COGO UNIT ONE

comparative politics

the study of similarities and differences between states, how different governments operate, and why political changes occur

comparative method

examining the same phenomenon in several cases and reaching conclusions

causation

when a change in one variable precipitates a change in another variable

correlation

an apparent connection between variables

empirical statement

an assertion or fact that can be proven

normative statement

a value judgement, usually in the form of a should or ought statement

quantitative data

observations made using statistical techniques

qualitative data

observations made using statistical techniques

source analysis

reading and analyzing text

Human Development Index (HDI)

an aggregate measure of life expectancy, education, and per capita income

gross domestic product (GDP)

the total value of goods and services produced in a country in a year

GDP per capita

gross domestic product divided by population

GDP growth rate

the percentage of GDP growth over a period of time

Gini index (coefficient)

a measure of income inequality within a country

Freedom House

a nongovernmental organization that advocates for democracy and human rights and measures freedom around the world

Democratic Consolidation

the process by which a regime has developed stable democratic institutions and significant protections of civil liberties and is unlikely to revert to authoritarianism

Corruption

the abuse of official power for personal gain

Corruption Perceptions Index

a measure of how corrupt a system is believed to be

Strong State

a state that is capable of providing necessary government services to its citizens

Failed State

a state that has lost control over all or part of its territory

Fragile States Index

a measure of state strength, highlighting concerns about fragile and failed states

State

political institutions with international recognition that govern a population in a territory

Government

institutions and individuals, such as the executive, legislature, judiciary, and bureaucracy, that make legally binding decisions for the state and that have the lawful right to use power to enforce those decisions

Bureaucracy

a set of appointed officials and government workers who carry out policies

Sovereignty

a state’s ability to act without internal or external interference

International recognition

a formal step taken by a state to grant official status to another state and begin treating it as a member of the global community

Regime

a type of government, such as liberal democracy or authoritarian

Regime Change

a change in the fundamental rules and system of government

Coup

an overthrow of government by a small number of people, often military leaders

revolution

an overthrow of a regime based on widespread popular support

change in government

a change in leaders

nation

a group of people who share a sense of belonging and who often have a common language, culture, religion, race, ethnicity, political identity, or set of traditions or aspirations

Nationalism

when a group has a strong sense of identity and believes it has its own destiny

liberal democracy

a system with free and fair elections in which a wide arrary of civil rights and liberties is protected

authoritarian state

a system without free and fair elections in which civil rights and liberties are restricted

totalitarian state

a type of authoritarian government where the state controls nearly all aspects of citizens’ lives

Illiberal, flawed, or hybrid democracy

a system in which elections may be marred by fraud and the state protects some civil rights and liberties but restricts others

rule of law

a clear set of rules where government officials are subject to the same laws and penalties as citizens

rule by law

where the law is applied arbitrarily, and government officials are not subject to the same rules and penalties as citizens

transparency

the ability of citizens to know what the government is doing

democratization

the process of transitioning from an authoritarian to democratic regime

democratic backsliding

the gradual, state-led weakening or elimination of political institutions, norms, and rights that sustain a democracy

power

the ability to make someone do something they would otherwise not do

authority

the legitimate power a state has over people within its territory

theocracy

a system based on religious rule

coercion

the use of force, or the threat of force, to get someone to do something they would not otherwise do

legitimacy

the citizens’ belief that the government has the right to rule

political efficacy

a citizen’s belief that his/her actions can impact the government

traditional legitimacy

the right to rule based on a society’s long standing patterns and practices

charismatic legitimacy

the right to rule based on personal virtue, heroism, or other extraordinary characteristics

rational-legal legitimacy

the right to rule based on an accepted set of laws

unitary system

a political system in which the central government has sole constitutional sovereignty and power

federal system

a political system in which a state’s power is legally and constitutionally divided among more than one level of government

devolution

granting of powers by the central government to regional governments