Power and Governments Flashcards
What is the Stanford Experiment on authority?
This was an experiment to investigate the effects of perceived power using students.
Student volunteers were randomly assigned to be either guards or prisoners in a mock prison
What did the Stanford prison experiment show?
The students quickly embrace their assigned roles
Some guards used authoritarian measures and tortured the prisoners
Many prisoners passively accepted the abuse
What are the three types of power in international relations?
- Hard Power - realists
- Soft Power – liberals
- Smart Power – constructivists
What is Hard Power?
Realists think states are rational and will act in their national interest
It is a world of winners and losers
Aggressive states will hold others in check
e.g. Balance of power like the Cold War between USSR - USA
What is Soft Power?
Developed after World War II with multiple multilateral actions and alliances
e.g. Aggressive states are held in check by the overwhelming action of many other states (economic sanctions, trade for resources rather than fight for them)
What is Smart Power?
This developed in the 1990s, mixture of soft and hard power
It argues for a graduated approach
-use of Hard power in extreme need
-use of Soft power to change behaviours of antagonistic states
e.g. Nuclear deal with Iran, sanctions on Iraq
What are the two styles of government?
- Democratic
- Authoritarian
The extent that one is democratic or authoritarian is influenced by culture and conflict
How does a democratic government work and where do you find one?
Decisions are made by a group with an elected leader
India and the United States are the largest democracies
How does an authoritarian government work and where do you find them?
The government has absolute power over its citizens
They rule without limitations (dictator)
Often created in times of emergency
North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Vatican City
What is a National Government?
A national government controls a nation.
It is a single level of government with varying degrees of decentralization (they may give some powers to states or provinces)
Canada, France, Japan, United Kingdom
What is a Federation?
Political authority is divided between two autonomous sets of government
- national
- subnational (state or province)
The subnational surrenders their sovereignty to a central government but retain some limited powers
What is a Supranational Government?
A union of multi national countries/organizations where negotiating power is given to the union
European Union is an example
What are the strengths and weaknesses of a Supranational government?
Strength – inclusive
Weakness – indecisive
What are types of Supranational governments?
Empire
League
Confederation
Federation
What is an Empire?
A major political unit having authority over a number of territories or people
British Empire, Roman Empire, Ottoman Empire
What is a League?
An association of nations for a common purpose
Arab league of Nations, United Nations
What is the United Nations?
A voluntary association of most of the worlds nation states.
It is not a world government as it does not make laws and does not have its own police force
What is a Confederation?
A larger state composed of many self governing regions
Characterized by a weak central government with limited influence over the actions or policy of the member units
E. G. European Union
What is Hereditary succession?
When the first born son, then his firstborn son become the leader
E. G. Western European monarchs, some Arab nations
What are the three types of authority? (As defined by Max Weber)
- Traditional authority
- Rational – legal authority
- Charismatic authority
What is traditional authority?
Authority is based on the desire to maintain tradition.
For example the Queen of England has a position she inherited based on tradition
What is rational – legal authority?
Authority is based more on the office or position a person occupies and less on the individual. Open “bureaucratic authority“
A teacher may ask you to complete an assignment by Wednesday - you have to obey. If they ask you to get them a coffee you do not have to obey.
What is charismatic authority?
Authority is based on the willingness of people to obey because of the personal qualities of the leader.
Charismatic leaders included Jesus Christ and Hitler
