CH5: REGIMES OF THE MODERN WORLD - CONCEPTS

government

refers to any mechanism through which ordered rule is maintained; functions: legislation, execution, and adjudication; may refer to the political executive

political system

network of relationships through which government generates outputs (policies) in response to inputs (demands or support) from the general public

regime

a set of arrangements and procedures for government; outlines location of authority and nature of policy process

utopia

ideal or perfect society; deluded or fanciful ideal or impossible goal (pejorative)

coup d'etat

sudden and forcible seizure of government power through illegal and unconstitutional power

government gridlock

paralysis resulting from institutional rivalry within government or the attempt to respond to conflicting public demands

ethnocentrism

application of values and theories drawn from one's own culture to other groups and peoples; implies bias and distortion

absolutism

theory or practice of absolute government, most commonly associated with an absolute monarchy; possession of unfettered power; government cannot be constrained by a body external to itself

demagogue

a political leader whose control over the masses is based on the ability to whip up hysterical enthusiasm

totalitarianism

all-encompassing system of political rule established usually by pervasive ideological manipulation and open terror; seeks to politicize every aspect of social and personal existence

republicanism

principle that political authority stems ultimately from the consent of the people; rejection of monarchial and dynastic principles

gross domestic product

total financial value of final goods and services produced in an economy over one year

polyarchy

rule by many; refers to the institutions and political processes of modern representative democracy; crude approximation of democracy

liberalization

introduction of internal and external checks on government power and/or shifts towards private enterprise and the market; checks and capitalism

Westminster model

system of government in which the executive is drawn from and (in theory) accountable to, the assembly or parliament

The West

(general) refers to the cultural and philosophical inheritance of Europe; (narrow) refers to the USA-dominated capitalist bloc

consociational democracy

form of democracy that operates through power-sharing and a close association amongst a number of parties or political formations

exceptionalism

the features of a political system that are unique or particular to it, and thus restrict the application of broader categories

communism

communal organization of social existence on the basis of collective ownership of property; theoretical ideal characterized by classlessness and statelessness

new democracies

regimes in which the process of democratic consolidation is incomplete; democracy is not yet the only game in town

democratization

transition from authoritarianism to liberal democracy; three processes: breakdown of old regime, democratic transition, democratic consolidation

transition countries

former Soviet Bloc countries that are in the process of transition from central planning to market capitalism

authoritarianism

government from above in which authority is exercised regardless of popular consent; seeks to exclude the masses from politics rather than abolish civil society

majoritarianism

refers to a rule of decision-making in which the preferences of the majority overrule those of the minority; defeated minority is morally obliged to come into line with views of the majority; justified on the grounds that it provides the most practicable means for ensuring government in the public interest

Confucianism

system of ethics formulated by Confucius; emphasis on ren (humanity or love) and junzi (virtue)

Asian values

values that supposedly reflect the history, culture, and religious backgrounds of Asian societies; examples include social harmony, respect for authority, and a belief in the family

theocracy

rule by God; religious authority should prevail over political authority; illiberal as it violates public and private divide and invests political authority with potentially unlimited power

Shari'a

Islamic law, believed to be based on divine revelation

dictatorship

a form of rule in which absolute power is vested in one individual; dictators as beyond constitutional constraints; generally, is characterized by the arbitrary and unchecked exercise of power

junta

literally, a council; a usually military clique that seizes power through a revolution or coup d'etat