Flashcards
Define Political Theory.
The study of political ideas, normative concepts, and ideologies.
Describe Comparative Politics.
The study of political institutions and processes within states and different political systems.
What is the focus of International Relations?
The study of the relationship between states.
Explain Normative Analysis.
The examination of good vs. bad; what is good and right.
How does Semantic Analysis function?
It involves analyzing the meaning of words and concepts, such as democracy.
What does Empirical Analysis entail?
It is based on facts and observations, focusing on evidence.
Describe the Deductive Approach.
It starts with a hypothesis and attempts to confirm or deny it.
What is the Inductive Approach?
It involves gathering data to find a hypothesis, applicable only to quantifiable topics.
Define Polity.
A social body or form that provides order, such as a constitution, law, state, or organizations.
What is Politics?
The process and implementation involving interest, conflict, and consensus.
Explain the concept of Policy.
It provides content and shape, including issues, goals, parties, and strategies.
What does Leviathan refer to in political theory?
It signifies the almighty state that has rights over violence.
Define Power in a political context.
The ability to coerce people to do something against their will.
What is Authority?
Legitimate power that does not require coercion.
Describe Traditional Authority.
Authority based on customs, values, age, religion, magic, and spirits.
What characterizes Charismatic Authority?
It is based on the personality traits of an individual, including oratory skills and media image.
Define Legal-Rational Authority.
Authority derived from elected or appointed office and constitutional rules.
What did Plato and Aristotle contribute to political thought?
In the 4th century BCE, they studied virtue and noted that political systems degenerate due to moral corruption.
Explain Machiavelli’s view on politics.
In the 16th century, he suggested that rule by fear makes others dependent on you, and that political success is based on skill and good fortune.
What was John Locke’s perspective on lawmakers?
In the 17th century, he argued that lawmakers cannot be identical with the government.
Describe Thomas Hobbes’ concept of the state.
In the 17th century, he viewed the state as the Leviathan, responsible for the protection of private property and the only entity with sovereignty over violence.
What is Rousseau known for in political theory?
In the 18th century, he is recognized as a founding father of democracy, advocating that states must serve the common good and promote direct democracy.
Explain Karl Marx’s contribution to political thought.
In the 19th century, he is known as the founding father of socialism, emphasizing that natural class struggles occur and are triggered by technological progress.
What did Weber mean by ‘Politics as a vocation’?
In the 20th century, he described politics as a profession and discussed the state’s monopoly on violence.
Define the concept of a sovereign state.
A sovereign state is characterized by superiority at the highest level, with no external challenges to its authority.
Describe the role of the night watchman state.
The night watchman state has an inferior role in external and internal security, emphasizing free markets and a minimalist definition of the state, justified through new right theory.
How does a developmental state facilitate economic growth?
A developmental state fosters a strong relationship between the state and the private economy, which facilitates rapid economic development.
What is the primary objective of a social democratic state?
The primary objective of a social democratic state is to achieve greater social and economic equality through a welfare state.
Define sovereignty in the context of governance.
Sovereignty refers to the supreme authority over a territory, including the right to make legislative, governmental, and judicial decisions.
What are the key features of liberal democracies?
Liberal democracies are characterized by free and fair elections, protection of individual rights, and the rule of law.
Describe the characteristics of illiberal democracies.
Illiberal democracies hold elections but provide little protection for rights and liberties, with state-controlled communication and limited power transfer through elections.
What defines authoritarian regimes?
Authoritarian regimes are marked by the absence of fair elections, lack of accountability, and concentration of power.
Explain the nature of a totalitarian state.
A totalitarian state intervenes in all aspects of life through brutal and oppressive state police.
What is pluralism in political theory?
Pluralism is the idea that no single class or interest predominates, with the state acting as a regulator to maintain a balance of power and allow for minority rule.
Define democratic elitism.
Democratic elitism is a subtype of pluralism where power is concentrated within elites, but multiple competing elites exist.
What does elitism imply about state governance?
Elitism implies that the state is ruled by a single self-conscious elite.
Describe corporatism as a political concept.
Corporatism is a subtype of elitism that involves a form of power distribution through the incorporation of economic interests.
How does Marxism relate economic power to political power?
Marxism posits that economic power equates to political power and emphasizes the need for revolution.
What is the new-right theory’s perspective on government?
The new-right theory suggests a hyperpluralism of powerful groups confronting weak governments.
Explain horizontal separation of power.
Horizontal separation of power refers to the system of checks and balances among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.
What is federalism in the context of power distribution?
Federalism involves a federal government that shares power with provincial governments.
Define confederation in terms of governmental structure.
In a confederation, federal power is subordinated to the power of individual states.
What is the liberal social contract tradition?
The liberal social contract tradition idealizes a powerful, sovereign state and justifies its existence by imagining life without a state, as discussed by Hobbes and Locke.
How does utilitarianism evaluate government effectiveness?
Utilitarianism assesses government effectiveness based on its ability to promote happiness.
What is the relationship between liberalism and communitarianism?
Liberalism views the state as neutral, respecting individual autonomy, while communitarianism emphasizes unity around shared values.
Describe the concept of the general will according to Rousseau.
The general will is the idea that states should uphold the collective interests and desires of the populace.
What is the perspective of anarchies on the state?
Anarchies view the state as a corrupting influence.
Describe the concept of power as outlined by Luke A.
Power is exercised when A affects B in a manner contrary to B’s interests.
Define the Decision-making approach in the context of power.
It refers to the ability of groups to make and implement decisions when their interests are partly met.
Explain the Non-Decision making or agenda setting power.
Elite groups have the power to prevent certain issues from entering the decision-making process.
How does manipulation play a role in power dynamics according to Luke A.?
Manipulation involves controlling human desires and distinguishing between perceived interests and real interests.
What are the characteristics of tribes in terms of power structure?
Tribes are hierarchies based on traditional authority and can include egalitarian bands.
Identify examples of stateless societies mentioned in the content.
Examples include the Mayas, Kingdom of Egypt, Xia Dynasty, and Akkadian Empire.
Describe the feudal society structure.
In feudal societies, a liege lord gives territory (fiefdom) to a vassal, who pledges allegiance through an oath of fealty.
What was the significance of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648?
It marked the establishment of the first nation-states and respect for state sovereignty among countries like France, Britain, Spain, and Portugal.
Define absolutism in the context of power.
Absolutism refers to the centralization of power in the hands of a king, reducing the influence of nobility and ministries.
What distinguishes empires from nation-states?
Empires consist of multiple territories and are multicultural, while nation-states are historically ethnically homogeneous and have legitimacy through national heritage.
Explain the concept of a state as described in the content.
A state has an underlying structure, territory, a monopoly on law-making and violence, and is based on a claim of legitimacy.
What is meant by the term ‘regime’ in political context?
A regime refers to the rules of the game or the operating system of the state.
Identify the role of government in the context of power.
Government consists of the people in power and the players in the political game.
What are institutions in the context of power dynamics?
Institutions are practices and patterns of behavior, such as marriage and laws, and include organizational entities like parliament.
Summarize Charles Tilly’s predatory theory of state building.
Tilly’s theory includes four points: 1. War makes the state, 2. The state makes war, 3. The state as a protection racket, 4. Exchange for resources/taxes.
