week 3 - nondemocratic states and promotions of democracy

Question 1

non democratic state

Answer 1

A small group of individuals or a single individual controls the state

Question 2

what are some characteristics of non demoncratic state

Answer 2

Leaders do not have to answer to the public and the public has little or no role in selecting leaders.

No free and fair elections.

Individual freedom is restricted, usually some element of authoritarianism in the state.

Question 3

which theory of wealth and democracy has more support

Answer 3

modernization theory; because
- increases in wealth make it more likely that a country will become democratic.
- increases in wealth make it more likely that a country will stay democratic

Question 4

what did robert putnam find with his Italy study

Answer 4

that civic culture predicted good
democratic performance

Question 5

dictators

Answer 5

individuals who are elected and slowly remove democracy

Question 6

personal rule

Answer 6

Monarchs (family ties) or Dictators (who seize or consolidate power)

Question 7

military rule

Answer 7

Usually comes about through coup d’etat, in which the military takes the government by force.

Question 8

one party rule

Answer 8

A single party monopolizes politics (and other parties are banned from power).

Question 9

why might people not revolt against nondemocratic regimes

Answer 9

They might be poor and cannot devote energy to political action.

There might be cultures or people that prefer nondemocratic government.

Those who might wish to revolt are dissuaded from doing so because the state monitors it people and they could be punished for resistance.

Question 10

what are the ways non democratic states rule

Answer 10

coercion and surveillance
cooptation
personality cults
totalitarianism

Question 11

coercion and surveillance

Answer 11

Compelling individuals into compliance by threatening harm through loss of job, torture or death

Question 12

cooptation

Answer 12

Making individuals dependent on the regime by having important services be state sponsored.
Providing services in return for support such as vote-buying and property rights.

Question 13

personality cults

Answer 13

using emotional or religious appeal to legitimize your rule

Question 14

totalitarianism

Answer 14

The most extreme type of nondemocratic rule that aims to control every aspect of a country

Question 15

modernization theory

Answer 15

This theory states all countries pass through the same historical stages of economic development.

it believes that as countries develop economically, they are more likely to become and remain democratic.

Question 16

what is the rival theory to the modernization theory

Answer 16

survival story

Question 17

survival story

Answer 17

predicts that democracy is more likely to survive as countries develop and become wealthier, but it is not more likely to emerge

it believes the transition to democracy is independent of wealth

Question 18

cultural determinants of democracy

Answer 18

Perhaps it is culture, rather than the economy, that shapes the likelihood that countries will become or stay democratic (such as civic culture and some religions might be more palatable to democracy).

Question 19

civic culture

Answer 19

Popularized by Robert Putnam; Some political scientists argue that only a ‘civic culture’ is compatible with democracy.

Question 20

in a civic culture, individuals

Answer 20

Believe that they can influence political decisions (political efficacy).

Feel positive toward the political system.

Believe their compatriots are trustworthy.

Prefer gradual over revolutionary societal change.

Question 21

religion and democracy

Answer 21

Huntington argues that most world religions are not compatible with democracy.

Lipset argues that Protestant culture emphasizes democratic values.

Both Lipset and Huntington argue that Catholicism is antithetical to democracy.

Question 22

what is every majority protestant country

Answer 22

democratic

Question 23

why aim for the promotion of democracy

Answer 23

moral reasons: we care about the rights of people in other countries

economic reasons: democracies trade more

security reasons: democratic countries are less likely to go to war with each other

Question 24

what are the two ways democracy can be promoted

Answer 24

hard and soft power

Question 25

examples of soft power

Answer 25

assistance (aid given to countries)

incentives and conditionalities (resources and services that promote democracy given to countries)

Question 26

examples of hard power

Answer 26

sanctions (Punishing countries because they did not implement democratic values or institutions)

military intervention

Question 27

what type of power is more and least likely to work well for democracy promotion

Answer 27

assistance - more likely (positive effect on democratization)
military intervention - least likely