Unit 1 - politics and governance Flashcards
summary of civil power/power as a concept
Power - ability to have others do what you influence them.
6 primary sources of civic power:
Physical violence/force
Wealth e.g money
State actions: law and punishment
Social norms: normalised behaviour/concepts based on public perspective.
Ideas
Number: public mass to generate influence
Elements of democracy
Equality (citizenship)
Right to vote (universal suffrage)
Elected leaders
Freedom of speech
Basic law in Hong Kong
- “One country, two systems”
- Classified as a mini constitution
- Agreement made between Britain and China, established 1st July, 1997.
- Protects basic rights such as freedom of speech and assembly, non-existent in China.
- Valid for only 50 years, recently extended beyond deadline.
Hong Kong’s national security law:
Judicial review to be reviewed in court through the context of law.
Subversion
understanding power or authority.
The threat to American democracy:
Polarising political rhetoric
Voter suppression
G.O.P (republican party)
in the 2020 elections, Trump claims foul play, resulting in the capitol raid.
Swing state (constantly changing between two parties) e.g Nivada, Arizona.
precinct strategy
to slow down the election process, playing into bias, creating doubt and concern.
Deep state cabal
a group of people involved in a conspiracy plot.
summary of nation states
A state is a territory with its own institutions and populations.
A sovereign state is a state with its own institutions and populations, territory, and government. It must also have the right and capacity to make treaties and other agreements with other states.
A nation is a large group of people who inhibit a specific territory and are connected by history, culture, or another commonality.
A nation state is a cultural group (nation) that is also a state (that may be a sovereign state.
definition of sovereignty, nation and nation state
Sovereignty - the state’s ability to govern itself without interference from other nation states.
Nation state - territory over a portion of land that no other country holds power or sovereignty.
Nation - territorialised group of people who lack sovereignty e.g Scotland and Wales
summary of the European court of justice
Established 1952
Located in Luxembourg
Consists of two courts: general court + court of justice
Multilingual institution
Purpose:
Reviews legality of the acts of the institutions of the EU
Ensures that the member states comply with obligations under the treaties and interprets EU law at the request of the national court and tribunals
1 judge from each EU country, plus 11 advocates
Intro to human rights
things that people are morally or legally entitled to have.
Discrimination - when a person is treated unfairly based on their backgrounds
Freedom - the power or right to act, speak or think as you want.
key points
- They have been hard to define because of abstract notions of rightfulness, justice and rights.
- Universal human rights were widely agreed upon after WWII with the creation of the united nations.
- in 1948, the UN general assembly adopted the universal declaration of human rights.
- The underlying premise holds the belief that all human beings are born free in dignity and rights.
- It’s not easy to enforce these rights and punish transgressors. The universal declaration of human rights is a declaration not a hard law.
function of the UN
- First responders concerning natural disasters
- Humanitarian relief/aid
- Broker peace agreements
- Helping refugees
- Rights for freedom regarding child soldiers
- Trains police
- Reconstructions of war torn countries
- Healthcare for pregnant women
- Combating disease
- Education
UN key points
- United Nations general - Antoñio Guterres
- 173 parties in the ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights)
rule of law
the principle that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced.
