V2

Question 1

What is Politics?

Answer 1

general questions of distribution

the process of making and contesting authoritative public decisions about the distribution of rights, responsibilities, wealth, and power -Samuels

Question 2

Aristotle

Question 3

Locke

Answer 3

1632
enlightenment (rational, secular basis for government

Question 4

Marx

Answer 4

1818
redistribution

emphasis on relationship between state and economy

Question 5

Skocpol

Answer 5

1947
nationalism and fascism
democracy and democratisation
peaceful vs violent transitions
globalisation

Question 6

Levitsky, Ziblatt, Little, Meng

Answer 6

consolidation of authoritarian power
democratic backsliding
rise of populism

Question 7

comparative method: process

Answer 7

1. research question
2. develop theory
3. hypothesis (causal, empirical, falsifiable)
4. Popper: theories are never proven right, hold until proven wrong

Question 8

comparative method: terminology

Answer 8

unit of analysis (states, individuals)
variable
counterfactual (a thought experiment speculating on possible outcomes if a particular factor had been absent from a process, or an absent process had been present)

Question 9

comparative methods: Mill

Answer 9

Method of Agreement (most different model): single common factor determines outcome of interest

Method of Difference (most similar model):
among similar cases attribute unique to outcome of interest determines it

Question 10

Methodology: general Problems

Answer 10

finding causation
generalisability
few cases many variables
selection bias

Question 11

methodology: empirical studies

Answer 11

large sample

advantages:

problems: causality is not easily determined, dependence on assumptions

Question 12

methodology: qualitative studies

Answer 12

small sample

advantages:

problems: selection bias, lack of standardisation