Comparative Politics Ch. 2

State

a set of political institutions that generates and executes policy regarding freedom and equality, the organization that maintains a monopoly of force over a given territory.

Sovereignty

the ability of a state to carry out actions and policies within a territory independently of external actors and internal rivals.

Regime

the fundamental rules and norms of politics, embodying long-term goals regarding individual freedom and collective equality, where power should reside, and how it should be used.

Government

the leadership or elite in charge of running the state

Country

a state, government, and the people who live within that political system

Strong State

a state that is able to fulfill basic tasks, such as territory, making and enforcing rules, collecting taxes, and managing the economy

Weak State

a state that has difficulty fulfilling basic tasks, such as defending territory, making and enforcing rules, collecting taxes, and managing the economy

Failed State

a state so weak that its political structures collapse, leading to anarchy and violence

Autonomy

the ability of the state to wield power independently of the public or international actors

Capacity

the ability of the state to wield power to carry out basic tasks, such as defending territory, making and enforcing rules, collecting taxes, and managing the economy

Devolution

building new layers of government, and/or transferring certain responsibilities, including taxation and state expenditures, to the local level

Federalism

a system in which significant state powers, such as taxation, lawmaking, and security, are devolved to regional or local bodies

Asymmetric Federalism

a system in which power is divided unevenly among regional bodies

Unitary State

a state in which most political power exists at the national level, with limited local authority

Legitimacy

A value whereby an institution is accepted by the public as right and proper, thus giving it authority and power

Charismatic Legitimacy

legitimacy build on the force of ideas embodied by an individual leader

Traditional Legitimacy

legitamacy that accepts aspects of politics because they have been institutionalized over a long period of time

Rational-legal Legitimacy

legitimacy based on system of laws and procedures that are highly institutionalized