Political Power, Legitimacy, and Sovereignty

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to Political Power, Legitimacy, and Sovereignty, drawn from lecture notes and a glossary.

Legality

Strict adherence to established laws and regulations.

Legitimacy

Recognized right to exercise authority and rule, based on societal acceptance and justification beyond mere legal frameworks.

Traditional Legitimacy

Legitimacy based on long-standing customs, traditions, historical continuity, or inheritance.

Charismatic Legitimacy

Legitimacy rooted in the extraordinary personal qualities of a leader that inspire loyalty and devotion.

Legal-Rational Legitimacy

Legitimacy derived from a system of governance based on established laws and procedures.

Direct Power (First Face)

Visible decision-making and observable actions, such as voting or issuing executive orders.

Agenda-Setting Power (Second Face)

The ability to control which issues are discussed, keeping others off the decision-making table.

Ideological Power (Third Face)

The subtle capacity to shape people's perceptions, preferences, and worldviews.

Michael Beckley's Critique of Power Metrics

Argues traditional metrics like GDP are flawed because they measure gross resources without accounting for costs.

Michael Beckley's Alternative Power Metric

Proposes measuring net resources by subtracting major costs from gross resources.

Soft Power

The ability to influence others through attraction, persuasion, and cultural appeal rather than direct force.

Westphalian Sovereignty

A system established by the 1648 Peace of Westphalia, emphasizing state control over territory and non-interference by external actors.

Territorial Integrity

A core principle of Westphalian sovereignty, allowing states to maintain control over their borders.

Non-Interference

The principle that no state should interfere in the internal affairs of another state.

Social Contract

A theoretical framework or implicit agreement where individuals consent to form a government for mutual benefit.

Thomas Hobbes' Social Contract View

People surrender rights to an absolute sovereign for security, escaping a "nasty, brutish, and short" life.

John Locke's Social Contract View

Government's power comes from consent of governed to protect natural rights (life, liberty, property), with the right to revolt if it fails.

Government Mechanisms to Maintain Legitimacy

Public engagement, transparent governance, and responsive policies.

Characteristics of a State

Defined territory, permanent population, functioning government, and ability to enter into international relations.

Citizens' Ways to Improve Democracy

Being more informed, participating more (voting, protesting), and being "better people" (empathetic, critical thinkers).

Agency

The capacity of individuals or groups to act independently and make their own choices within existing power structures.

Authoritarianism

Systems where legitimacy is often claimed through performance or coercion rather than democratic consent.

Authority

Power that is perceived as legitimate, as opposed to mere coercion; the recognized right to exercise power.

Autonomy

The right or condition of self-government within a larger political entity.

Balance of Power

A state in which no single entity or group dominates.

Centralization

The process of consolidating power within a central authority or institution.

Checks and Balances

The system of distributing and limiting political power to prevent its concentration and potential abuse.

Civic Engagement

Active participation by citizens in the political process, reinforcing legitimacy.

Civil Disobedience

Acts of resistance that challenge legitimacy by highlighting ethical or moral failings in governance.

Coercion

The use of force or threats to compel compliance, shape behavior, or maintain authority.

Consent

Agreement by the governed to the exercise of power; a cornerstone of legitimacy.

Constitutional Legitimacy

Legitimacy grounded in a legal framework or constitution accepted by society.

Corruption

Abuse of power that erodes trust and undermines legitimacy.

Crisis of Legitimacy

A situation where the authority of a government or institution is widely questioned or rejected.

Democratic Legitimacy

Legitimacy arising from popular participation, elections, and representation.

Domination

The exercise of power that involves systematic control and subordination of one group by another.

Electoral Legitimacy

Trust in elections as a basis for government authority.

Elite Bargain

Agreements among powerful groups that influence state structure and stability.

External Sovereignty

Recognition of a state’s independence and autonomy by other states and the international community.

Failed State

A state that has lost effective control over its territory and is unable to provide basic functions like security or governance.

Globalization

The process of increasing interdependence among states through trade, communication, and technology, challenging traditional notions of sovereignty.

Hard Power

The use of military or economic means (e.g., sanctions) to influence the behavior of other political actors.

Hegemony

The dominance of one group, state, or ideology over others, often achieved through a combination of coercion and consent.

Infrastructure

Physical and administrative systems necessary for state functioning (e.g., roads, bureaucracy).

Institutionalization

The process of developing stable, enduring political institutions.

Internal Sovereignty

A state's supreme authority over all individuals and groups within its borders and territory.

Jurisdiction

The official power to make legal decisions and judgments within a territory.

Monopoly on Violence

The state’s exclusive right to use or authorize physical force (Max Weber).

Neocolonialism

The continued economic and cultural influence of former colonial powers over independent states.

Non-State Actors

Groups like NGOs or corporations whose legitimacy is tied to their accountability and transparency.

Non-zero-sum

Scenarios where cooperation can create mutual benefits.

Performance Legitimacy

Legitimacy earned through effective governance, economic growth, or public service delivery.

Political Capital

The influence and resources accumulated by political actors through reputation, relationships, and achievements.

Populism

A political approach that challenges established legitimacy by appealing to “the people” against elites.

Public Opinion

Collective societal attitudes that can affirm or undermine legitimacy.

Rule of Law

The principle that all individuals and institutions are subject to laws that are fairly applied and enforced.

Self-Determination

The principle that nations or peoples have the right to determine their political status and governance.

Sovereignty

The supreme and absolute power of a state to govern itself within a territory without external interference.

Sovereignty as Responsibility

A modern concept linking sovereignty to a state’s responsibility to protect its citizens (e.g., Responsibility to Protect - R2P).

State

A permanent political entity with a defined territory, a permanent population, a functioning government, and the ability to enter into relations with other states.

State Capacity

The ability of a state to implement policies, extract resources, and maintain order.

State of Nature

A hypothetical condition before the establishment of government, often used to discuss sovereignty (Hobbes).

Structural Power

The ability to shape the frameworks, rules, and institutions that define the context in which political interactions occur.

Supranationalism

The transfer of sovereignty to higher-level organizations, such as the European Union.

Taxation

A key mechanism for resource extraction and financing state functions.

Warfare

A central driver of state formation, often forcing centralization and institutional development.

Zero-sum

A situation where one actor’s gain is another’s loss.