POLS 150 FINAL Flashcards
What is a major problem plaguing Brazil?
Corruption
What country is the world’s largest democracy
India
The ranked set of societal groups in India, arising out of the Hindu religion is knows the –.
Caste System
What is the name of the program used to help the poor in Brazil by giving them moeny
Bolsa Familia
Which transitional Islamist organization gained legitimacy in Egypt by building hospitals and schools, and was ultimately elected to public office after the Arab Spring?
Muslim Brotherhood
A sense of kinship based on shared language, religion, race, geography, ancestry and/or culture is known as____.
ethnicity
affirmative action policies have been implemented in Brazil to help racial minorities and which other group?
Poor people
Large groups with shared interests often fail to organize. What is this called?
Collective Action Problem
When citizenship and political rights are determined on the basis of ethnicity, it is known as___.
Ethnic Nationalism
After the impeachment of Dilma Rouseff, which institution of government was seen as the most trustworthy by the Brazilian people?
Judiciary
Which Egyptian leader was known for having a cult of personality?
Gamal Abdul Nasser
Name the two religious cleaves which have created violence throughout India’s history.
Hinduism and Islam
the use of public office and or funds for personal financial gain is known as__.
Political corruption
If a good is non-excludable, people are tempted to not contribute and enjoy it anyway. This is known as__.
“Free Rider” Problem
What is one reason given to be hopeful for Nigeria?
Peaceful transfer of power/possible permanence of a two party competition/improved electoral process.
Who founded Islam
Prophet Muhamman
The offer of gifts, jobs, and/or public services in exchange for political support is known as___.
Clientelism
The idea that political parties must mold their strategies to more moderate voters is known as__.
Median voter
What are the two major sects of Islam?
Sunni and Shia
Which institution held power during Egypt’s transition after the fall of Mubarak?
Military SCAF
What type of electoral system is sued by Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies?
Open-List proportional representation
Who was elected in Egypt’s 2014 presidential election
Sisi
when an abundant non-renewable natural resource undermines economic development and political stability is known as____.
Resource Curse
Which Arab country had the only successful democratic transition during the Arab Spring?
Tunisia
Using Nigeria as an example, what often creates ethnically fragmented nation-states?
Colonialism
Name one reason given in “Exploring Non-western Democracy” to explore non western democracy?
Discontent with political parties/corruption/income inequality
Those seeking to apply Islamic principles and interpretations to politics are known as___.
Islamist
What is the name of the terrorist group plaguing northern Nigeria?
Boko Haram
What are two persistent chronic problems that Brazil’s citizens face?
- Persistent poverty, inequality
2. Poor governance.
Main Idea of Romero reading, “Brazil Enacts Affirmative Action Law for Universities” NYT
*Requires public universities to reserve half of their admission spots for the largely poor students in the nation’s public schools and increase the # of African descent students.
Main Idea of Melo reading, “Crisis and Integrity in Brazil”
Brazil’s democracy, and Rousseff’s impeachment. The economy has decreased and so has her popularity. Cunha (PMDB) is formally against the government. As far as Latin America goes, Brazil presidency is the strongest. The author thinks that it has to get worse before it gets better, but democracy will improve.
Main Idea of Tepperman, “Brazil’s Antipoverty Breakthrough”
To the surprise of many, Bolsa Familia has been successful. Under Lula. In order to get the funding, they have to make their kids go to school for a certain percentage of time, under the age of 7-kids have to get shots, and regular checkups. Lula tried to move away from privatization, this welfare system is a lot cheaper than others.
*Lifted a total of 36 million out of poverty.
The pres could launch this on his own executive authority bc of the Brazilian authority.
Bolsa Familia has increased middle class, middle class has boosted the economy.
Highly approved.
Still income gap and inequality though.
Main Idea from Foer, “Can Brazil Be Saved”
Lula wanted Brazil to be recognized as a first class country, he thought the olympics could help achieve this.
Lula was charged with the obstruction of justice.
Residents of Rio hate living there.
Author thinks Brazil might improve.
Increased ownership of cars and commuting but no regard for public transportation and paying for roads.
Author thinks, it could be saved if corruption ends and economy improves.
Country Profile of Nigeria
Religions: Islam, Christianity, and Indigenous beliefs.
President: Muhammadu Buhari
After lurching from one military coup to another, Nigeria now has an elected leadership. But the government faces the growing challenge of preventing Africa’s most populous country from breaking apart along ethnic and religious lines.
Main idea of Lewis and Kew article, “Nigeria’s hopeful election”
Nigeria is only 55 years old.
Nigeria’s new elections are important to their growth and essential to the good morale among citizens.
Innovative technology to ensure the legitimacy of voting.
Tensions highest when Boko Haram threatened balloting.
These elections are likely to make the political scene more competitive.
Elections are tensioned by ethnic, religious, and geographic divides.
Economic and security issues feed into the challenges of the presidential administration.
In order to be successful: he needs to prove that he can represent all Nigerians.
“Bloodsuckers Scandal”
Overpriced ambulances sold to municipal governments by members of congress, who pocketed the extra money. (Brazil)
“Car Wash” (Lava Jato) Scandal
Money laundering scheme. Businesses paid bribes for contracts with state-owned oil monopoly; members of Congress received a cut. (Brazil)
Clientelism
the offer of gifts, jobs, public services in exchange for political support
True or false: Democracy has not been able to end corruption in Brazil?
True, in fact, it can create opportunities for corruption.
But over the last 30 years it has made the government more accountable.
Why is Nigeria rich in resources but poor? (three explanations)
- resource curse
- colonialism
- failures of post- independence nation building
(too much dependence on a single resource)
(Oil profits are nationalized- source of political corruption)
Main ideas of India Country Profile
Social, economic, and environmental problems.
they have a president (largely ceremonial)
also have a prime minister -Hindu nationalist
Linguistic and religious divisions
What is the problem with ethnic nationalism?
Democracy: presumes equality under the law for all individuals within a state (they all have the same rights regardless of ethnicity).
Ethnic nationalism- citizenship/political rights determined on a basis create of ethnicity. Attempts to create an ethnically “pure” nation state.
- ethnic nationalism can be violent.
Instrumentalism
a theory of how ethnic identities become politicized.
Assumes that humans are very rational and self-interested. They are especially attuned to advancing their material well being
How do multiethnic nation-states deal with multiple ethnic groups within the same state territory?
- try to eliminate ethnic differences
2. manage ethnic diversity.
Sunni Muslims
Majority. Believe Muhammad did not specifically appoint a successor to lead Muslims. Regard the first four caliphs as the “rightly guided caliphs”.
Shia Muslims
Believe that Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law was his rightful successor; reject the legitimacy of the first caliphs. Instead, Muhammads descendants have special spiritual and political rule over the community.
Main idea of Varshney article, “Hindu Nationalism in Power”
BJP party made the 2014 election important.
It took out power of INC who held power for a long time.
BJP are concerned with religious things because they are a Hindu nationalist party.
- big question about how this will affect the relationship with BJP and muslims communities.
India has a first past the post electoral system.
Authors opinion: Modi has a lot of opportunities but there are economic issues and inequality issues.
Hindutva
Hindu nationalist ideology that India is a Hindu nation.
Median Voter Effect
To win you have to mold your strengths and programs to what the median voter wants.
ideological purity
Usually this is frowned upon but in India happens. It is an idea of not molding to what the median voter wants.
Main idea of article by Beissinger, “A new look at ethnicity and democratization”
Political scientists believe that ethnic diversity and nationalisms are barriers to stable democracy.
Democracy does not require ethnic demobilization but assumes ethnic issues will find their way into politics.
There are ways that ethnic nationalism can benefit democracy.
Lack of strong ethnic identities can get in the way of democratization.
BBC Egypt Country Profile
Main language: Arabic Main religions: Islam and Christianity President: Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Nasser pioneered Arab nationalism Arab spring 2011
Main idea of Brown’s article “Egypt’s Failed Transition”
Egypt’s failed democracy was not inevitable.
Military stole Presidential power- once elected Morsi tried to reverse this.
Democracy didn’t fail due to lack of voting but the people in government.
It is impossible to ignore the heavy weight of Egypt’s authoritarian past.
this failure has discredited democracy in Egypt.
Main Idea of Sanyal’s article, “Egypt: Presidential Elections, 2014”
There were many changes being made to the constitution.
There was a lot of single party domination .
Nasser was popular for ending the monarchy and economic change.
The two following presidents were not popular.
Improved through constitutional reforms, increased media freedom, society’s involvement- mostly with women and minorities.
Main idea of Robbins article, “People still want democracy”
Arab uprisings didn’t mean people wanted democracy they just wanted better government and improved economics.
Majority of citizens believes democracy is the best political system.
Few Arab citizens believe that democracy is harmful to the economy.
Tunisia see democracy as bad for the economy.
They didn’t dislike the institution of democracy but rather who employed it.
Tunisia views on democracy changed and got worse, and Egyptians stayed supporting democracy.
Arab Spring did not affect opinions on democracy because it was not seen through a democratic lens.
Main Idea of the Youngs article, “Exploring Non western Democracy”
The rise of non western powers is a reason why they start to move towards democracy.
Globalization drives it.
