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Comparative Politics > Key Terms > Flashcards

Key Terms Flashcards

Key Terms

1
Q

State

A

The central political institution that exerts a monopoly on the legitimate use of force within a given territory (as recognized by members of the society)

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2
Q

Modern State

A

A concept used to distinguish states in the modern world from earlier forms of political centralization. Includes features such as extensive bureaucracy, centralization of violence, and impersonality

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3
Q

State Capacity

A

The measurement of a state’s ability to accomplish its goals.

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4
Q

Fragile/Failed State

A

A state that cannot or does not perform its expected functions

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5
Q

Civil Society

A

A space in society outside the organization of the state in which citizens come together and organize themselves
Can engage in social exchange and public deliberation not fully controlled by the state
Interest groups in civil society

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6
Q

Bellicist Theory of State Building

A

Argues that interstate wars were decisive in the creation of the modern state
(associated with scholars like Charles Tilly)

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7
Q

Predation Theory of State Development

A
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8
Q

Marxian Economic Theory of State Development

A

Tentative* Capitalists create the state as an organization so that they can manipulate the circumstances to maximize profit, ultimately exploiting labor.

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9
Q

Cultural Theory of State Development

A

Changing beliefs and values explain the rise of states. For example the notion of state building involved a dramatic discipline in the daily life of individuals

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10
Q

Diffusion Theories of State Development

A

The process through which a practice or idea spreads locally, nationally, and globally

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11
Q

*Comparative Politics

A

Study of similarities and differences in political developments either 1) among two+ countries or 2) across subnational units within a country

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12
Q

*Government

A

Set of leaders or political elites in charge of running the state

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13
Q

*Regime

A

Set of formal + informal rules + norms that define where power is located and how it is used
(CH6: A form or type of governmental system with an emphasis on institutions and rules)

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14
Q

Ratchet Effect

A

revenue increases sharply when a nation is fighting but does not decline to the pre-war level when it is all over

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15
Q

Role of Taxation in State-Building

A

Allowed states who could raise money quickly to more successfully threaten rivals with a war with bigger consequences

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16
Q

Role of Nationalism in State-Building

A

Creates something to unify around?

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17
Q

*State Scope

A

What functions/goals the government takes on, what the state chooses to do

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18
Q

*State Capacity/Strength

A

What policies/rules the government plans/implements, how much the state can get done

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19
Q

*Failed State

A

A state cannot perform expected duties
(has lost physical control over the territory, lacks monopoly on the legitimate use of force, unable to interact with other states as a full member of the international community, cannot provide public services, cannot collect taxes)

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20
Q

Market-Led Development

A

Approach to economic management in which the government interferes (controls) in the economy as little as possible

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21
Q

State-Led Development

A

An approach to economic management in which the state plays a large role in coordinating economic actors and intervening in the economy

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22
Q

Inclusive Economic Institutions

A

Institutions that allow and encourage participation by the great mass of people in economic activities that makes best use of talents/skills
Enables individuals to make the choices they wish to
Must feature secure private property, an unbiased system of law, and a provision of public services that provides a level playing field
Also must permit entry of new businesses + people choosing their careers

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23
Q

Extractive Economic Institutions

A

Opposite of an inclusive economic institution.
Designed to extract incomes and wealth from one subset of society to benefit another subset.

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24
Q

Inclusive Political Institutions

A

Political institutions that are sufficiently centralized and pluralistic.

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25
Q

Extractive Political Institutions

A

Opposite of inclusive political institutions.
Power concentrated in the hands of elites and few constraints are places on the exercise of this power.

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26
Q

*Economic Development

A

Process by which a society changes/advances

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27
Q

*Import Substitution Industrialization

A
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28
Q

Dependency Theory

A

Structure of international economy (dis)advantages some countries
Without structural changes, low-income countries will remain in a subordinate economic position

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29
Q

Culture + Development

A

L4

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30
Q

Geography + Development

A

L5?

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31
Q

Democracy

A

A form of regime associated with the rule of the people.
Signifies rights and liberties for citizens, including political rights (participating in elections) and civil liberties (freedom of speech)

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32
Q

Procedural Definitions of Democracy

A

A conception of democracy that emphasizes the minimal standards, procedures, or rules that a country should have in place to govern political life

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33
Q

Substantive Definitions of Democracy

A

A conception of democracy that views a polity’s democratic status as dependent on the satisfaction of certain substantive ends
Examines the notion of democratic depth and quality

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34
Q

Democratization

A

The process of a regime becoming more democratic, including both democratic transition and consolidation

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35
Q

Democratic Breakdown

A

The process through which a democratic regime partially or completely loses its democratic status

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36
Q

Democratic Transition

A

The movement from an authoritarian regime to a democratic one.
Can be accomplished through multiple means including revolutions or gradual/negotiated means

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37
Q

Democratic Consolidation

A
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38
Q

Domestic Institutional Theories

A
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39
Q

Agency Based Theories

A
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40
Q

*Modernization Theory

A
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41
Q

*Cultural Theory

A
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42
Q

*Participant Political Culture

A
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43
Q

*Subject Political Culture

A
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44
Q

*Parochial Political Culture

A
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45
Q

First Wave

A
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46
Q

Second Wave

A
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47
Q

Third Wave

A
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48
Q

Reverse Waves

A
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49
Q

Feckless Pluralism

A
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50
Q

Dominant Power Politics

A
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51
Q

Authoritarian Regime

A

Non-democratic regimes.
Typically associated with certain ideologies, behavioral tendencies of an individual, or restriction of human rights to a certain degree

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52
Q

Authoritarian Persistence

A

The ongoing continuation of an authoritarian regime, such that democratic transition does not take place

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53
Q

Hybrid Regime

A

A class of regime that appears to be neither fully democratic or authoritarian, such as electoral authoritarianism, delegative democracy, or illiberal democracy.

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54
Q

Totalitarian Regime

A

Form of authoritarian regime that aims to control everything about the lives of its subject population (Soviet Union, Nazi Germany)

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55
Q

Theocracy

A

An authoritarian state controlled by religious leaders or a state with very strict religious restrictions that uses religion as its main mode of legitimation

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56
Q

Personalistic Dictatorship

A

Form of authoritarianism in which the personality of a dictator is highlighted. Domination of a political system by a single individual. May not aim to establish an overarching ideology to the extent of a totalitarian regime.

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57
Q

Bureaucratic Authoritarian Regime

A

Type of authoritarian regime associated with control of the state more by a group of elites (often military) than by a single leader.

58
Q

Competitive Authoritarian Regime

A
59
Q

Problem of Authoritarian Control

A

The political problem of balancing the majority excluded from power

60
Q

Problem of Authoritarian Power-Sharing

A

Political problem of dictators dealing with those that they share power with

61
Q

Ruling Coalition

A

A set of individuals who support a dictator + hold enough power to guarantee a regime’s surviv

62
Q

Promissory Coups

A

Framing the ouster of an elected government as a defense of democratic legality and make a public promise to hold elections and restore democracy asap. Emphasis on temporary nature, but not really.

63
Q

Classic Open-Ended Coups

A

Illegal attempts by military or other state elites to oust a sitting executive

64
Q

Executive Aggrandizement

A

When elected executives weaken checks on executive power one by one, a series of institutional changes that hamper the power of the opposition in challenging executive preferences

65
Q

Executive Coups

A

Freely elective chief executive suspending the constitution outright in order to amass power in one swift sweep

66
Q

Longer-Term Strategic Harassment and Manipulation

A
67
Q

Blatant Election Day Vote Fraud

A

Count falsification, ballot stuffing, ballot box fraud

68
Q

Legislature

A

Deliberative bodies composed of decision makers who represent the population at large.
Make laws and political decisions.

69
Q

Constituency

A

A group of voters or a geographic district that legislators or other elected officials represent

70
Q

Single-Member District

A

Electoral system in which voters choose a candidate and the winner is elected by the most votes or through winning a runoff vote

71
Q

First-Past-The-Post/Plurality

A

Electoral system in which the candidate with the most number of votes is elected regardless of whether a majority has been attained

72
Q

Runoff System (in SMD)

A

Electoral system in which the top candidates compete in more than one round of voting until a candidate receives a majority

73
Q

Multi-Member District

A

More than one representative is elected from each district. District constituencies have more than one representative.

74
Q

Proportional Representation

A

An electoral system in which voters choose a preferred party and seats are allocated to parties according to the percentage of the vote the party wins

75
Q

Open-List Proportional Representation

A

Electoral system in which voters choose a candidate but votes are aggregated by political party to determine the allocation of seats across parties.

76
Q

Alternative Vote

A

Voting system in which voters rank candidates and the votes of low ranking candidates are reallocated until a winner is determined
aka instant runoff vote or preferential vote

77
Q

Single Transferrable Vote

A

Electoral system in which voters rank candidates and the winners’ surplus votes are reallocated to other, lower-ranking candidates until a slate of representatives is chosen

78
Q

Strategic Voting

A

Voting in a way that does not reflect a voter’s ideal preference, so as to prevent a less-desired outcome
Not picking personal favorites, but popular (least bad) option

79
Q

Indirect Election

A

Electoral system in which representatives are chosen by other elected officials, rather than directly by citizens.
With regard to executives, an electoral system in which most voters never cast a ballot directly for the individual who becomes the head of government.

80
Q

Apportionment

A

The process by which legislative seats are distributed among geographic constituencies

81
Q

Districting

A

The process by which districts or other geographic constituencies are created for the purposes of elections

82
Q

Malapportionment

A

Apportionment in which voters are unequally represented in a legislature, such as through relatively greater numbers of legislators per capita for low-population areas and lesser number of legislators per capita for high-population areas

83
Q

Political Party

A

A political organization that seeks to influence policy, typically by getting candidates and members elected

84
Q

Party System

A

The degree to which a party system is stable and remains so over time, as measured by such characteristics as the persistence of parties, the stability of their ideologies, and the degree to which they are distinct from the specific individuals that lead them

85
Q

Interest Group

A

Organizations that make demands in the political system on behalf of their constituents and members

86
Q

Elite Party

A

Political parties in which membership and scope were largely restricted to a small number of political elites

87
Q

Mass Party

A

Parties consisting of large numbers of citizens as members and that undertake massive political mobilization

88
Q

Catch-all Party

A

Political parties that are flexible on their ideological positions and aim to attract support from a broad range of interest groups and voters

89
Q

Multiparty System

A

A political party system consisting of more than two significant parties that have opportunities to govern

90
Q

Party System Institutionalization

A

Degree to which a party system is stable and remains so over time, as measured by the persistence of parties, stability of their ideologies, and the degree to which they are distinct from the specific individuals that lead them,

91
Q

Dominant Party System

A

Party system in which a country contains only one large political party that predominates politically, often controlling the legislative and executive branches of the government

92
Q

Fragmentation v. Concentration of Party System

A

Fragmentation - the extent to which political power and representation in a party system are characterized by relatively large numbers of relatively small parties
Concentration - the extent to which political power and representation in a party system are characterized by relatively small numbers of relatively large parties

93
Q

Single Party System

A

An authoritarian system in which parties besides the single dominant party are banned or disallowed

94
Q

Two Party System

A

A political party system consisting of two significant parties that have a duopoly on opportunities to govern

95
Q

*Coalition Government

A

Group of 2 or more political parties that govern together. Share executive power and duties. Share cabinet positions.

96
Q

Executive

A

The branch of government, or the individual(s) at the top of that branch, that executes or administers policies and laws in a country

97
Q

Head of State

A

A person with executive functions that is a country’s symbolic representative, including elected presidents and unelected monarchs

98
Q

Head of Government

A

Top executive official responsible for forming governments and formulating and implementing policies

99
Q

Bureaucracy

A

A form of organization that (in its ideal form) has individuals operating and working under established, specified, and complex rules.
In government, the organization of unelected officials (often considered part of the executive branch) that implements, executes, and enforces laws and policies

100
Q

Presidentialism

A

A system of government in which a president serves as chief executive, being independent of the legislature and often combining the functions of head of state and head of government

101
Q

Parliamentarism

A

A system of government in which the head of government is elected by and accountable to a parliament or legislature

102
Q

Semi-Presidential / Hybrid

A

A mixed or hybrid system combining aspects of presidentialism and parliamentarism

103
Q

Formal Powers

A

The powers possessed by a political actor as a function of their constitutional or legal position

104
Q

Informal Powers

A

Those powers possessed by an office holder that are not official but rather based on custom, convention, or other sources of influence

105
Q

Minimum-Winning Coalition

A

A governing coalition that contains no surplus parties beyond those required to form a government

106
Q

Grand Coalition

A

A governing coalition composed of two or more major parties that hold a supermajority of legislative seats and represent a supermajority of the electorate

107
Q

Patronage

A

The use of government favors, typically in the form of employment, to garner political support

108
Q

Clientelism

A

The state uses its own resources to benefit supporters. People exchanging goods for political support. L16

109
Q

Informal Institutions

A

Societally shared rules of the game. Enforced, but outside official channels. Typically unwritten. Complementary, Substitutive, Accommodating, Competing. L16

110
Q

Formal Institutions

A

Official rules/procedures shaping behavior. Stems from official channels.

111
Q

Effective v. Ineffective Institutions

A

Effective means it is functioning well.

112
Q

Convergent v. Divergent Outcomes

A

Going for or against what the formal institution accomplishes

113
Q

Complementary Informal Institutions

A

Filling on gaps of an effective formal institution L16

114
Q

Accommodating Informal Institutions

A

Creates incentives for people to behave in ways that alter the spirit of formal rules. Might emerge in situations where many people are opposed to the outcome but no one can change anything. Allowed to exist by state leaders to reduce sweeping changes from the population. L16

115
Q

Competing Informal Institutions

A

Emerges when there are formal rules not systematically enforced, allowing actors to openly violate them. L16

116
Q

Substitutive Informal Institutions

A

Wants the outcome to be compatible with the formal institution. Substitutes what the formal institution should be doing. L16

117
Q

Civil Society Organization

A

Space that exists outside the state, market, and family
Organize around common interests, purposes, values. L17

118
Q

Revolution

A

A form of collective action in which some large-scale, structural change is either attempted or accomplished

119
Q

Contention

A

Referring to the pursuit of collective goods largely outside of formal political institutions.
Extra institutional political behavior trying to change the social, economic, or political agenda of the government, regime, or state

120
Q

Social Movement

A

Ongoing, organized collective action oriented toward a goal of social change

121
Q

*Constructivism

A

Argues ethnic identities are created or constructed through social and political processes. Ethnicity is fluid
Trying to emphasize ethnicity to get people to mobilize
Ethnic differences are constructed and thus can be overcome

122
Q

Identity

A

The social label ascribed to an individual or group that locates the individual/group in political society more broadly

123
Q

National Identity

A

An identity that locates one’s social position in relation to national membership

124
Q

Nation

A

A group thought of as sovereign and equal, typically comprised of a large, often geographically bounded position

125
Q

Nationalism

A

The view that the world is and should be divided into nations that are thought of by nationalists as sovereign and egalitarian

126
Q

Civic Nationalism

A

You are a member of the nation if you are a citizen of its state

127
Q

Ethnic Nationalism

A

You are a member of the nation because of your ancestry

128
Q

Primordialism

A

Continuous with pre-historical (primordial) forms of identity

129
Q

Primordial Bonds (Explanation of Ethnic Violence)

A

Conflict takes place when preexisting groups feel that their group/identity is under threat

130
Q

Structuralism

A

A view in social and political theory holding that social structures, rather than agents or culture, make most of the difference

131
Q

Constructivism/Culturalist/Cultural Boundaries (Explanation of Ethnic Violence)

A

Conflict is the result of the distinct ways in which groups and their boundaries are constructed

132
Q

Instrumentalism

A

You can explain something by showing how its development or persistence is in the (usually material) interest of powerful individuals or groups

133
Q

Instrumentalism/Material Interests (Explanation of Ethnic Violence)

A

Certain conditions in given cases make it politically expedient for some actors to deliberately form ethnic boundaries and conflict

134
Q

Crisis Frame

A

Crisis frame grounded in times of conflict, people held responsible for their collective ethnic identity

135
Q

Ethnic Cooperation and Peace Frame

A

During normal times, crisis frame is dormant. Ethnic relations cooperative and neighborly.

136
Q

*Instrumentalism

A

Ethnicity is a device
Ethnic identification is a strategic choice
Ethnicity used to optimize other (often economic) outcomes
In/out groups mobilized towards an end

137
Q

Conspiracy

A
138
Q

Conspiracy Theory

A

Claim a secretive group of conspirators caused an event that harms the in-group, but benefits conspirators.
Accusatory perceptions
Can be false or true

139
Q

Conspiracy Belief

A

The belief in a specific CT

140
Q

Conspiracy Thinking/Conspiratorial Predisposition

A

Propensity to see the world in conspiratorial terms

Comparative Politics (1 decks)

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