Power and Governments

Question 1

What is the Stanford Experiment on authority?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What did the Stanford prison experiment show?

Answer 2

The students quickly embrace their assigned roles

Some guards used authoritarian measures and tortured the prisoners

Many prisoners passively accepted the abuse

Question 3

What are the three types of power in international relations?

Answer 3

1. Hard Power - realists
2. Soft Power – liberals
3. Smart Power – constructivists

Question 4

What is Hard Power?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What is Soft Power?

Answer 5

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)

Question 6

What is Smart Power?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

What are the two styles of government?

Answer 7

1. Democratic
2. Authoritarian

The extent that one is democratic or authoritarian is influenced by culture and conflict

Question 8

How does a democratic government work and where do you find one?

Answer 8

Decisions are made by a group with an elected leader

India and the United States are the largest democracies

Question 9

How does an authoritarian government work and where do you find them?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What is a National Government?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What is a Federation?

Answer 11

Political authority is divided between two autonomous sets of government

1. national
2. subnational (state or province)

The subnational surrenders their sovereignty to a central government but retain some limited powers

Question 12

What is a Supranational Government?

Answer 12

A union of multi national countries/organizations where negotiating power is given to the union

European Union is an example

Question 13

What are the strengths and weaknesses of a Supranational government?

Answer 13

Strength – inclusive

Weakness – indecisive

Question 14

What are types of Supranational governments?

Answer 14

Empire
League
Confederation
Federation

Question 15

What is an Empire?

Answer 15

A major political unit having authority over a number of territories or people

British Empire, Roman Empire, Ottoman Empire

Question 16

What is a League?

Answer 16

An association of nations for a common purpose

Arab league of Nations, United Nations

Question 17

What is the United Nations?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

What is a Confederation?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

What is Hereditary succession?

Answer 19

When the first born son, then his firstborn son become the leader

E. G. Western European monarchs, some Arab nations

Question 20

What are the three types of authority? (As defined by Max Weber)

Answer 20

1. Traditional authority
2. Rational – legal authority
3. Charismatic authority

Question 21

What is traditional authority?

Answer 21

Authority is based on the desire to maintain tradition.

For example the Queen of England has a position she inherited based on tradition

Question 22

What is rational – legal authority?

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

What is charismatic authority?

Answer 23

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