final exam Flashcards
define prefect
a government official who is appointed to represent the federal government at a local level within a specific district
in what country(s) is the role of a prefect present?
France and Japan
what are the roles of a prefect?
- administration –> implementation of laws and policies
- law enforcement + public safety –> supervise law enforcement
- representing the central government –> act as the representative of the national government at a local level
- emergency response –> manage responses to emergency situations
- local governance –> collaborate with local officials to ensure cooperation between local and national authorities
- issuing administrative acts –> authorized to issue administrative acts (permits)
how are prefects appointed in France?
the prefect is appointed by the national government – the President appoints a prefect upon the proposal of the Council of Ministers (headed by the Prime Minister)
how long of a term does a prefect serve in France?
prefects do not serve fixed terms, they can be reassigned or replaced by the central government at any time
how many prefects are there in France?
101
define dirigisme
an economic policy approach that emphasizes government intervention and regulation of the economy
where is dirigisme used?
France and Japan
what are the key characteristics of dirigisme?
- significant state intervention
- centralized planning, the government takes the lead in setting priorities and allocating resources
- the state implements policies to promote specific industries
- subsidies, tariffs and state-owned entreprises are used to control and direct economic activities
what is the purpose of dirigisme?
- stimulate and stabilize the economy
- create employment opportunities
- prevent monopolies
- redistribute wealth and support welfare programs
- in times of economic crisis, dirigisme is used to stabilize the markets
what is the historical significance of dirigisme?
post WWll, several countries adopted dirigiste policies to rebuild and modernize their economies
define cohabitation
refers to a situation in which different political parties control different branches of government
in what type of government system is cohabitation most common?
in a presidential or semi-presidential system
what are the challenges of cohabitation?
the parties may have conflicting priorities which can make it difficult to pass or implement legislation
define neo-corporatism
an approach to socio-economic governance that promotes collaboration between the government, business associations and labor unions to foster negotiation and implement policies
economic tripartism
what is economic tripartism?
- a defining characteristic of neo-corporatism
- involves 3 main actors (the government, employers associations and labour unions) collaborating to negotiate
what countries use neo-corporatism?
Germany and Sweden
what is the purpose of neo-corporatism?
to emphasize the importance of negotiation, dialogue and consensus building
what is the historical significance of neo-corporatism?
emerged post-WWll, seeking to promote socio-economic dialogue and cooperation in an increasingly democratic context
define co-determination
a corporate governance system in which employees of a corporation can vote for representatives on its board of directors
what countries use co-determination?
Germany and Sweden
what is the historical context of co-determination?
post-WWll, there was a demand for social and economic reconstruction, leading to the establishment of formal co-determination policies
what is the importance of co-determination?
allows for employee representation
define cumul des mandates
the practice in which elected officials serve in more than one government position simultaneously
what country(s) use cumul des mandates?
France
what are the concerns about cumul des mandates?
- conflicts of interest
- diminished focus
- accumulation of power
- lack of accountability
what is a unitary state?
- power is concentrated in a single central government
- subnational entities exist, but their powers are granted and can be revoked by the central government
- laws and policies are generally uniform throughout the country
what is a centralized system?
refers to a government structure where power is concentrated in a single authority
describe authority delegation in the UK
- the UK Parliament has delegated some authority to its constituent countries (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), each of which as its own parliament or assembly with varying degrees of legislative power
- local governments have limited power over issues like local planing, education, housing, social services, waste management and local transportation
describe authority delegation in France
- France has attempted to decentralize by passing decentralization laws to give more autonomy to regions in areas such as urban planning, local economic development and social services
- local authorities have responsibilities related to cultural programs and historical preservation
- local authorities have limited power over education, health and social services
describe the governance structure of the UK
made up of 4 constituent countries at varying degrees of devolution
describe the governance structure of France
divided into regions, varying degrees of autonomy given to local entities
describe the legal system in the UK
different legal systems in Scotland and Northern Ireland, giving them a higher level of autonomy
describe the legal system in France
has a uniform legal system across the country
how has Germany’s 20th century history impacted its political institutions?
- implementation of laws and constitutional safeguards
- independent judicial branch
- implementation of democratic institutions
- Stasi documentation
- reunification
how has Germany’s 20th century history shaped its political culture?
- collective remembrance
- commitment to democracy and human rights
- international engagement
what is the political impact of the mafia?
- corruption + election rigging
- violence + intimidation
- legal reforms
- civil society movements
what is the economic impact of the mafia?
- control of industries
- illicit activities undermine legitimate businesses and distort market dynamics
- tax evasion + money laundering
- discouragement of outside investment
- impeding social progress
