Unit 1 AOS 1: Power and Ideas Flashcards
Political System
is the formal and informal political process by which decisions are made concerning the use, production and distribution of resources in any given society.
Formal Politics
The dominant framework when considering the nature of politics and is centered around leading figures/personalities who and can dominate the 24 hour news cycle.
States
States are the dominant structure by which almost the whole world (with few exceptions) is organized. Think of the ‘state’ as a ‘country’.
The state is the central actor in global politics.
Actor
An individual, group or entity that plays a social, political, economic, or cultural role within a particular system. Actors can operate in a domestic setting, and opposition parties, special interest lobby groups all the media.
Social Contract
An understanding, or mutual agreement, between the state and its citizens that the citizen will give us some level of individual freedom in exchange for protection. Including Security, Freedom, Order, Justice, Welfare
Informal Politics
Informal politics is everywhere. Informal politics shapes the way governments work. The gap between the impact of government policies and their stated intentions is often due to informal politics.
the difference between formal and informal politics
While informal politics runs so much of the ‘show’, formal politics
– the more visible sphere of debates in parliament, political parties and campaign speeches, demonstrations etc.– gets most of the headlines. Both kinds of politics are interacting and functionally inseparable
in a political system.
The three levels of the Australian government
Federal, state parliaments and local councils
Representative democracy:
A political system where people vote for other citizens in free and fair elections, to act on their behalf in the legislative branch.
Representative government:
A political system where the legislative and executive functions are carried out by citizens who have been elected to make decisions on behalf of the people.
Constitutional monarchy:
A political system with a hereditary monarch, whose powers are defined by a constitution.
Federalism:
A system of government in which law-making powers and responsibilities are constitutionally divided between essential, national government and a series of state or regional governments. Example: Australia and the USA.
Separation of powers:
The principle that the three branches of government, the legislator, the executive and the judiciary, should be kept independent and act without interference from each other as means of decentralising and preventing abuse of power.
Federal politics - Strategic pursuits
Particularly at a federal level, almost all states frame their national interests around 4 key strategic pursuits:
1. National security
- Economic prosperity
- Regional relationships
- International standing
Glo-calisation
An intertwining of the global and local sphere. The line between local and global has blurred
Power
The ability to make others do what you would have them do
Tangible power
power that you can see, that is physical
Intangible power
power that you cannot see, but can feel the effects of
Can we define power?
The capabilities, mechanisms and resources that an actor has at their disposal
to successfully fulfil their aims.
The capacity of an actor to achieve their aims by influencing, enforcing or
controlling the actions of others
Political power
Refers to the use of a state’s internal political machinery to exert influence over the actions of others.
For example, legislation, executive orders, white papers
Hard power:
An actor’s capacity to use force, in order to coerce others to achieve its aims.
Soft power:
An actor’s capacity to use appeal/attraction, in order to co-opt others to achieve its aims.
Authority:
The basis or source of legitimate political power.
Legitimacy:
Political power that is broadly accepted by the population, usually based on its granting through democratic or transparent means.
Capitalism
An economic system in which a country’s trade, industry and profits are controlled by private companies, instead of by the people who time and labour powers those companies
Capitalists are typically people who have a large amount of capital (money or financial assets), invested in business and who benefit from a capitalist system
Free market - price is dominated by companies
Cons of Capitalism
Benefits the rich, not the worker, Driver of inequality, both social and economic, By nature, is exploitative, Negative impact on the environment, Promotes an individualist culture, Anti-democratic
Communism
- Individual people do not own land, factories or machinery
- This is all owned by the government
- Everyone shares the wealth created by the community
- Communist Manifesto
- No government in a communist society - therefore, there has never been a true communist community
Cons of communism/socialism
- Elimination of the free market
- Prices set by the government
- Often find black markets in order to trade things that the government doesn’t supply
- No incentive to succeed in life
Ideology
A set of views, values and beliefs held in common by a group of people about how the world ideally should be politically organised.
What is a spectrum
Can vary across a continuum. Word was first used to describe the rainbow of colours of visible light after passing through a prism
Political spectrum
A continuum to characterize and classify different political positions in relation to one another. Based on issues of social equality and social hierarchy. At the end of the spectrum are The Lefts and The Rights. n the middle lies the Centrists (moderates)
Alternative terms - left wing
the radical, reforming or socialist section of a political party system. Critics of social hierarchy. Support social equality. Sometimes referred to as “radical”. Sometimes referred to as “progressive”.
Right Wing
the conservative or reactionary section of a political party. Believe that social hierarchy is inevitable part of society. Can include nationalists, idealists and opponents of immigration. Alternative term: “conservative” because they have
traditional values. Alternative term: “reactionary” because they desire a
return to a previous political state.
Centre
supports, or accepts, a balance of left and right; social equality and social hierarchy
Socialism
a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
Fascism
system of government led by a dictator who typically rules by forcefully and often violently suppressing opposition and criticism, controlling all industry and commerce, and promoting nationalism and often racism.
Authoritarianism
the enforcement or advocacy of strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.
Theocracy
a system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god
Liberalism
A political concept centred around the idea that society is made up of individuals who should be free to pursue their interests.
Long term causes of liberialism
- industrial revolution
- the reformation
- the englightment
Core values of Liberalism
- Rational individual
- Free Market capitalism
- Representative democracy
3 guiding principles of liberialism
- the rule of law (equality before the law, innocent until proven guilty, entitlement to a fair trial, everyone obeys the law,)
- The consent of the governed (free fair consistent elections, the government gains its power from the people).
- The separation of powers (government duties should be split, system of scrutiny).
Other guiding principles of liberiailsm
Restricting the power of the government but extending to include the people or citizens, multiparty system, universal suffrage, responsible government, majority versus minority interests.
Examples of a liberal democracy
France and Canada
What is a constitution?
A body of fundamental principles or established presidents according to precedents according to which stateor other organisation is an alleged to be governed
Constitutionalism
The doctor is that a government and 30 is determined by a body of law Constitution. This prevents rules to govern with domination and serving their own interest it also avoids these by designing mechanisms that determine if you can rule how and for how long. Seeks political equality to a balance of powers and the protection for individual rights
The Australian Constitution
The Constitution of Australia has a special status (supreme law meaning that it cannot be changed in the same way and overrides other laws)
Representative government
Susan to enter into a social contract with their state to make laws on their behalf off these laws must reflect community views and values be regular fair and free elections are compulsory voting for a new season is over the age of 18.
Democracy
Our system of government aims to protect individuals’ rights and freedoms and place limits on government control. Australians have the right to peacefully protest.
Responsible government
Parliament must be answerable and accountable to the people and must be able to justify and explain the decisions to parliament question time
Legislative Power
This is the power to make laws the power is held by the parliament and there’s their role to make laws that meet their needs and values
Executive power
This is the power to administer or implement the law. This is held by the governor-general and the cabinets and it is their job to make decisions in the best interest of the nation.
Judicial power
This is the power to apply and interpret the law. This is held by the courts and it is their job to enforce the law and settle legal disputes.
Structure of the government
Our laws are made by the parliament. Which is a group or assembly of representatives have been elected by the people to make laws on their behalf
Westminister Parliamentary system
Based on the British parliament. The Queen of England had the parliament. The governor general represents the Queen in Australia with two houses (House of Representatives and the Senate)
The federal system
Refers to a nation consisting of states and territories which is governed by one parliament.
Five important functions of government
- to provide for the formation of the government
- the latest date. Space back 3. to provide the funds needed for the government. 4. to provide a form of a popular representation,
5 to scrutinise the actions of the government
Govenrnor general
Appointed by the Queen and advice of the Prime Minister. The governor general performs a large number of functions which are defined by the Constitution before roughly into three categories: constitutional and century duties, formal ceremony duties, non-ceremony social duties
The Senate (upper house)
- 76 senators (12 per state and 2 per territory)
- elected for six years
- state house/representative, - powerful chamber return laws can I be passed unless the Senate passes
- role is to scrutinise bills and government policy
The house of Representatives (lower house)
- 151 members
- represent an electroal - division the party/group with the majority of support in the house of representatives forms the government
- the government is crushing everyday
- help in law-making
Making a law
The government of the day hands in a bill proposal. Initiated in the House of Representatives the bill is read three times in the House of Representatives and then the bill is passed on to the Senate. The bill is read three times in the Senate during the second reading the board’s idea of the bill is abated in the Senate. The bill is passed and sent to the governor general wear Royal assent occurs in the bill becomes an act of parliament.
Parliament vs Government
The government is a party or coalition that has the majority of seats in the House of Representatives. While the Commonwealth parliament includes both houses of parliament as well as the governor-general.
Political Parties
Political parties are made up of groups of people who are similar ideas about how their country’s estate should be run. In Australia, there are two political parties that dominate the Labour Party in the liberal party. There are many other smaller political parties actions the national and the Greens. Each political party puts forward their own candidates at election time if a majority of these candidates win the lower house seat are said to be in power.
Independents
Not all members of parliament belong to a political party these members are called independence.
Australias current situation
In the 2019 federal election the liberal national party won 77 of the 150 electrolytes and therefore from the government of the day. To win an election in 76 electorates
House of representatives
Federal elections occur every three years. Prevent your voting using ballot papers. Candidate needs an absolute majority of voters to be elected to the seat 50%. If no majority person with the least Rose is eliminated the roads are distributed and if nobody has majority they can engage it without the minor parties for their votes.
The Senate
Above the line and below the line voting. To be elected as a candidate must gain a fixed quota of votes or more and once you hit that close the remaining roads are transferred to the second preference this continues until all the seats have been filled.
What/where/when/how/why is Cuba?!
Cuba is an island in the Caribbean. Luxury urban however has only one major city (Havana). The population is 11 million and is culturally considered part of Latin America with an ethnic mix of indigenous population Spanish African and American.
Demographics of Cuba
- Low birth rate and low fertility rates (due to emigration and unrestricted abortion)
- post-revolution Cuba has been characterised by high levels of emigration.
- official language is Spanish.
Cuba’s political system
A socialist country that follows the Marxist learners on the ideology. The first secretary of the central committee of the Communist Party of Cuba or first secretary who is the supreme leader of Cuba and the highest-ranking official as well as a leader of the Communist Party of Cuba
Communist party of Cuba
The rule and political party in Cuba were founded on October 3, 1965. Governing bodies within the Communist party and bass undemocratic centralism.
In reality of Cuba
Considered by many to be an authoritarian regime where the Prime Minister and the president have no power and there’s only one rule and party and no opposition there are no elections open to the public and no term limits are restrictions on power. However, it is not truly a socialist state and is starting to focus and implement in Capella structures such as private employment in for investmentConsidered by many to be in on 13 regime where the Prime Minister and the president has no power and there’s only one ruling party and no opposition there’s no elections open to the public and no term limits or restrictions on power. However it is not truly a socialist state and is starting to focus on implementing Capella structures such as private employment and foreign investment
Values underpinning Cuba’s political system
Socialism, Marxist Leninism, democratic centralism and planned economy
The Cuban revolution 1953 to 1959
Was the Spanish colony from the early 1400s however America gained control of Cuba from 1899 to 20 May 1902. After this time of concentration was created and improved by Cuba and the United States which had provisions for Cuba such as rent neighbour sanctions to the US if they needed them and the US can intervene in order to keep independence.
Role of the Cuban people and leaders
The first secretary is the D facto leader of Cuba and is the highest of his within the Communist Party of Cuba and is a more powerful position and then the president when those positions are held by different individuals.
The Cubans economy
Is a state-controlled economy which means the productions are owned and run by the government and labour is forced employed by the state. The Cuban economy is dominated by the tourism industry with exports of skilled labour sugar tobacco coffee and has a state-planned economy however there has been an increase in the private sector of employment. Once had a dual currency system until you find in 2021. The Russian books in every household in the income and quality in urban and rule societies with massive debt issues due to experts fine by us third since 2014 and dependent on credit amount from countries.
The education in Cuba
Education in Cuba is a state-controlled and operated education system where Casco banned private institutions and school is compulsory from ages 6 to 15. In Cuba or students wear school uniforms in colours detonating to their grade level. The literacy rate is very high with 99.8% and the high school graduation rate is 94%
Rights of the Cuban citizens
Trica’s political system only allows one political party with no election campaigns citizens are technically allowed to vote as long as they are mentally disabled imprisoned and all citizens over the age of 16 can vote in the elections for the government. There are no presidential elections and it is hard to tell how much corruption is a factor in the current election process and the national assembly institution to select the president.
The media in Cuba.
Censorship is very big in Cuba where the media is highly controlled by the Communist party. No advertising unless it is about communism. Threes for imprisonment for journalists who break the censorship laws in private ownership of media is prohibited and citizens cannot read books magazines and newspapers unless it has been approved by the government.
Human rights in Cuba.
Who me a writing tuba is under scrutiny by the human rights organisations. Where the Cuban government has abused human rights and people including arbitrary imprisonment and unfair trial. Trip in law limits freedom of expression association assembly movement and the press. And including the society of religion, capital punishment, acts of ready Teishan and not allowed to travel abroad
