Unit 1.5-1.7 Flashcards
Power
The ability to make others do what you would have them do
Sources of Civic Power
- physical force
- wealth
- state action
- social norms
- ideas
- numbers.
the 3 Laws Power
- power is never static
- power is like water
- power compounds
Law 1 : Power is never static
It’s always either accumulating or decaying in a civic arena. So if you aren’t taking action, you’re being acted upon.
- physical force
control of the means of force such as police or military
Law 2 : power is like water
power impacts every aspect of life. Politics is the work of controlling that flow in a direction you prefer. Policy is power frozen.
Law 3 : power compounds
Power begets more power, and so does powerlessness.
- wealth
money creates the ability to buy results & many types of power
- state action
use of law to compel people to do (or not do) certain things
- social norms
has ability to make people change behavior based on what “society” accepts as “normal”
- Ideas
can generate power if it motivates enough people to change their thinking or actions
- Numbers
power expressed through collective intensity of interest in asserting legitimacy
Democratic
-Encourages citizens to participate in elections.
-Free, Fair and competitive elections
Limits Military role in policy making
ex : ( UK/Mexico)
Authoritarian
Lack of free, fair and competitive election
Usually don’t encourage citizens to vote, even though voting is available.
ex : ( China/Iran)
important date (Iran)
(Before: Monarchy)
1979 Islamic Revolution
important dates (Russia)
(Before: Monarchy)
1917 Russian Revolution
1991 collapse of the Soviet Union
important date (China)
(Before: Civil War/monarchy)
1949 Communist Revolution
important date (Nigeria)
(Before: Military junta)
hand over power to civilian/ Elected government
What is government?
Group of members who are responsible for managing , making policies and maintaining the nation/state.
What is Regime?
a particular government/system or method of government
What is a Coup d’etat?
an overthrow of government typically by a military or political leader
What is a Revolution?
When there is a transformation of government and system.
Legitimacy structure (Iran)
The Constitution names Islam as the official Religion. Sharia law provides the government with legitimacy. Legislature: Majles is directly elected ( but candidates are vetted by the Supreme Leader). (head of state : Khoemeni)
Legitimacy structure (UK)
Voting for a religious establishment that provides the citizens/public with guidance which provides the government legitimacy.
Religious Clerics marry within the political/Merchant Class of Iran to cement their legitimacy. Head of state : Queen of England - title is the defender of the faith. Protestant (Anglican Church)
Unitary system
-power is centralized at the national level
-the central government is responsible for most areas of policy
ex: Iran, Uk, China
Federal system
-state power is de-centralized but can be aysemtric, not evenly divided between regions
-taxation, education, law making at local levels
-National Policy enforcement less efficient
-May weaken state authority if there are too many regions
ex : Russia, Nigeria, Mexico
political cleavege
china : hong kong and macau / tibet
U.K : Scotland / wales / northern Ireland
key similarities of Unitary system and Federal system example
(Chukutka Autonomous Okrug in Russia- ethnic groups,
Scotland in UK- Scottish identity,
Northern States in Nigeria- Shari’a law,
China has Hong Kong and Macau. Sino-British and Sino-Portuguese agreements in the 1980s, but were relinquished in the late 1990s.
key similarities of Unitary system and Federal system
-Both Federal and Unitary systems can have autonomous- (semi-sovereign) regions.
In both systems, national governments can delegate powers to sub-national governments.
aysemtric meaning
not evenly divided between regions
Nigeria’s federal system:
was designed to reduce the powers of the three main ethnic groups, Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo. Result: There is a discouragement of national unity ( by the different ethnic groups) and there is an increase in corruption at the local level.
Chinas unitary system :
China’s received Hong Kong and Macau in exchange for upholding the systems in those territories and allowing Portugal and UK access to future Chinese markets.
Russias federal system :
Russia had many autonomous regions, but now only has 4 in the central and northern regions. (Chechnya, for example, was no longer autonomous after 2004) (Creation of more districts that have local autonomy, but not many regions)
