Politics quiz Flashcards
what are the 3 core functions of gov. and what is the desired outcome of these functions?
- make and enforce rules
- set up a system to resolve disputes among members of society.
- protect society from external attack
- desire to maintain order
what is government:
A specialized activity by those individuals and institutions who make and enforce public rules that apply to the community.
define politics:
process of conflict resolution in which support is mobilized and maintained for collective action, which usually results in compromise
define coalitions:
natural by-product of politics, which is the together of 2 or more parties during a conflict of interest
What are the 3 types of coalitions?
- Political party
- Formal coalition
- Personal coalition
define a political party coalition:
a group of individuals who share similar political outlooks/views and who work together to win power (mass politics in large democracies)
define formal coalition:
An agreement among actors to work together and this agreement is written down and lays out the benefits and obligations of membership (NATO)
define personal coalition:
Small scale and are based on personal relationships
define power:
Social ability to get others to do what you want.
what are the 3 types of power?
- influence
- coercion
- authority
define the power of Influence:
when you persuade or convince someone to do something you want.
what are the 4 forms of influence:
- An appeal to self interest (why its in their benefit)
- An appeal to group solidarity (How it’ll be good for the group)
- An appeal to intellect (you present facts/logical arguments that demonstrate how/why what you want them to do is good)
- Appeal to their emotion (get them upset/angry)
define the power of Coercion:
The subjection of one will by another based on fear of unpleasant consequences. The target agrees, but involuntarily.
- Ex: Tickets, fines, prison, strike, torture, etc…
define the power of Authority:
The source of a command is seen as having the right to do so and those receiving it accept their obligation to obey.
- the gov. like this type of power best
what are the 2 types of authority
- A natural authority
- Public authority
define a natural authority:
based on the human tendency to initiate/lead or follow/imitate
define a public authority:
when authority is placed in an office/position
- Ex: police, prime minister, judge
What are Weber’s 3 authority models and what did these models look at:
- traditional
- legal
- charismatic
- looked at how societies were organized and where authority was placed/held.
define traditional authority model:
-Authority was concentrated/held by a single individual.
- this position of social dominance was passed on by inheritance
- positions in gov. were awarded to those who were loyal to their ruler.
- their capacity to perform their functions was a secondary concern.
- Very little social mobility: little chances for people to improve their socio-economic status.
-Rigid divisions among classes
why was the ways of the traditional authority model acceptable?
- Tradition: things were always this way
- Divine right to rule: god wants things this way
- Featured ‘rule of man’
- the law is unpredictable and is used by the ruler to punish their enemies
define legal authority model:
- authority is placed in a legal document (constitution), which is perceived by the population as being legitimate.
- another feature is the ‘rule of law’: the same rules apply equally to all and are enforced without bias
- gov. offices/ positions are increasingly open to a wider segment of the population. competence becomes important (meritocracy)
- social mobility: its possible to improve your socio-economic status.
- this model often happens when revolutions happen
define charismatic authority model:
- may appear during periods of enduring crisis.
- in these situations, a charismatic leader may be granted legitimacy when other forms of authority have failed.
2 general types of charismatic authority leadership:
- A leader claims or is believed to communicate with a higher power. ex: prophets like Joan of arc
- A leader who claims to have a historic mission to return a fallen people to its former glory. Ex: Hitler and Mussolini
define sovereign:
The crown is superior to society
