Political Science 6 Multiple Choice Questions pt.2 Flashcards
Causes of state development
War
Groups of people that are frequently at war, or under threat of war, develop string states as a defensive mechanism or else they are defeated and absorbed by groups
Colonialism
Most modern states were once european colonies
The kind/strength if the state you have depends on what kind of administrative structure you inherited
Economic development
Economic development contributes to the state’s capacity to fulfill its functions.
A financially stable government can better provide essential services, enforce laws, and maintain public order
World Bank Governance measures
Political stability and the absence of violence
Government effectiveness
Regulatory quality
Rule of law
Control of corruption
Voice and accountability
Liberal democracy definition
Protection of individual liberties, especially the rights and liberties of minorities/weak and responsiveness to citizen preferences
Electoral authoritarianism definition, examples
allow little real competition for power but leaves enough political space for political parties and organizations of civil society to form, for an independent press to function to some extent, and for some political debate to take place
Examples:
Mexico under the PRI
Russia and Putin
Regime definition
A set of rules that govern political activity, especially the relationship between states and citizens (members of the political community) and determine how power is exercised
Corporatism definition
where the state forces everyone to join one of a limited number of corporations
Pluralism definition
Multiple, competing, non-hierarchical interest group arrangements
Consociationalism definition
Explicit power sharing between specific ethnic groups which provides each with some amount of power in the central government
Primordialism
Sees identity groups as “natural” to human psychology
Instrumentalism
Elites manipulate symbols and feelings of identity to mobilize a following in order to achieve rational goals
Security Dilemma
belief that another group poses an imminent threat and institutional constraints not sufficient to protect us: we have to act
Constructivism
method for producing and defending principles of justice and legitimacy
Presidentialism definition, examples
by the separation of the executive branch from other aspects of government
Examples:
The United States
Brazil
Parliamentarism definition, examples
power is concentrated in one place, creating very few institutional veto players
Examples:
Great Britain
Japan
Semi-presidentialism definition, examples
splits executive power between an elected president and a prime minister
Examples:
Russia
France
Westminster model of parliamentarism
type of parliamentary government that incorporates a series of procedures for operating a legislature, first developed in England
Absolute majority versus plurality
Absolute majority is where only 2 candidates are in the running, meaning the winner must have over 50% of votes
Plurality system can have more than two candidates running, so although the winner must have the majority % of votes, it can be less than 50%
Downs
Voters will choose the party closest to them ideologically, so parties will change their ideological positions in order to capture more votes
The median voter
Duverger’s Law
Institutionalist argument that SMD electoral systems will produce two major parties, eliminating smaller parties
PR—open list
allow voters to cast votes for individual candidates on one party’s list
PR—closed list
candidates are elected according to their pre-stated position on this list – if a party wins six seats, the first six candidates on that list take the seat
SMD
Each geographic district elects a single representative to the legislature
Mixed electoral systems
Combines single member district representation with a parallel system of proportional representation districts
POS
Political opportunity structure
A regime open to influence from social movements and other extra-institutional groups—to mobilize successfully
Bolivia’s Water War
Triggered by the sale of the municipal water concession to a private company, which raised rates
Political versus Social Revolution
A political revolution is the fundamental transformation of an existing regime, instigated and primarily carried out by a social movement or armed group
A social revolution is a fundamental transformation of a regime and social structure, instigated and primarily carried out by a social movement or armed group of citizens
Types of authoritarian rule, examples
Military
South Korea
Dominant party
Russia
Personalist
China
Modernization theory
Argues that democracy is most likely to be present where countries have a reasonably wealthy economy and a large middle class
Impact of oil on democracy
Can lead to economic development, with oil significantly contributing to the economy
However, can also lead to corruption as those in power may use the wealth and power for personal gain
Example: Nigeria
Impact of religion on democracy
Countries with compatible (non-authoritarian) religious traditions are more likely to sustain democracy.
HOWEVER: in particular, Muslim majority countries are especially hostile to stable democracy.
Backsliding versus authoritarianization
Democratic backsliding: changing from democracy to authoritarian
Can occur when the ruler slowly takes away power from the checks and balances
Weakening democratic institutions
process by which a political system, government, or society becomes more authoritarian in nature. It involves the strengthening or consolidation of power in the hands of a centralized authority or leader, often at the expense of democratic principles, individual freedoms, and political pluralism
Characteristics of negotiated transitions
Mechanism to transition to democracy
The first dynamic
social mobilization, the consequence of increased education, vocational mobility, exposure to the media, and resulting public awareness
The second dynamic
sustained and significant shift of resources from states to civil societies
Liberal welfare state —definition, examples
a governing regime that ensures that citizens are taken care of socially and economically
Examples:
The U.S.
The U.K.
Christian Democratic welfare state
aims at supporting families and often relies on intermediary institutions to deliver social services and social insurance, often with the support of the state
Example:
Germany
Social Democratic Welfare State
described as being universalist, supportive of collective bargaining, and more supportive of public provision of welfare
Example:
Sweden
LME versus CME
Liberal Market Economy: rely more heavily on market relationships, meaning that firms interact with other firms and secure sources of finance through purely market-based transactions
Know less about the inner workings of other firms
Coordinated Market Economy: involve more conscious coordination among firms, financiers, unions, and government
Know about the inner workings of other firms
Fiscal policy—Keynes
governments could stabilize the business cycle and regulate economic output through government revenue collection and expenditure rather than let markets right themselves alone
Monetarism—Friedman
states should influence the economy by managing the amount of money in circulation, often through interest rates
Tax rates in different welfare states
Highest rate: Social
Free public health care funded by taxes
Around 57% tax rate
Second highest: Christian
Around 45% tax rate
lowest : Liberal
Around 10-39%
Poverty/inequality in different welfare states
Liberal welfare states more concerned with preserving individual autonomy and promoting economic efficiency than with reducing poverty or inequality
Social Democratic Welfare States have the lowest unemployment rate as well as the highest % of women in labor forces
Christian Democratic Welfare States have the highest unemployment rate and lowest % of women in labor forces
Single-payer system (health care)
a streamlined financing mechanism where one entity administers the health care funding and payments
National Insurance System (health care)
an umbrella term for universal health care, the public pension program, and unemployment benefits
Means-tested welfare
a determination of whether an individual or family is eligible for government assistance or welfare, based upon whether the individual or family possesses the means to do without that help
Rose Revolution
helping to move Georgia from what had become an electoral authoritarian regime to a flawed but nonetheless democratic one, including making significant constitutional changes
Tianenmen Square protests
1989 protests and massacre that ended with a military crackdown due to international media coverage, internet and global connectivity, its political implications, and other factors
Threat literature (contentious action)
an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage
Relative Deprivation
A group of individuals that believe that they are not getting their share of something relative to what they should have
Fascism versus Communism
Fascism: a mass political movement that emphasizes extreme nationalism, militarism, and the supremacy of both the nation and the single, powerful leader over the individual citizen
Communism: a political and economic ideology that supports the dissolution of social classes and the shared ownership of the means of production
Populism
a political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups
Impact of inequality on democracy
Economic inequalities drives down support for democracy at the individual level
WUNC
worthiness
Unity
Numbers
commitment
