Terms From Midterm 1

Question 1

Comparative Politics

Answer 1

The study of the similarities/differences in political developments among two or more countries as well as the study of the similarities/differences in politics, all about “Who gets what, when, and how?”

Question 2

Mills Method of Agreement

Answer 2

compares cases that are otherwise different but agree on one dimension, producing a similar outcome.

Question 3

Mills method of difference

Answer 3

compares cases that are otherwise similar but differ on one dimension, producing variant outcomes.

Question 4

reverse causation

Answer 4

this is when a process or event that produces an observable effect but in an unexpected way and vice versa. It creates a “loop” where one factor affects the other and the resulting factor is tied to the initial factor.

Question 5

state

Answer 5

A state is a human community that (successfully) claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force in a given territory.

Question 6

regime

Answer 6

A regime is a set of formal and informal rules and norms that define where power is located and how it is used

Question 7

government

Answer 7

The government are the set of leaders or political elites in charge of running the state.

Question 8

state scope

Answer 8

different functions or goals taken on by the government

Question 9

protection racket

Answer 9

an illegal system in which criminals threaten to harm you or your property if you do not give them money

Question 10

bellicist model of state building

Answer 10

War is essential for building strong, centralized states, these states in turn cause wars

Question 11

institutions

Answer 11

humanly devised constraints that structure political economic and social interactions

Question 12

inclusive institutions

Answer 12

those that allow and encourage participation by the great mass of people in economic activities that make best use of their talents and skills that enable individuals to make the choice they wish.

Question 13

extractive institutions

Answer 13

ones that permit the elite to rule over and exploit others, extracting wealth from those who are not in the elite.

Question 14

modernization theory

Answer 14

Theory that traditional societies will develop as they adopt more modern practices.
Economic Development → urbanization → tolerance → democracy

Question 15

relative backwardness

Answer 15

(hypothesis states that) the backward countries attain a high productivity growth rate because adopting advanced technologies is easier and less costly than innovation.

Question 16

dependency theory

Answer 16

trajectory of development in “wealthy” countries disadvantages underdeveloped ones

Question 17

developmental state

Answer 17

state that manipulated and guides economic policy to achieve economic development (usually in a short period of time): interventionist, bureaucratic, investment friendly, autonomous

Question 18

import substituting industry (ISI)

Answer 18

an economy policy which aims to achieve development by replacing foreign imports with domestic production of industrial goods,

Question 19

export oriented industry (EOI)

Answer 19

opening domestic markets to foreign competition in exchange for market access in other countries

Question 20

decommodification

Answer 20

how much do you need to work to receive benefits

Question 21

stratification

Answer 21

Are benefits accessible to all or specific elements of the population?

Question 22

plural democracy

Answer 22

A form of democracy where governments make decisions as a consequence of the interactions between groups and organizations who have different ideas and contrasting arguments. No one group dominates all policy decisions.

Question 23

polyarchy

Answer 23

coined by Robert A. Dahl to describe a form of government in which power is invested in multiple people.

Question 24

genetic model of democracy

Answer 24

suggests that democracy is more likely to emerge when GDP increases. It suggests that as dictatorships or other non-democratic regimes increase their GDP the chances of that regime becoming a democracy become higher.

Question 25

survival model of democracy

Answer 25

democracy is more likely to survive when GDP increases. This theory explains that when countries are economically developed and they increase development they are more likely to survive as a democracy.

Question 26

competitive authoritarianism

Answer 26

Government type that combines features of democracy and autocracy to create an “unfair playing field”. There are weak formal institutions and suppression of rights.

Question 27

Linkage

Answer 27

Density of organizational, economic, and political ties with the west.

Question 28

Leverage

Answer 28

The ability of Western States to pressure an external party to adopt policy. Vulnerability of countries to pressures to democratize from Western States.

Question 29

democratic consolidation

Answer 29

Democratic consolidation is the process in which a new democracy matures to a point that it would not revert back to competitive authoritarianism without an external shock.

Question 30

autocracy

Answer 30

“Politically exclusive rule” highly concentrated and unchecked power.

Question 31

authoritarianism

Answer 31

A political system in which a small group of individuals exercises power over the state without being constitutionally responsible to the public.

Question 32

Monarchial dictatorship

Answer 32

A regime led by a monarch who serves as head of state and government. Granted power through traditional legitimacy.

Question 33

personalistic dictatorship

Answer 33

Regime in which all the power lies with one person, typically a cult of personality.

Question 34

Preference Falsification

Answer 34

The act of communicating a preference that differs from one’s true preference, often because one believes the conveyed preference is more acceptable socially.

Question 35

electoral authoritarianism

Answer 35

A type of regime that holds regular elections but engages in electoral manipulation to a degree that allows the dominant party to stay in power.

Question 36

Dictator’s Dilemma

Answer 36

A conflict faced by autocrats wherein their repression of popular preferences helps keep them in power but simultaneously prevents them from knowing their true level of support.

Question 37

social democratic welfare state

Answer 37

a specific type of welfare state and policy regime described as being universalist, supportive of collective bargaining, and more supportive of public provision of welfare.

Question 38

Third Wave of Democracy

Answer 38

including Portugal, Spain, South Korea, and Taiwan, have become fully consolidated democracies rather than backsliding