Unit 1 Flashcards
Government
the decision-making authority for a commnuity/nation-state
Power
the ability to do something in a particular way (control; authority)
Sovereignty
ability of nation-states to carry out actions/policies within a territory independent of internal/external powers
Quantitative
Data using statistics that is faster since it gathers large amounts of information, however is creates broad generalizations
Qualitative
Gathers to story and creates a larger narrative by using smaller sample sizes (find the deeper meaning; the “how” and “why’)
The Greek Tradition
studying institutions/governance in order to find the ideal
Soft Sciences
social sciences based on human emotions, opinions, and desires, and are subject to the physical word
Work of Comparativists
- reach conclusions on which gov systems work best
- use data to predict outcomes
- postulate predictions
- compare the effects of multiple gov systems
- analyze the impact of 1 gov system has as a whole
How do Comparatives Come to Conclusions??
Analysis of data (quantitative and qualitative) and all data points that provide insight
Methodology
- begin with a question
- realize your study will change
- Methodology of Inquiry (“breadcrumbs”)
Empirical Statement
an “is” statement that is factual, provable, and objective
Normative Statement
an “ought” statement that is value based, idealized, and subjective
Limitations of Comp Gov
history and the things comparatives study cannot be repeated and only happen once
Causation
the action of causing something that will lead to some effect
Correlation
An association between 2+ variables
Human Development Index (HDI)
a summary measure of average achievement in 3 key dimensions of human development
HDI Dimensions
Life Expectancy (long and healthy life), Being Knowledgeable , Decent Standard of Living
GDP
the value of all final goods and services produced in a country (broadest measure of economic activity and principal indicator of economic performance)
GDP per Capita
GDP / total population (divided by)
Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)
how much money would be needed to purchase the same good/service in 2 countries (calculates foreign exchange rate)
PPP Limitations
Doesn’t account for the value a country brings to international trade and commerce
GDP Growth Rate
the increase or imporvement in the inflation-adjusted market value of a good/service produces (caused by more efficient use of inputs (increased CELL))
GINI Index
an economic measurement to show income or wealth inequality
GINI Index Scale
0 (perfect equality) - 1 (perfect inequality)
Freedom House
an organization/ watchdog that is dedicated to the expansion of freedom around the world and rates the freedom.
Transparency Index
Corruption Perception Index where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean
Fragile States Index
index showing the vulnerability/susceptibility of nation states where 0 is most stable and 10 is least stable
Fragile States Index Scoring
Cohesion, Economic, Political, Social
Weber and the State
“State is an organization that maintains a monopoly of violence over a territory”
State
political organizations that combine a permanent population and gov. institutions to exercise control over a territory with international recognition
The State MUST
- protect itself from internal/external challenges
- exert force to maintain power
- depends on sovereignty to make decisions
- feeds through institutions
- fosters institutions
Challenge-Response Theory
civilizations faced with a crisis - their survival depends on their response
Strong State
with extensive capacity to carry out policies (few limitations on enforcement)
Weak State
little capacity and efficiency to carry out adopted policies
Failed State
just don’t work, collapse, cant provide basics, never got off the ground
State Downfall (“Raison d’etre”)
the state must reconcile between the individual liberties and the common good (freedom VS equality)
Regime
embodiment of long-term goals that determine a system and laws of a specific territory in a particular time ( TIME + GOALS)
Regime VS State
Regimes are more malleable since the institutions can be changed by internal/external forces unlike in States
Democratic Regime
REGIME:
- expectation of the populace to be involved
- individual liberties valued
- balance of individual freedom and collective equality
- decentralized
Authoritarian Regime
REGIME:
- limits public governance
- collective good over the individual freedom
- long term goals may vary
- centralized
Nation
a socio-cultural entity that groups people with similar races, language, religion, political identity, etc.
Nation-State
merger of politics and culture with a large, unified group with historical ties to a region, can refer to a system and people
Legitimacy
trusted institutions that confers authority and power through consensus or force
Traditional Legitimacy
societal custom and habit; unwritten; appeal to accepted norms; “It has been this way so…”
Charismatic Legitimacy
persuasive, authoritarian, weak/failing state; cult of personality; “I alone can fix this, believe me”
Rational-Legal Legitimacy
system with institutional procedure and a document (constitution); rule of law; “Here’s how we do this and why?”
Unitary
- almost all governing power rests in a central gov.
- faster response and chain of command BUT no”local flavor”
- China, UK, Iran
Federal
- governing power is shared between the national and state governments
- “local flavor” and representation BUT not the same connectedness
Presidential
separation of powers; elected by popular vote; veto legislation but cannot write it; fixed term; difficult to remove from office
Parliamentary
part of legislative branch;elected by popular vote THEN by legislators; Prime Minister and their cabinet write legislature; no veto or fixed terms; can lose office 3 ways
Clevages
a division or split
Reinforcing Cleavage
1+ cleavage overlaps with another; tension heightened; consensus unlikely
Cross-Cutting Cleavage
divisions that cut across differences; divided groups are united by a common interest; overlap groups not usually grouped together
Aristotle’s Model
- level of participatory power and expectation
- ethical considerations of governance or regimes
One Ruler
Monarch, Tyranny self interest
Few Rulers
Aristocrat, Oligarchy
Many Rulers
Democracy, Ochlocracy (the rule the mob)
Machine
The State is the machinery, the regime is the programming, and the government is the operator
