Politics and the state Flashcards
define the sovereign state
highest form of authority in a particular territory
what are the two categorizations of state based on how much they intervene in a society and economy
- Night-watchman state
- Developmental State
define the Night-Watchman state
- sees the role of state as minimal
- focuses on the providing security and property rights
- minimization of state interference to maximize freedom
define developmental state
- government and private businesses join together to provide rapid economic growth
what are the 4 different classifications of state
- liberal democracy
- illiberal democracy
- authoritarian state
- totalitarian state
define liberal democracy
- promote free and fair elections
- universal suffrage
- personal liberty
- the protection of individual rights
what countries are examples of liberal democracy states
Canada, US, Australia, Germany
define illiberal democracies
- have elections, but little protection for rights or liberties
- heavy state control of media outlets
what are examples of Illiberal democracy states
Russia, China, Turkey
define an Authoritarian State
- absence of fair elections
- generally unaccountable to the citizens
- can be centered on a family, military, or ruling party.
what are examples of an Authoritarian state
China, Saudi Arabia
define a Totalitarian State
- extreme form of interventionist state
- total control through police used as violence against state
- control over economy
what are examples of Totalitarian states
Stalinist USSR, Maoist China, DPRK
What are the 4 Theories of the state
- Pluralism
- Elitism
- Socialism
- The New Right
define Pluralism
A society is made up of many competing groups
-no one group is predominant
What kind of groups does pluralism contain
Interest groups
- provide organization for defense or promotion of an interest or cause
what are the two types of Interest groups in Pluralism Theories
Sectional groups
- protect the interests of their members
Cause groups
-promote a particular group or ideal
define Elitism
argues that all societies are led by elites
- believe eventually all complex organizations will come under direction of dominant group
- can be economic, military, administrative, or religious
define elite pluralism
argues that interest groups are themselves under the control of elites
define socialism
belief that capitalist state is always controlled by its ecnomic elites
define New Right Theory
argues that the state oversteps its bounds for 2 reasons
1. overpromising of benefits during election
2. expansion of state bureaucracy for own benefit
what is the Liberal Social Contract Tradition
- individuals come together to decide what kind of society they want to live in
what are natural rights
rights that a human has no matter legal or political system they live in
what are negative rights
Rights against state interference
