First Test Flashcards
3 Things comparing politics enables us to do
1- Better understand governments
2- Explain them
3- Predict them
Synchronic/ Cross-National Approach
Comparison made between one state and another, or several at a time
Diachronic Approach
Comparisons within one or more states over time
Configurative Approach
Study of patterns within individual states
2 groups of classification
Modern Societies, Traditional Societies
Modern Societies
Have relatively highly organized systems
Traditional Societies
low standards of organization, people are ruled by customs or personal beliefs of leaders
Single country analysis
Studying one country in depth
Most-Similar-System Comparison
Compares political systems which are as similar as possible with respect to as many features as possible
Most-different-system Comparison
looking for most dissimilarities
First World
Politically advanced, economically modernized
Second world
Communist
Third World
Developing
All states have features comparable to other states. Within democracies there are differences between-
Established and Traditional Democracies
Dictatorship
Absolute ruler or absolute system of government
Totalitarianism
regime or gov’t which controls all aspects of society + Communist regimes
Communist/Authoritarian Governments may come in the form of
One party states, Military Governments, Monarchies
2 Focuses of Studying Constitutional Systems
Explore how national constitutions are drafted; to find the optimal size of the government
Most Constitutions in the world are how old?
Less than 40 years
Constitutions explore issues concerning-
The preliminaries + power and power relationships
The Constitution also discusses what 10 things?
- Defines the executive powers and how they are limited
- Identify the scope of the chief executive and what his title will be
- Outline the structure of the legislature (unicameral/bicameral)
- State the powers of the legislatures and limits powers
- Elections and political parties
- Non-political institutions
- Rights
- Immigration/Naturalization
- The economic system
- Process for amendment
The political right accepts what?
Existence of social and economic inequalities
The left emphasizes that government is important to promote what?
Opportunities and reduction of social inequalities
2 trends in European politics:
Fall of Communism, extreme right finding support amongst insecure voters
Parties in Scandinavia are more what?
Moderate
Progress and New Democracy Parties center of much of their appeals on:
attacking government bureaucracy and high taxes
Scandinavian countries have a higher representation of who?
Women
Scandinavian countries use what kind of representation?
Proportional
2 Major events that shaped Europe’s political map
Creation of EU, Collapse of Communism
Concept of “Near abroad”
Countries that border former soviet satellite states
What Russian president developed the first post communist government?
Boris Yeltsin
Russia annexed Crimea in what year?
1783
In 1954, Russia transferred Crimea to what country?
Ukraine
True or False: Crimea was an autonomous republic within Ukraine before Russia intervened
True
Why did Crimea abolish the presidential position?
A Pro-Russian separatist won office in 1995
What position was created in Ukraine in consultation with the parliament of Crimea?
Prime Minister
20 years after the creation of the position, what did the pro-Russian prime minister in Crimea do?
Ask Vladimir Putin for assistance
What happened by means of referendum on March 16, 2014?
Crimea joined the Russian federation
Most people in Crimea identify as what?
Ethnic Russians
True or False: Russia doesn’t see Crimea as anything more than extra land
False, they have political interest in protecting land that is historically and culturally theirs
The Theory of Structure Functionalism states what 4 things about political systems?
1- All political systems have political structure
2- The same functions are performed in all political systems
3- All political structures are multifunctional
4-All political systems are mixed in a cultural sense
What are the three components of political culture?
Cognitive Orientation
Affective Orientation
Attitudinal Evaluative Orientation
What are the 3 individual profiles in politics?
Parochials, Subjects, Participants
Who are parochials?
Citizens with little awareness of government and politics in their country
Who are Subjects?
Citizens who see governmental impact on their lives but are not active in shaping action
Who are Participants?
Citizens who develop an awareness of the input process of society (Highly involved)
Modernization theories developed when?
1960’s
The process of going from a traditional society or a modern one involves coping with at least 1 of how many political challenges?
6
What does it mean to have an identity crisis?
There is a lacking sense of purpose and unity amongst culturally diverse groups
What does a legitimacy crisis mean?
There is an issue involving the exercise of authority
What is a participation crisis?
There is an issue managing the public demand for inclusion
What is a penetration crisis?
When the government is not completely established across the nation
What is an integration crisis?
When there are issues maintaining a coherent set of relationships among various groups and interests
What is a distribution crisis?
When there are issues getting necessary resources to various groups
Western theorists have identified how many models of development?
5
Whats does the liberal model of development assume?
Modernization and development will improve the material conditions of society, and will bring democracy in developing nations
What does the bourgeois model imply?
It refers to the political requirements on an emerging middle class who’s needs involve urban economic growth and development of electoral and legislative institutions
What is the autocratic model?
Says that the government may employ the power of the state to suppress middle class participation and to secure the support of lower classes
What is the technocratic model is characterized by?
Low political participation and high foreign investment
What does the populist model emphasize?
High political participation
What is the issue with the theories of development?
They draw experiences from developed countries to explain events in developing countries
The theory of development and underdevelopment is based on what assumption?
The progress of developing nations has been and continues to be impeded
The theory of development and underdevelopment states that developing countries are being impeded by what?
Domestic and international forces bent on ongoing exploitation of these areas and their resources
True or false: the theories of dependency insist that without a comprehensive change in the relations between the rich and poor countries, the developing nations will continue to experience development problems
True
What are the issues associated with “soft states?”
- Inconsistency and arbitrary application of laws
- Deals between officials
- Widespread government corruption
What is stability?
The persistence and durability of democratic and other regimes over time
What are the 5 key concepts associated with democracies?
- Highly inclusive level of participation
- Civil and political liberties
- freedom of expression
- freedom of the press
- freedom to form and join associations
What is one method of changing government in the third world?
Revolution
Revolution is common in what kinds of places?
- Organizationally weak places
- Suddenly weakened authoritarian governments
Name 3 successful revolutions against dictators
- 1911 Mexican Revolution against Porfirio Diaz
- 1959 Cuban Revolution against Fulgencia Batista
- 1974 Ethiopian revolution against emperor Haile Selassie
- 1979 Nicaraguan revolution against Anastasio Somoza
- 1979 Iranian revolution against monarchy or Pahlavi Shas
True or false: In many countries, the public bureaucracy acts as the administrative arm of government
True
How many types of politico-administrative systems are there?
3
What is the traditional-autocratic type?
politico-administration system; political elites rely on military and civil bureaucracy to inspire change
What is the bureaucratic elite type?
politico-administration system; where political power is dominated by the civil and military bureaucracy - the military depends on the civil service to implement development programs
What is the dominant party mobilization type?
politico-administration system; he dominant party is the only legal party
What does the dominant party mobilization type cause tension between?
- The technical and professional staff in the bureaucracy
- the politicians who insist on the importance of nationalism/loyalty to current government
