Foundational Concepts Flashcards
What is R Dahl’s definition of power?
‘The ability of A to make B do something that B would not otherwise do’
What is influence?
The ability to persuade somebody to do something they would not otherwise do
What is coercion?
The threat or use of force
What is Jackson and Jaden’s definition of authority?
‘The justification or the right of the state to exercise power in the form of issuing commands and binding decisions’
What are Weber’s 3 types of authority?
Charismatic, tradition and legal/ rational
What is charismatic authority?
Authority due to personal character
What is traditional authority?
Institutions granted authority because they always have
What is legal/ rational authority?
Authority because we have logically worked out they ought to
How can a government be seen as legitimate?
We make the choice to accept their authority. Even if we do not agree with everything they say, we accept their decisions.
How do regular elections ensure legitimacy?
It ensures that we do accept the governments legitimacy. As a result, Even if the person we didn’t vote for succeeds, we don’t question authority.
What is geopolitics?
Relationships among states based on physical/ geographical factors
What is a climatic example of geopolitics?
The Israeli/ Palestinian dispute over the border, which is based upon a water divide.
What is an example of geopolitics regarding control of population?
US/ Mexico border- the differences in GDP across borders
What is an example of political control of natural resources?
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine impacts the resources that reach Europe
What does Emmerich de Vattel day regarding balance of power?
It causes ‘state affairs such that no one poweR is in a position where it is preponderant and can lay down the laws of others’
