rent out parts of the state to their patrons, who as a result control public goods that would otherwise be distributed in a nonpolitical manner

176
Q

kleptocracy

A

“rule by theft,” where those in power seek only to drain the state of assets and resources

177
Q

personal/monarchical rule

A

rule by a single leader, with no clear regime or rules constraining that leadership

178
Q

personality cult

A

promotion of the image of an authoritarian leader not merely as a political figure but as someone who embodies the spirit of the nation and possesses endowments of wisdom and strength far beyond those of the average individual and is thus portrayed in a quasi-religious manner

179
Q

patrimonialism

A

an arrangement whereby a ruler depends on a collection of supporters within the state who gain direct benefits in return for enforcing the ruler’s will

180
Q

bureaucratic authoritarianism

A

a system in which the state bureaucracy and the military share a belief that a technocratic leadership, focused on rational, objective, and technical expertise, can solve the problems of the country without public participation

181
Q

theocracy

A

a nondemocratic form of rule where religion is the foundation for the regime

182
Q

illiberal or hybrid regime

A

rule by an elected leadership through procedures of questionable democratic legitimacy

183
Q

empirical

A

analysis drawn from observations of the world

184
Q

normative

A

analysis concerned with specifying which sort of practice or institution is morally and ethically justified

185
Q

operationalization

A

the process through which we take our basic concepts and render them measurable

186
Q

evidence

A

information that has implication for a theory or hypothesis

187
Q

level of analysis

A

the level (e.g., individual, organizational, societal) at which observations are made , or at which causal processes operate

188
Q

case

A

in comparative analysis, a unit or example of a phenomenon to be studied

189
Q

variable

A

an element or factor that is liable to change, or vary, from case to case

190
Q

outcome

A

typically used as a synonym for “effect;” something that is produced or changed in any social or political process

191
Q

dependent variable

A

in hypothesis testing, the effect or outcome that we expect to be acted on (or have its value altered) by the independent variable

192
Q

independent variable

A

in hypothesis testing, the variable that we expected to “act on” or change the value of the dependent variable

193
Q

variation

A

difference between cases in any given study of comparative politics

194
Q

most-similar-systems

A

a research design in which we compare cases that are similar with respect to a number of factors but with distinct outcomes

195
Q

most-different-systems

A

a research design in which we compare cases that differ with respect to multiple factors but in which the outcomes is the same

196
Q

comparative checking

A

the process of testing the conclusions from a set of comparisons against additional cases or evidence

197
Q

generalizability

A

the quality that a given theory, hypothesis, or finding has of being applicable to a wide number of cases

198
Q

within-case comparison

A

the comparative analysis of variation that takes place over time or in distinct parts of a single case

199
Q

hypothesis

A

a specific prediction, derived from a theory or model, that can be tested against empirical evidence

200
Q

deductive reasoning

A

the process of moving from general claims or theories to specific observations or predictions about a phenomenon or set of cases

201
Q

deviant case

A

a case that does not fit the pattern predicted by a given theory or model

202
Q

inductive reasoning

A

the process of moving from a specific observation to more general claims

203
Q

thesis

A

a statement for which one argues on the basis of evidence

204
Q

qualititative

A

a form of analysis that aims to discern relationships between events of phenomena as described in narrative form, such as an account of an historical process

205
Q

quantitative

A

a form of analysis that aims for the mathematical discernment of relationships between variables, typically involving a large number of empirical observations

206
Q

inference

A

the process through which we aim to test observable implications (often about cause and effect) of any given theory

207
Q

causation

A

when one thing can be shown to cause another

208
Q

falsifiablity

A

the testability of a model or hypothesis; a good hypothesis could be logically demonstrated to be false by evidence

209
Q

empirical critique

A

an effort to point to important evidence that does not support a conventional version of any theory or model

210
Q

theoretical critique

A

an effort to show that a given theory or model has logical limitations

211
Q

scope conditions

A

the conditions or range of cases for which an argument works

212
Q

indicator

A

an element or feature that indicates the presence of an underlying factor; an observed value of a variable; a sign that a concept is present or absent in a particular case

213
Q

measurement error

A

either an episodic error, such as improperly recording data, or a systematic error, meaning that a measurement does not fully reflect what it is designed to measure

214
Q

measurement bias

A

a measure is biased if it will not produce comparable results for all observations

215
Q

measurement validity

A

whether a given measurement effectively captures or represents the concept we are researching

216
Q

model

A

a simplified picture of a part of the real world; a set of interrelated guesses about the processes that led to outcomes in the real world

217
Q

truth

A

a criterion for assessing a causal model’s accuracy

218
Q

circular model

A

a model that is not testable

219
Q

critical experiments

A

a method of comparing alternative models by finding a question for which they give different answers

220
Q

simplicity

A

a causal model that has a small number of assumptions is more attractive than one having a large number of assumptions

221
Q

fertility

A

a causal model that produces a relatively large number of interesting predictions per assumption

222
Q

justice

A

a criterion for assessing a model’s likely implications for the world

223
Q

beauty

A

a model that is simple, fertile and/or surprising

224
Q

dictator’s dilemma

A

when a dictator relies on repression to stay in power, but this repression creates incentives for everyone to falsify their preferences so that the dictator never know his true level of societal support

225
Q

pacting

A

a mode of regime transition when elites agree upon a multilateral compromise among themselves to bring about the transition; requires elite-dominance in transition and perceived balance of power between government and opposition

226
Q

resource trap

A

theory of development in which the existence of natural resources in a given state is a barrier to modernization and democracy

227
Q

technocracy

A

rule by technical experts

228
Q

globalization

A

the process of expanding and intensifying linkages between states, societies, and economies

229
Q

Which of the following would NOT be an example of political violence?

A

crime

230
Q

Terrorism - both domestic and transnational - may be most common in which type of countries?

A

illiberal or transitioning states

231
Q

Which of the following is NOT true of Al Queda, the National Alliance, Aum Shinrikyo?

A

all three operate in poor countries, demonstrating the link between religious terrorism and low economic development

232
Q

One common feature of religiously based political violence is

A

hostility to modernity

233
Q

The main difference between terrorism and guerrilla warfare is that guerrilla warfare

A

targets state actors; terrorism targets civilians

234
Q

According to the text, terrorism is the use of political violence by nonstate actors against ____ in order to achieve a political goal

A

civilians

235
Q

Some scholars argue that revolutions occur when the public’s expectations do not match the realities of their current conditions. This is called

A

the relative deprivation theory

236
Q

Political violence is defined as violence that is politically motivated and

A

outside of state control

237
Q

Which of the following is NOT true about revolutions?

A

They include secessionist movements.

238
Q

Some scholars argue that, despite the particular idea they base it on, terrorists tend to believe that all institutions and values are meaningless. This is known as

A

nihilism

239
Q

What factors help explain why the Arab Spring emerged?

A

Individual action by Mohamed Bouazizi tapped into common frustrations in the region: the desire for dignity and change

240
Q

Which of the following would NOT be an example of an individual explanation for political violence?

A

People who belong to an extreme nationalist organization may be taught that violence is necessary to achieve their goals

241
Q

Terrorism has

A

affected economies and politics, often weakening these institutions

242
Q

Which of the following is NOT a typical outcome of revolutions?

A

maintenance of the status quo

243
Q

Which of the following is true about terrorists?

A

They are often driven by feelings of injustice coupled with alienation or humiliation

244
Q

Some scholars argue that democratic regimes are able to reduce the threat of terrorism because of

A

greater political participation

245
Q

Which of the following is NOT a connection between terrorism and revolution?

A

They can be undermined by negotiations, as both terrorist groups and revolutionary movements merely desire a seat at the negotiating table

246
Q

In comparing the institutional, ideational, and individual explanations for political violence, which of the following is true?

A

These three factors are often interconnected, and they often work in conjunction with each other

247
Q

An example of an institutional explanation for political violence would be that

A

electoral and executive systems (like presidentialism) reduce power sharing and block other forms of political expression.

248
Q

Theda Skocpol argued that international competition with rival states leads weaker states to seek reform, but these reforms destabilize elite power and sow discord in the public. This explanation would be an example of

A

institutional theory

249
Q

Most advanced democracies are postindustrial, meaning their economies are based on

A

the service sector and high-tech industries

250
Q

One example of postmodern value is

A

diversity

251
Q

While all advanced democracies are economically prosperous, they differ significantly on

A

the degree of inequality (measured by the Gini index) and income redistribution

252
Q

The welfare state is becoming more expensive for advanced democracies, a trend magnified by what challenge?

A

Life expectancy is growing and the birth rate is falling.

253
Q

While many advanced democracies pride themselves on postmodern values like tolerance and diversity, a major challenge that has sparked a backlash against these values is increased

A

immigration

254
Q

Advanced democracies vary in how they regulate abortion. This would best be an example of how they differ in

A

defining liberty

255
Q

Which of the following is NOT one of the European Union’s state-like institutions?

A

the European Court of Human Rights

256
Q

Among the different goals of the euro, which one has been the most successful?

A

It rivals the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency.

257
Q

Because its state-like institutions have gained considerable power over time, people now describe the European Union as:

A

a supranational system

258
Q

The main reason behind Greece’s current economic problem is

A

clientelism and an extensive civil service

259
Q

Which of the following is true regarding the countries that we consider advanced democracies?

A

As a category, they have grown remarkably more diverse over the past decade.

260
Q

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic that defines an advanced democracy?

A

a high level of taxation

261
Q

Advanced democracies are considered modern. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a modern country?

A

community focused

262
Q

The best way to describe the evolution of the European Union is that it

A

developed incrementally but is now radically different from its early days

263
Q

The EU challenges national sovereignty and has led to increased economic and political connection, making it one of the best-known examples of

A

integration

264
Q

Political scientists critique the “three worlds” approach to classifying countries because

A

many countries do not neatly fit into these categories

265
Q

Which of the following would NOT be an example of devolution?

A

the European Union’s establishment of the euro

266
Q

While all advanced democracies are characterized by their sovereignty, in recent years we have seen a tendency toward

A

greater integration between countries and devolution within countries

267
Q

The main reason that Sweden, Denmark, and the UK have refused to join the monetary union is because they feel that

A

it is a threat to state sovereignty

268
Q

Which of the following has NOT been a benefit of the welfare state?

A

increased national defense and security

269
Q

Lenin led a communist revolution in Russia in 1917; he changed Marx’s original theory by

A

arguing that revolution would occur not in most developed societies, but rather in less advanced countries

270
Q

Regarding societal changes, which of the following identities has NOT resurfaced or changed in the postcommunist era?

A

urbanism

271
Q

In communist countries, the top policy-making and executive body of the party was the

A

politburo

272
Q

Marx was highly critical of __, which he argued was used to exploit people and legitimize inequality.

A

religion

273
Q

Marx believed that tensions between classes would lead to ___, eventually moving society to a communist utopia.

A

revolutions

274
Q

Communist political economics relied on central planning with often little care to individual well-being. Which of the following was NOT a problem stemming from these policies?

A

Societies reduced their industrial output in favor of more agricultural production.

275
Q

Communist parties used co-optation to maintain control. This can be seen most clearly in the nomenklatura, which involved

A

staffing jobs in the state, government, and society with people approved by the party.

276
Q

For Marx, the system of government that would emerge in the communist utopia would be

A

a stateless anarchy

277
Q

Marx and most other communists rejected liberal democracy because they said that

A

it deluded the people into thinking they had a say in politics when, in fact, the wealthy had control.

278
Q

With regard to their economic transitions, postcommunist countries had to

A

establish private property and free markets.

279
Q

In China, Mao broke with Marxism and Leninism by

A

focusing on the peasantry instead of the working class

280
Q

For Marxists, the name for all the noneconomic institutions in society (e.g., religion, national identity, culture) is the

A

superstructure

281
Q

From 1989 to 1991, mass protests emerged across the communist world, toppling governments and leading to regime change. The one country where these mass movements failed was

A

China

282
Q

__ was weak under communism, so establishing it was a significant democratic challenge for postcommunist countries.

A

The rule of law

283
Q

While Marx argued that differences in __ would disappear, during the communist experience, they actually increased.

A

ethnicity and nationalism

284
Q

During the 1980s, __ was one of Gorbachev’s major reform policies, which encouraged public debate and criticism of the government; it literally means “openness”.

A

glasnot

285
Q

The transition toward democracy has been more successful in Eastern Europe than in the former Soviet Union, partly because Eastern European countries

A

adopted parliamentary systems, whereas the former Soviet Union favored strong presidencies.

286
Q

Which of the following best describes Marx’s views on gender relations?

A

Men exploit women through the family structure, and in the communist utopia, the institution of marriage would disappear.

287
Q

Communism is an ideology that seeks to create human equality by eliminating

A

private property and market forces.

288
Q

A number of factors made some countries more successful than others in their economic transitions. Which of the following is NOT a factor that has increased the success of these transitions?

A

a greater history of religious activism

289
Q

European imperialism was driven primarily by

A

economic and religious motives

290
Q

One of the first major effects of imperialism was the transfer of ___ to the rest of the world.

A

the state

291
Q

To establish state power and authority, European colonizers made the following changes to their colonial territories except

A

establishing democratic institutions

292
Q

The main difference between colonialism and imperialism is that colonialism

A

involves a greater degree of physical occupation of a foreign territory using military force, businesses, or settlers.

293
Q

Despite their differences, a common feature shared by many newly industrializing and less-developed countries is

A

a history of imperialism and colonialism

294
Q

The main difference between colonialism and imperialism is that colonialism

A

involves a greater degree of physical occupation of a foreign territory using military force, businesses, or settlers.

295
Q

Despite their differences, a common feature shared by many newly industrializing and less-developed countries is

A

a history of imperialism and colonialism

296
Q

The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are associated with structural adjustment programs. Which of the following is NOT a policy traditionally promoted by these organizations?

A

centralizing and nationalizing industry

297
Q

Which of the following is NOT a common feature of less-developed countries?

A

political institutionalization

298
Q

Which of the following was NOT a consequence of imperial economics?

A

a growth in local entrepreneurs

299
Q

The best way to describe the impact imperialism had on gender identities was that

A

each region and each imperial power viewed gender somewhat differently.

300
Q

Used by some newly industrializing and less-developed countries, ___ focuses on creating goods that can be sold to other countries.

A

export-oriented industrialization

301
Q

Modern imperialism began when technological advancement allowed countries to project their military power far overseas. Which of the following countries possessed this capability but chose instead to retreat from overseas travel?

A

China

302
Q

Why do many newly industrializing and less-developed countries face a significant challenge in creating cohesive national identities?

A

In these societies, the ethnic groups given economic advantage by the empire often continue to hold economic power after independence.

303
Q

The system of small-scale loans given to local people to help them start and sustain businesses is called

A

microcredit

304
Q

Among former “third world” countries, some, like Brazil or South Korea, have experienced significant economic growth and democratization in the past 50 years. These are known as the

A

newly industrializing countries.

305
Q

Which of the following is true regarding import substitution?

A

Patents and intellectual property rights are weakened to tap into foreign innovation.

306
Q

With regard to development, what does the idea of “shared sovereignty” refer to?

A

an arrangement in which international organizations play a more direct role in building and maintaining political institutions

307
Q

Many less-developed countries lack state capacity, a trend that can often be traced back to the early days of independence, because after independence

A

most imperial bureaucrats left, leaving few experienced bureaucrats in these countries.

308
Q

Empires functioned using which political-economic system?

A

mercantilism

309
Q

Lichbach and Zuckerman, 1997

A

The reading argues that all of the three main comparativist ideologies, rationalism, culturalism, and structuralism, seek to understand important events of both the past and present by employing and applying unique modes of comparison.

310
Q

Lerner and Pevsner, 1957

A

This reading argues that the people of Balgat would desire more than life inside their small village if they are exposed to the world outside of Balgat.

311
Q

Weber, 1918

A

The reading suggests that modernization has led to the expropriation of political organization from numerous individual lords to the state, leading to states becoming more bureaucratic, with the political power residing with one body and staff being delegated jobs that keep them dependent upon the state.

312
Q

Rotberg, 2002

A

The reading argues that a nation-state fails when it is unable to provide adequate goods or services to its people due to bad leaders or groups in the state, removing the legitimacy of its government and causing a power vacuum that can be filled by unsanctioned violence and corruption.

313
Q

Herbst, 1990

A

The reading argues that Africa has not seen the political organization and state development that Europe experienced because it has not had significant interstate war to cause a more efficient tax system and a national identity to develop.

314
Q

Posner, 2004

A

“I argue that the political salience of a cultural cleavage will depend on the sizes of the groups that it defines relative to the size of the arena in which political competition is talking place.”

315
Q

Fearon and Laitin, 2003

A

This reading argues that civil war cannot be predicted by ethnic or religious differences, but by how favorable conditions in a state are for insurgency.

316
Q

Acemoglu, 2003

A

The reading argues that while geographic conditions in an economically underdeveloped country may contribute to its lagging economy, bad institutions are actually the cause of the lack of economic development.

317
Q

Krugman, 1994

A

This reading argues that rapid Asian economic growth can be accounted for, like the growth seen in the Soviet Union in the 1950s, due to growth inputs such as labor and capital, instead of gains made in efficiency, thus Asian economic growth is not sustainable.

318
Q

Schmitter and Karl, 1991

A

This reading argues that democracy is a regime in which people placed in authority are held accountable by citizens, often indirectly through their elected representatives, but democracy is not necessarily more efficient economically and administratively, more orderly and governable, or economically free, often because of the ability of citizens to hold their leaders accountable.

319
Q

Ansell and Samuels, 2014

A

This reading argues that democracy emerges when economically up-and-coming groups act to limit the power of the elite, which is particularly likely during times of high economic inequality that has created fragmentation among the elite.

320
Q

Berman, 1997

A

This reading argues that civil society is neutral in the promotion or downfall of democracy, but, rather, the strength of political institutionalization determines the success of democratization.

321
Q

Linz and Stepan, 1996

A

This reading argues that solely using democracy, totalitarianism, and authoritarianism to classify regimes is too limiting, and the addition of post-totalitarianism and sultanism as classifications would help further the study of how prior regime type affects democratic transition.

322
Q

Levitsky and Way, 2002

A

This reading argues that competitive authoritarianism’s distinct mix of democratic institutions and norms mixed with authoritarian leadership that are often widely ignored has a significant historical basis in each state that is impactful for its economy, human rights, and chances of democracy.

323
Q

King, Pan, and Roberts, 2013

A

This reading argues that the Chinese government censors internet posts based not on how critical it is of the government, but how likely the post is to incite collective action.

324
Q

Crenshaw, 1981

A

This reading argues that there are three factors that need to be studied to identify the cause of terrorism: the circumstances for terrorism, the logic for terrorism, and the personal motivation for terrorism.

325
Q

Abrahms, 2008

A

This reading argues that the goal of terrorists isn’t to achieve a political goal, but, instead, to form a community and gain social acceptance from a group.

326
Q

Skocpol, 1976

A

This reading argues that social revolutions occur due to the inability for central administrations and the military to function acceptably, large peasant uprisings, and ostracized elites instituting political change.

327
Q

Kuran, 1991

A

This reading argues that the Eastern European Revolution that marked the end of the Cold War was not expected or guaranteed, but what was ensured was that the revolution would catch everyone off guard.

328
Q

Diamond, 2008

A

This reading argues that while Africa has seen significant movement toward democratization in order to further that progress and keep it from regressing, it will require taking measures that ensure good governance.

329
Q

Marx and Engels, 1978

A

This reading argues that Europe was on the verge of an uprising of the proletariat to overthrow the bourgeoisie’s system of oppression of the working class to institute a system of no private property, with the state controlling industry, banking, communication, and transportation.

330
Q

Darden and Grzymala-Busse, 2006

A

This reading argues that countries voted out communist-affiliated parties at higher rates of pre-communist schooling that would have established a pre-Soviet Union national identity, creating an environment more hostile to communism.

331
Q

Hale, 2016

A

This reading argues that Eurasia has not democratized due to its presidential system that is highly patronalist.

332
Q

Evans and Popova, 2014

A

This reading argues that the argument that the argument that cash transfers should not be used in developing countries because the excess money will be spent on alcohol and tobacco cannot be supported.

333
Q

Inglehart, 2008

A

This reading argues that people hold post-materialist values when they are raised in a period of relative security and prosperity and hold materialist values when raised in times of uncertainty, and those values don’t change for people over time as they age.

334
Q

Rodrik, 2011

A

This reading argues that global governance is not realistic due to logistical concerns, as well as, ultimately, a lack of desire among people around the world.

Comparative Politics (3 decks)

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