Introduction Flashcards

1
Q

Conflict

A

Competition between opposing forces based on the existence of different opinions, wants and needs

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2
Q

Politics

A

The activity through which people make, uphold and revise the general rules under which they live

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3
Q

Political power

A

A has power over B to the extent that she can get B to do something they would not otherwise do

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4
Q

Government

A

A set of institutions through which the general rules of society are made and enforced

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5
Q

Authority

A

The right to influence the behaviour of other based on an acknowledged duty to obey

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6
Q

Legitimacy

A

Rightfulness, in that it (a government) is a rightful government

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7
Q

Constitution

A

Rules that govern the government itself, and the country

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8
Q

Cabinet

A

Where the leader of the largest party (the Prime Minister) has the power to invite members of the HOC and HOL to sit with them, to initiate policy and laws

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9
Q

Separation of powers

A

Each unit of government should be separate, i.e.

  • Executive (make law)
  • Legislative (implement law)
  • Judiciary (apply law)
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10
Q

The core features of a Liberal Democracy

A
  • Free, fair regular elections with universal suffrage
  • Competition for power
  • Guaranteed civil liberties and Human Rights
  • Constitutional government
  • A free media
  • Mixed economy (private/public enterprise)
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11
Q

Consensus politics

A

An overlap of ideological positions between two or more political parties

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12
Q

Sovereignty

A

The principle of absolute and unlimited power

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13
Q

Parliamentary Sovereignty

A

Parliament as the most powerful institution in the UK

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14
Q

Pluralism

A

A theory suggesting political power within society does not only rest with the electorate or the governing elite, but is distributed amongst a number of groups representing widely different interest within society and competing with each other

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15
Q

Elitism

A

A theory which suggests that political power within society rests with a small group who gain power through wealth, influence

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16
Q

Executive

A

Initiates and implements law

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17
Q

Legislative

A

Makes law (checks legitimacy of executive)

18
Q

Judiciary

A

Applies the law (checks legitimacy of legislative)

19
Q

Nationalised

A

Take something out of private ownership and put it into state ownership

20
Q

Briefly summarise the UK government since 1945

A

A mixture of 2 radical governments, and consensus politics:
> 1945-1951 = Clement Atlee (Labour radical)
> 1951-1979 = Consensus politics
> 1979-1990 = Margaret Thatcher (Conservative radical)
> 1990-1997 John Major (Thatcherism - more radical conservatism)
> 1997-2011 = Consensus politics

21
Q

a) Who was in power 1945-1951?

b) What party did they stand for?

A

a) Clement Atlee

b) Labour radical

22
Q

What years was Labour radical Clement Atlee in power for?

A

1945-1951

23
Q

How would you sum up the political years 1951-1979?

A

Consensus politics

24
Q

a) Who was in power 1979-1990?

b) What party did they stand for?

A

a) Margaret Thatcher

b) Conservative radical

25
Q

a) Who was in power 1990-1997?

b) What party did they stand for?

A

a) John Major

b) Conservative radical

26
Q

What term is often used to describe the years 1979-1997 politically?

A

Thatcherism, due to Margaret Thatcher’s rule until 1990 by Conservative radicalism

27
Q

What years was Conservative radical Margaret Thatcher in power for?

A

1979-1990

28
Q

What years was so-called “Thatcherism”?

A

1979-1997

29
Q

What years was Conservative radical and “Thatcherist” John Major in power for?

A

1990-1997

30
Q

How would you sum up the political years 1997-2011?

A

Consensus politics

31
Q

What happened during Atlee’s radical Labour government 1945-1951?

A
  • Welfare state introduced (look after disadvantaged ‘from cradle to grave’ through NHS, Wider benefits)
  • Nationalisation/state ownership of key industries (coal and railways)
  • Greater state intervention
  • Public spending and taxation
  • A more socially just society
32
Q

What does nationalisation say about major national assets?

A

They should benefit all of society and not just the few

33
Q

What were the two key elements of ‘Thatcherism’?

A
  1. A form of liberalism (emphasis on free market and the self-reliant individual)
  2. Conservatism (restoration of order authority and discipline through privitisation, attack on union power, attempting to reduce overall taxation, deregulation)
34
Q

A key element of ‘Thatcherism’ is Conservatism, meaning the restoration of order authority and disciple. How was this achieved?

A
  • Privitisation
  • Attack on union power
  • Attempting to reduce overall taxation
  • Deregulation
35
Q

What 3 key points summarise the impact of EU membership on UK Politics?

A
  • A growing body of legislation is now made by the EU rather than Parliament
  • European Law is now higher than UK statute law with the result that Parliament is no longer sovereign
  • The HOL is no longer the highest court of appeal (European court of justice)
36
Q

Globalisation

A

The concept that our lives are increasingly shaped by events beyond our borders (i.e. impact of media/transport)

37
Q

What are the 3 types of globalisation we can experience?

A

Economic; Cultural; Political

38
Q

Explain what is meant by each of the 3 types of globalisation.

A

> Economic = Absorption of national economies into single global economy (multinationals)
Cultural = Erosion of national cultures.
Political = Growing importance of international bodies.

39
Q

Explain what is meant by economic globalisation.

A

Absorption of national economies into single global economy (multinationals)

40
Q

Explain what is meant by cultural globalisation.

A

Erosion of national cultures.

41
Q

Explain what is meant by political globalisation.

A

Growing importance of international bodies.