Review of Political Goods and Representation

Flashcards based on political concepts, goods, representation, and theories, facilitating a review for an upcoming exam.

Public Good

A type of good that is available to all without exclusion, such as a public park.

Common Good

A resource that is available to everyone, but is subject to overuse and depletion, like public grazing land.

Tragedy of the Commons

A situation in which individuals acting in their own self-interest deplete shared resources, leading to negative consequences for the collective.

Ethnic Conflict

Conflict arising from differences in ethnic identities, often exacerbated by manipulation or structural changes in power.

Primordialism

A theoretical approach that sees ethnic identities as fixed and rooted in ancient traditions.

Constructivism

A theoretical framework where ethnic identities are seen as socially constructed and changeable.

Instrumentalism

A perspective that views ethnic identities as tools for political or collective action, often manipulated by political elites.

Democratic Consolidation

The process through which a democracy matures, becoming stable and enduring.

Collective Action Problem

A situation in which individuals in a group fail to work together for the common good, often due to personal incentives conflicting with group interests.

Symbolic Representation

The representation of a group by an individual who may not share the same characteristics, but serves as a symbol of that group’s interests.

Descriptive Representation

Representation based on the demographic characteristics of the represented, where elected officials mirror the identity of the constituents.

Institutionalism

An analytical approach that emphasizes the role of institutions in shaping political outcomes and behaviors.

Electoral Violence

Violence that occurs in the context of political elections, often aimed at influencing the electoral process.

Necessary Cause

A factor that must be present for an event to occur but alone may not be sufficient to produce the event.

Sufficient Cause

A condition that can produce the effect on its own.

Triggering Cause

An immediate event that directly leads to an outcome, such as a war or revolution.

Underlying Cause

A deeper reason behind an event that may not be immediately visible but contributes to its occurrence.