First Midterm POLI 201 Introduction to Government and Politics

Question 1

What is Politics

Answer 1

who gets what when and how Harold Lasswell 1936
allocation of scarce resources like land, money and energy.
conflict

Question 2

Politics as Defined by Karl Marx

Answer 2

the organized power of one class for oppressing another. 
to eliminate the basis for classes is to eliminate the need for politics.

Question 3

Politics as Defined by Francis Fukyama

Answer 3

end of history thesis

liberal democracy or democratic triumph that puts an end to all ideological conflict.

Question 4

Aristotle’s Classification Scheme

Answer 4

a judgment of the degree to which it ruled in the interests of all as opposed to the interests of some small section of the population.

Question 5

Good Forms of Aristotle’s Classification

Answer 5

1 RULER: monarchy
FEW RULERS: Aristocracy (best people in power) most preferred by Aristotle
MANY RULERS: Polity

Question 6

Corrupt Forms of Aristotle’s Classification

Answer 6

1 RULER: Tyranny
FEW RULERS: Oligarchy
MANY RULERS: Democracy (mob)

Question 7

Meritocracy

Answer 7

rule by the people who are the ‘best rulers’

most education and best in their field

Question 8

Power

Answer 8

the ability to force behavior upon those who would not otherwise choose it; implies coercion. possession of violence.
unstable
force

Question 9

Authority

Answer 9

associated with legitimacy. Has the consent of the ruled.
Agreement; Consent
power in to authority is the goal of most regimes - through the law, constitution
People must believe in the law to uphold the authority

Question 10

Plato’s Cave

Answer 10

Republic: what the state ought to be like. What does the good life look like.
Fictional conversation between Socrates and Glaucon
Argues that rulers must go back
The role of leaders to liberate their people.

Question 11

Sovereignty

Answer 11

highest form of authority in society.
Supreme law making body
Larger entity containing bureaucratic, judicial, military, police and security institutions.

Question 12

Civil Society

Answer 12

the body non governmental institutions that link the individual and the state
examples include trade unions, religious institutions and voluntary organizations.

Question 13

Approaches to International Relations

Answer 13

Realist: traditional approach. state as the key actor . difficulty of securing agreement between states can be barrier to resolution of supranational problems.

Question 14

Governance

Answer 14

traditional governmental institutions and all other inputs such as the market, interest groups

Question 15

Normative Analysis

Answer 15

whether when why ought
classic method
what constitutes the good life
not resolvable by an appeal to empirical facts
imagined future
intersection of individualism and collectivism

Question 16

Empirical Analysis

Answer 16

seeks to identify observable phenomenon in order to establish what is.
testable and measurable
value free
came with the rise of behaviorism: human behavior capable of being measured in a precise way

Question 17

Positivism

Answer 17

science must limit itself to what is observable. separation between fact and value.
logical positivism - normative claims are meaningless

Question 18

Deductive vs Inductive

Answer 18

ALL UNDER EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS
deductive method associated with rational-choice theories: politics as a response to the problem of collective action. starts with an assumption of human behavior.
inductive method associated with behaviorism. start with empirical observations

Question 19

Semantic Analysis

Answer 19

meaning of the concepts we use.

there aren’t commonly accepted definitions

Question 20

The State

Answer 20

Max Weber: the state has a monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force in enforcing its order within a given territorial area.
The State must have- monopoly on power, legitimacy, physical force, citizens/people, land/territory with internationally recognized borders.

Question 21

Sovereignty (Jean Bodin)

Answer 21

Jean Bodin: the most high absolute and perpetual power over the citizens and subjects in a commonwealth.

Question 22

Night-Watchman State

Answer 22

role of the state is minimal
ensures external and internal security+ property rights
little role in civil society
maximizes freedom, protect individual rights to life liberty and property
large military to be used only in self-defence

Question 23

Interventionist or Developmental State

Answer 23

government and private business partner together to concentrate on rapid economic growth
social and economics system or programs focused on equality
robust education system or programs

Question 24

How Subject the Leaders of a State are the Will of the People

Answer 24

very- liberal democracy
illiberal democracy
authoritarian state
not at all- totalitarian state

Question 25

Liberal Democracy

Answer 25

``` free and fair elections universal suffrage personal liberty protection of individual rights effective and accountable to the people ```

Question 26

Illiberal Democracy

Answer 26

elections are held but little protections for rights and liberties state control constraints on communication and opposition parties.

Question 27

Authoritarian State

Answer 27

no fair elections political leaders lack accountability citizens have no rights ruling party usually comprised of individual, family, military, ruling

Question 28

Totalitarian State

Answer 28

brutal and oppressive | severe punishment for any communication critical of government

Question 29

Forms of Power

Answer 29

``` complete control institutional power (ex. banks) media social power (ex. celebrities) economic power (ex. lobbyists, industry) dogma/religion party power labour power ``` voting doesn't necessarily change everything because you are only changing one form of power.

Question 30

Pluralism

Answer 30

theory of the state

Question 31

Classical Pluralism

Answer 31

Dahl- society made up of many competing groups and the government must reflect balance of power of those groups. polyarchy no one group is dominant ensured by competition formation of groups is normal and natural and results from scarce resources constant tension between groups authoritarian = bad

Question 32

Interest Groups

Answer 32

sectional groups: protecting interests (usually economic) example: unions cause groups: promote interests or ideals example: homeless or ethnicity offer checks and balances

Question 33

Elitism

Answer 33

led by unified, self conscious elite that protect their own interests power concentrated in the hands of elite that dominate economic, military and governmental spheres IRON LAW OF OLIGARCHY: all complex organizations under the direction of a dominant group.

Question 34

Corporatism

Answer 34

state incorporates economic interests and trade union/industry interests in order to control them and civil society in general.

Question 35

Marxism

Answer 35

state always controlled by its economic elite classes based on material status capitalism has two classes dominant class Bourgeoisie (owners) dominated class Proletariat (workers) society controlled by the means of production economic power = political power therefore emancipation by the working class is pointless by gaining votes and winning an election because the power lies in the economic sphere.

Question 36

New Right (Theory of the State)

Answer 36

advocated for by liberal free market thinkers state has tendency to expand its activities far beyond what is healthy for society because : competitive electoral politics encourage politicians to offer ever increasing benefits to attract votes but once elected get close to bankruptcy because cant meet promises ( economic consequences of democracy ) state bureaucracy to expand because it is in its interest to do so. increase intervention and create big government , team up with interest groups against pluralist theory because the state is not neural and the interplay of competing interests does not foster stability but leads to hyper-pluralism of powerful groups vs weak government

Question 37

Traditional Authority

Answer 37

based on traditional customs & values. ex) divine right of kinds, aristocracy

Question 38

Charismatic Authority

Answer 38

personal traits of an individual. intangible qualities. | often emerge at times of crisis

Question 39

Legal-Rational Authority

Answer 39

based on the status of the office within a constitutional structure. the fact that you believe in the law constitutional convention most powerful

Question 40

Power (Bertrand Russell)

Answer 40

power is the production of intended results: the unforeseen effects of our influence on others cannot be called power.

Question 41

Michel Foucault

Answer 41

power is unavoidable, power is everywhere, power relations. | can only change its focus and implementation

Question 42

Faces of Power

Answer 42

Luke's Three Dimensions of Power 1) get one group to do something they wouldn't do otherwise. pluralist decision making approach. exercise of power. certain groups might exercise power of one area but cannot dominate across a range of policy-making issues. public exercise of power. (empirical) 2) barriers to public airing grievances. dominant elites keep issues that might threaten position off agenda. non decision making (not empirical) 3) influence on group determining wants and therefore exerts power. prevent groups from knowing where their true interests lie. shape demands. (not empirical)

Question 43

False Consciousness

Answer 43

a belief or perspective that prevents someone from assessing the true nature of situation. Marxist idea that capitalism makes it impossible for most people living within a system to see the true nature of their exploitation.

Question 44

7 Possibilities for Democracy

Answer 44

1. govern in a sense that all should be involved in legislating, deciding policy, applying law, and in governmental administration. 2. all should be personally involved in crucial decision making 3. rulers should be held accountable to the ruled 4. rulers should be held accountable to the representatives of the ruled. 5. rulers should be chose by the ruled. 6. rulers should be chosen by the representatives of the ruled. 7. rulers should act in the interests of the ruled.

Question 45

Constraints on Freedom

Answer 45

``` non-democratic government physical coercion physical incapacity rationality psychological influences economic impediments ```

Question 46

Negative Liberty

Answer 46

``` freedom from. no entity stopping me from doing x free from obstruction and interference negate govs stops you or punishes you. John Locke ```

Question 47

Positive Liberty

Answer 47

to give or provide a freedom. freedom to ex) freedom to education Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Question 48

Justice

Answer 48

give to others what they are entitled to procedural justice: process by which an outcome is reached. social justice: fairness of outcome itself

Question 49

Meritocratic Theory of Justice

Answer 49

distribution of resources according to what the individuals deserve, based on merit, natural talent, working hard or general contribution to society. just to reward people deferentially. equal opportunity

Question 50

Rawls' Theory of Justice

Answer 50

social contract tradition individuals in an original position to arrive at the meaning of justice. will conclude: 1. each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive total system of equal basic liberties compatible with a similar system of liberty for all. 2. social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are both: to the greatest benefit of the lest advantaged and attached to offices and positions open to all under conditions of fair and equal opportunity.

Question 51

Cosmopolitan Theory of Justice

Answer 51

principle that our loyalties should lie with human beings as a whole and not just with those who happen to live in the same country as us global justice

Question 52

Communitarianism and Justice

Answer 52

culturally specific justice claims. principles of justice should take into account he particular social and cultural character of the society for which they are intended.

Question 53

Green Political Thought & Justice

Answer 53

inter generational vs intra generational | claim of justice beyond humans

Question 54

Ideology

Answer 54

help to explain the world evaluate the world orient you in the world helps you to know how to act in the world.

Question 55

Classical Liberalism

Answer 55

``` people rational, individual liberty, capable of living freely, reason, emphasis on individualism, people know and can promote their interests, free to decide goals, limit states role 7 TENANTS; 1. negative liberty 2.equality 3.tolerance 4.property 5. reason and rationale 6.trade ```

Question 56

History of Liberalism

Answer 56

prior: religious conformity, catholic church had immense power, separation between state and church didn't exist. ascribed status, feudalism. Change emerges from the Renaissance and the enlightenment. exploration, trade, protestant reformation, and the emergence of capitalism.

Question 57

English Civil War

Answer 57

clashes between crown and democratic republicans in parliament. Rule of law, democracy Oliver Cromwell, leader of Puritans (revolt leader) Kind Charles I executed

Question 58

American Revolution

Answer 58

first classical liberal constitutional document. Division of power, Bill of Rights: 1st Amendment: freedom of speech and religion 2nd Amendment: right to bear arms and protect liberty from usurpation by gov 3rd Amendment: no soldiers in your house unless you let them in Hobbes and Locke

Question 59

Socialism

Answer 59

``` equality structures are designed to subvert equality economy is a fundamentally unfair system collective/cooperative fashion community goals should be larger than those of individuals optimistic view of human nature equality community ```

Question 60

Revolutionary Socialism

Answer 60

Third International Organization popular uprising (Karl Marx) or coupe led by disciplined party communism falls under this category

Question 61

Democratic or Evolutionary Socialism

Answer 61

Socialist International Organization universal suffrage make it possible to achieve socialism through political democracy. Assumes state can be responsive to the interest of the working class

Question 62

Utopianism & Authoritarianism

Answer 62

criticism of socialism is that it is Utopian, unrealistic and unrealizable will result in an authoritarian state

Question 63

Conservatism

Answer 63

``` Reaction to liberalism Edmund Burke collective wisdom, emphasis on tradition, law and order, patriotism, respect for order organic nature of society change resistant or slow change aversion to rationalism ```

Question 64

Neoconservative Principles

Answer 64

``` good vs evil 1. patriotism and immorality of dissent 2. opposition to world government 3. good vs evil outlook on life, either you're with us or you're against us 4. promotion of American goals through the use of force. conflict ridden Bush 2001-2009 mugged by reality ```