The basics Flashcards

1
Q

What is democracy?

A

comes from the Greek ‘demokratia’, a union of demo’s (meaning ‘the people’) and kratos meaning ‘power’
-Democracy is ‘rule by the people’ or ‘people power’

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2
Q

What have some people argued the word ‘demos’ (in terms of democracy) could easily be defined as?

A

-“he mob” leaving democracy to be defined as a ‘mob rule’ or ‘mobocracy’

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3
Q

What has writer John Kingdom suggested about the evolution of democracy?

A

John Kingdom sees a natural progression from the ‘pure form’ of democracy to the corrupt form of ‘mob rule’

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4
Q

What 3 things can be seen in a pluralist democracy

A
  • there will be a diverse range of competing interests
  • there will be numerous access points- points of leverage where pressure groups can exert influence
  • no single group will be able to exclude any other from the political process
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5
Q

Why do some see the UK government as governed by the elites as opposed to pluralism?
(4)

A
  • Majority are from a particular class
  • Particular educational background
  • Those who move in particular social circles
  • Virtuous circles dominate the higher levels of government, industry and the media
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6
Q

People who believe that elitism rather than pluralism is the defining characteristic of the UK system, what would they think about the democratic process?

A

That the democratic process is more for show than bringing about substantive changes

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7
Q

What is absolute power?(2)

A

the ability to do something, to make something happen

-Exists rarely as even the ultimate threat of death will not force the individual to act as required

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8
Q

What are the 3 types of power?

A
  • persuasive power
  • legitimate power
  • coercive power
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9
Q

What is persuasive power?

A

when people are persuaded of the merits of a given course of action

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10
Q

What is legitimate power?

A

when people accept an individuals right to make decisions

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11
Q

What is coercive power?

A

When people are forced to act in a particular way in means of laws and penalties

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12
Q

What is authority? (2)

A

Authority is the right to make something happen, the right to take a particular course of action
-Can involve the legitimate exercise of power

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13
Q

Give 3 examples:

1) Power without authority
2) Authority without power
3) Power and authority

A

1) a bomb-weilding terrorist may have power without authority
2) A teacher might have authority without genuine power
3) A police officer in a tactical firearms unit may have power and authority

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14
Q

What were the 3 types of legitimate authority identified by Max Weber (1864-1920)?

A
  • traditional authority
  • Charismatic authority
  • leg-rational authority
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15
Q
What are
-traditional authority 
-Charismatic authority 
-leg-rational authority 
based on?
A

1) based on the established traditions and customs
2) Based on the abilities and personalities of individual leaders
3) granted as a result of a formal process such as an election

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16
Q

In the 1950’s-60’s what was UK political culture characterised by?
(3)

A
  • homogeneity
  • consensus
  • deference
17
Q

What is homogeneity?

A

-View that people within a certain country share certain key values

18
Q

Why is modern day culture are we characterised by multiculturalism than by homogeneity ?
(3)

A

Developments such as

  • immigration since 1960’s
  • Rise of Scottish and Welsh nationalism
  • decline of the Church of England
19
Q

What is Consensus?

A

Where UK citizens accept the ‘rules of the game’

e.g the need for tolerance and pragmatism, for peaceful negotiation and compromise

20
Q

Why do we no longer have post-war consensus?

4

A
  • Rise of politicians such as Margret Thatcher in 70’s
  • Proliferation of single-issue campaigns
  • Rise of direct action
  • Increased support for nationalist parties
21
Q

Which is deference? (2)

A
The view that people defer to an elite that is seen as 'born to rule'
-a national willingness to accept the ingrained class based inequality or hierarchy
22
Q

Why do we no longer have deference?

A
  • development of modern, less deferential media

- media has demystified individuals and institutions