Introduction to Political Science (Video Notes)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture notes on Introduction to Political Science.

Political science

The academic discipline that studies government, political processes, institutions, and behaviors; a social science.

Social sciences

Disciplines that study human beings and their interactions, including psychology, sociology, communications, economics, and history.

Psychology

The study of the human mind and behavior (a core social science).

Sociology

The study of society, social relationships, and social structures.

Communications

The study of how information and discourse flow through media and society.

Economics

The study of how resources are allocated, produced, and distributed; closely linked to political processes.

History

The chronology, analysis, and interpretation of past events and their political significance.

Power

The ability to influence or determine political outcomes—‘who gets what, and how’.

Communism

A political ideology advocating collective ownership of production and a classless society, often associated with centralized planning.

Fascism

An authoritarian nationalist ideology emphasizing centralized power, leadership, and control.

Nazism

The Nazi ideology combining fascism with racist and totalitarian beliefs in Germany.

Democracy

A system in which political authority derives from the people, typically through free elections and representation.

Dictatorship

A form of government with concentrated power in a single ruler or small group, often with limited political freedoms.

Comparative politics

A subfield that studies politics across countries and regions, using cross-national comparisons.

American politics

A subfield focused on political institutions, processes, and behavior within the United States.

International relations

A subfield studying interactions among nations, international organizations, and multinational actors; includes realism and liberalism.

Realism

IR theory emphasizing the balance of power and the potential for conflict in an anarchic international system.

Liberalism

IR theory stressing international cooperation, institutions, and peaceful problem-solving.

Political theory

The philosophical study of politics, addressing questions of authority, the state, liberty, and justice.

Political behavior

The study of how people participate in politics, including voting, attitudes, and responses to political stimuli.

Public administration

The management of government organizations and the study of how to administer public programs and services.

Bureaucrats

Public administrators who implement government policies and run agencies.

Public policy

The study of policy problems, government responses, policy design, implementation, and evaluation.

Federalism

A system of government distributing power between national and subnational governments.

Checks and balances

A framework in which branches of government constrain each other to prevent the concentration of power.

Constitution

The foundational legal document describing the structure and powers of government; both historical and political.

Founding Fathers

Leaders who helped draft the U.S. Constitution and establish its system of government.

Civil rights and liberties

Protections ensuring equal rights and fundamental freedoms under the law.

Social movements

Collective efforts outside formal institutions seeking policy change (e.g., civil rights, suffrage).

Elections

The process by which citizens choose representatives or decide policy through voting.

Interest groups

Organizations that advocate for specific policies and seek to influence government.

Political parties

Organized groups that compete in elections to control government and shape policy.