Politics and the state

Question 1

define the sovereign state

Answer 1

highest form of authority in a particular territory

Question 2

what are the two categorizations of state based on how much they intervene in a society and economy

Answer 2

1. Night-watchman state
2. Developmental State

Question 3

define the Night-Watchman state

Answer 3

• sees the role of state as minimal
• focuses on the providing security and property rights
• minimization of state interference to maximize freedom

Question 4

define developmental state

Answer 4

• government and private businesses join together to provide rapid economic growth

Question 5

what are the 4 different classifications of state

Answer 5

1. liberal democracy
2. illiberal democracy
3. authoritarian state
4. totalitarian state

Question 6

define liberal democracy

Answer 6

• promote free and fair elections
• universal suffrage
• personal liberty
• the protection of individual rights

Question 7

what countries are examples of liberal democracy states

Answer 7

Canada, US, Australia, Germany

Question 8

define illiberal democracies

Answer 8

• have elections, but little protection for rights or liberties
• heavy state control of media outlets

Question 9

what are examples of Illiberal democracy states

Answer 9

Russia, China, Turkey

Question 10

define an Authoritarian State

Answer 10

• absence of fair elections
• generally unaccountable to the citizens
• can be centered on a family, military, or ruling party.

Question 11

what are examples of an Authoritarian state

Answer 11

China, Saudi Arabia

Question 12

define a Totalitarian State

Answer 12

• extreme form of interventionist state
• total control through police used as violence against state
• control over economy

Question 13

what are examples of Totalitarian states

Answer 13

Stalinist USSR, Maoist China, DPRK

Question 14

What are the 4 Theories of the state

Answer 14

1. Pluralism
2. Elitism
3. Socialism
4. The New Right

Question 15

define Pluralism

Answer 15

A society is made up of many competing groups
-no one group is predominant

Question 16

What kind of groups does pluralism contain

Answer 16

Interest groups
- provide organization for defense or promotion of an interest or cause

Question 17

what are the two types of Interest groups in Pluralism Theories

Answer 17

Sectional groups
- protect the interests of their members
Cause groups
-promote a particular group or ideal

Question 18

define Elitism

Answer 18

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

Question 19

define elite pluralism

Answer 19

argues that interest groups are themselves under the control of elites

Question 20

define socialism

Answer 20

belief that capitalist state is always controlled by its ecnomic elites

Question 21

define New Right Theory

Answer 21

argues that the state oversteps its bounds for 2 reasons
1. overpromising of benefits during election
2. expansion of state bureaucracy for own benefit

Question 22

what is the Liberal Social Contract Tradition

Answer 22

• individuals come together to decide what kind of society they want to live in

Question 23

what are natural rights

Answer 23

rights that a human has no matter legal or political system they live in

Question 24

what are negative rights

Answer 24

Rights against state interference

Question 25

what are positive rights

Answer 25

access to social goods such as free education, shelter, and healthcare

Question 26

define utilitarianism

Answer 26

the legitimacy of government is derived from its ability to provide the greatest happiness the the greatest number of people
- which promotes collective goals

Question 27

define Liberalism

Answer 27

• wants a neutral pluralist state
• the idea of multiple belief systems to coexist

Question 28

define communitarianism

Answer 28

• the state plays a central role in uniting the society around a common set of values