SPC Flashcards
liberalism (PS theory)
Values: individualism, freedom, equality
- Society based on opportunity and meritocracy
Logic: society is based in rationalism, which can be uncovered through reason and critical inquiry. Progress is key.
Structure:
Authority is based on consent (social contract)
Constitutionalism: Belief in the rule of law, checks and balances
conservatism (PS theory)
Values
Tradition: desire to conserve, respect of experience and age
Pragmatism: there are limits to human rationality, should believe in “what works”
Human imperfection: pessimistic view of human nature
Logic: the fabric of society (families, communities, the nation) is key for stability, and is upheld by shared values/culture
Structure:
Hierarchy: rising through ranks is natural and inevitable, but will foster social responsibility
Top-down authority
Property ownership is vital
socialism (PS Theory)
Values: community, solidarity, social equality
Logic: material redistribution based on need, not merit
Structure:
Analyzing society in terms of income and wealth, specific focus in the oppressed/exploited working class
Common ownership: the aim to harness material resources for the common good to reduce social division and selfishness
populism
argues that politics should be an expression of the will of the people, separates people into the minority and majority
Hegel’s idealist state approach
Universal altruism - the state is an ethical community underpinned by mutual sympathy
Weakness - doesn’t help to define which institutions are a part of the state or are outside
Antonio Gramsci’s Functional state approach
The main role/purpose of the state is to maintain social order and deliver social stability
Weakness - any institution that maintains order (ex family, mass media) can be associated with the state
organizational state approach
The state has a set of institutions that are recognizable as public (responsible for organization of society and are public)
Strength - can distinguish btw the state and civil society
Weakness - to narrow of a definition
international state approach
Focuses on the state within international relations: a state is defined in international law
A state has:
Defined territory
Permanent population
Effective govt
Capacity to enter into relations with other states
Weakness - close to the definition of a country
charles tilly’s theory on state creation
for military, taxation, administrative purposes
“War made the state, and the state made war”
engels’ theory on state creation
as a tool for the emerging bourgeois class
michael mann’s theory on state creation
as a means to combine ideological, economic, military, political power
the role of the state: minimalist (locke)
should do very little in order not to curb individual freedom
From liberalism
3 core functions: maintain domestic order, protect from outside attacks, enforce contracts
“The state should act as a nightmanwatch”
the role of a state: social-democratic state (keynes)
should intervene to ensure equality and solidarity
From socialism
Core: welfare state
“The state should regulate capitalism”
the role of a state: totalitarian
all encompassing system of political rule, involving persuasive ideological manipulation and brutality
the role of a state: religious
a territorial political unit that serves to enact religious principles
Herder’s definition of nation
cultural community
natural/organic entities that can be traced to ancient times and will always exist
Historically embedded and rooted in common cultural heritage
rousseau’s definition of a nation
political communities
Shared citizenship as a bind factor
Based on popular sovereignty expressed through a common will
benedict anderson’s definition of a nation
imagined communities
nation exists as a mental image rather than as a genuine community
Common identity sustained without face-to-face interactions
Nations are constructed through edu, media
liberal nationalism
commitment to the principle of national self-determination (independence and democratic rule)
conservative nationalism
concerned with the promise of social cohesion and public order, defense of shared past and institutions
expansionist nationalism
aggressive and militaristic adherence to the nationalist sentiment, the nation overrides everything
Undivided nation in terms of territory to be obtained through conquest
anti-colonial nationalism
nation as an independent unit from colonial rule, rooted in the struggle for independence
max weber’s types of authority
- Traditional authority: from customs and traditions
2.Charismatic authority: from the power of an individual’s personality - Legal-rational authority: from a clearly legally defined set of rules
plato’s perception of democracy
dem is a govt be the poor and uneducated against the rich and educated (not an ideal)
Believed that political decisions should be based on expertise, bc allowing all people to vote would lead to mob rule and class warfare
aristotle’s perception of democracy
dem is corrupt, many rulers who only rule for their own good
Prefers monarchy or aristocracy
robert dahl’s criteria for democracy
- Contestation - the extent to which citizens are free to organize themselves in competing blocs in order to press for their desired policies and outcomes
- Inclusion - who gets to participate?
polyarchy
Robert Dahl’s definition of a political regime, usually a democracy, with high levels of both contestation and inclusion
key features of a democracy
- The chief executive & legislature is elected
- More than one party competes in the elections
- An alternation in power
modernization theory
all societies pass through the same historical stages of development and eventually reach democracy/capitalism as an ideal
Almond & Verba: The Civic Culture
examination of 5 european nations to determine culture
argument: only a civic culture (with high participation, trust, and willingness for change) is compatible with democracy
populism as a threat to liberal democracy
Anti-pluralist (promotes a majority opinion instead of discourse)
Weakening checks and balances
populism as a corrective to democracy
Broadens political representation
Strengthens democratic accountability
trusteeship (burke)
representation when a trustee acts on behalf of others using his/her superior knowledge, better education, or greater experience as a moral duty
delegation (madison)
representation when a delegation is chosen to act on behalf of others, following the expressed preferences of constituents
mandate representation
substantive representation, pursue policy that constituents approved in elections
resemblance representation
descriptive representations, representatives resemble and stand in the place of the group they represent
plurality elections
the candidate with the most votes wins (ex. UK)
Majoritarian plurality - candidate with an absolute majority wins
proportionality elections
proportional translation of votes into seats (ex. Netherlands)
