Comparative Politics Flashcards

area studies

a regional focus when studying political science (ie. only United States)

Causal Relationship

Cause and effect variable; when one variable causes change in another variable.

Comparative Method

The means by which scientists make comparisons across cases (states).

Comparative Politics

The study and analysis of domestic politics across countries.

Correlation

An apparent relationship between two or more variables.

Deductive Reasoning

Research that works from a hypothesis, then tested/experimented against data.

Dependent Variable

A variable whose value is changed based upon that of another.

Endogeneity

The issue that cause and effect are not often clear; both variables may be cause and effect to eachother.

Equality

A material standard of living shared by individuals within a society.

Formal Institutions

Institutions based upon offiicially sanctioned rules (ie. Constitution).

Freedom

The ability of an individual to act independently, without fear of restriction from authority.

Game Theory

An approach that emphasizes how organizations behave in their goal to influence others; based upon assumptions of rational choice.

Independent Variable

A variable whose value does not depend on that of another.

Informal Institutions

Insitutions with unwritten or unofficial rules (Two-term presidencies prior to FDR).

Institution

An organization or acitivtiy that is self-perpetuating and valued.

International Relations

Political science that studies relations between states.

Modernization Theory

a theory that as nations/societies developed, they would progress towards democracies and capitalistic economies.

Mulitcausality

When variables are interconnected and interact to produce the same outcome.

Power

abiity to influence or impose one’s will on another.

Quantitative Method

Study through statistical data from multiple cases.

Rational Choice

Approach that assumes individuals weigh the costs and benefits to make their own individual choice.

Selection Bias

A focus on effects, which can lead to inaccurate conclusions about correlation or causation.

Theory

An integrated set of hypotheses, assumptions, and facts.

Asymmetric Federalism

A system in which power is divided unevenly among regional bodies.

Autonomy

The ability of the state to act independently of the public or international factors.

Capacity

Ability of the state to carry out basic tasks and satisfy the needs of it’s citizens.

Charismatic Legacy

Legitimacy built on the ideas on an individual leader.

Country

A state, government, and regime, and it’s citizens.

Devolution

A process in which political power is sent down to lower levels of state and government.

Failed State

A state so weak that it’s political structures collapse.

Federalism

A system in which significant state powers are devolved to regional or local bodies.

Government

The leadership in charge of running the state.

Legitimacy

A value whereby an institution is accepted by the public as right and proper; giving it authority.

Regime

The fundamental rules and norms of politics; where power should reside and how it should be used.

Sovereignty

The ability of a state to carry out actions and policies within a territory independently of external factors and rivals.

State

The organization that maintains a monopoly of force over a given territory.

Strong State

A state that is able to fulfill basic tasks and needs of it’s terriory/citizens.

Traditional Legitimacy

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

Unitary State

A state in which most political power exists at the national level.

Weak State

A state that has difficulty fulfilling basic tasks and needs of it’s citizens/territory.

Anarchism

A political ideology that stresses the elimination of the central state of power and authority.

Citizenship

An individuals relationship to the state, wherein; allegiance in return for protection.

Communism

A political-economic system in which all property and wealth belong the people of the state.

Conservatives

Those with a poltiical attitude of progess; supports tradition and current order.

Culture

Basic institutions that define a society.

Ethnic Conflict

A conflict in which different ethnic groups struggle to achieve certain political or economic goals at eachother’s expense.

Ethnic Identity/Ethnicity

Specific attributes and societal institutins that make one group of people culturally/genetically different from others.

Fascism

A political ideology that asserts the superiority of a singular unitary authority; uses oppresive methods to assert authority such as violence, and constraint of freedom of equality.

Fundamentalism

A view of religion as absolute and enforced throughout a state legally; faith as authority.

Liberal Democracy

A political system that promotes participation and liberty alongside individual freedom and rights.

Liberalism

A political attitude that favors progressive transformation, a smaller state role in society, and the economy, and emphasizes political and economic freedom.

Liberal

Individuals with a poltical attitude that favors progressive ideals, and that existing institutions can be instruments of positive change.

Nation

An independent state.

Nation-State

A state encompassing one dominant nation that it represents.

National Conflict

A conflict in which one or more groups within a country develop aspirations for political independence.

National Identity

A sense of belonging to a nation.

Nationalism

Pride in one’s national identity.

Patriotism

Pride in one’s state.

Political Attitude

Description of one’s views regarding the speed and methods of political changes and progress (Liberal v. Conservative).

Political Culture

The basic norms for political activity in a society.

Political Ideology

The basic values for the fundamental goals of politics (Left v. Right).

Radicals

Those with a political attitude that favors dramatic/revolutionary change (Far-left).

Society

Complex human organization; cluster of individuals in a territory/culture.

Reactionaries

Those who seek to restore former authoritative institutions order (Far-right).

Social-Democracy/Socialism

A political/economic system in which freedom and equality are balanced through the state’s managament of the economy and welfare.

Capitalism

A system of production based on free markets and private property.

Central Bank

The state institution that controls how much money is flowing through the economy as well as how much it costs to borrow money in that economy.

Comparative Advantage

The ability of one country to produce a particular good or service more effeciently than another country.

Deflation

A decline in the prices of goods and services.

Economic LIberalization

Changes consistent with liberalism that aim to limit the power of the state and increase the power of the market and private property.

Gini Index

A statistical formula that measures the amount of inequality in a society; ranges from 0 to 100.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total market value of all goods and services produced by a country over a period of one year.

Human Development Index (HDI)

A statistically tool that attempts to evaluate the overall wealth, health, and knowledge of a country’s people.

Hyperinflation

Inflation of more than 50% a month for more than two months in a row.

Inflation

An increase in the general price level of goods and services in the economy.

Laissez-faire

The principle that the economy should be allowed to do what it wishes; minimal state interference.

Market

The interaction between the forces of supply and demand.

Mercantilism

A political-economic system in which economic power is paramount and the domestic economy is viewed as an instrument that exists primarily to serve the needs of the state.

Monopoly

A single producer that is able to dominate the entire market.

Nontariff Regulatory Barriers

Policies and regulations used to limit imports through methods other than taxation.

Parastatal

Industry partially owned by the state.

Political Economic System

The relationship between politiical and economic institutions in a particular country and the policies and outcomes they create.

Political Economy

The study of the interaction between states and markets.

Property

The ownership of anything tangible or intangible.

Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)

A statistical tool that attempts to estimate the buying power of income across different countries by using prices in the United States as a benchmark.

Quota

A nontariff barrier that limits the quantity of a good that may be imported into a country.

Regulation

A rule or an order that sets the boundaries of a given procedure.

Social Expenditures

State provision of public benefits.

Tariff

A tax on imported goods

Public Goods

Goods provided by the state.

Abstract Review

Judicial review that allows the constitutional court to rule on questions that do not arise from actual legal disputes.

Bicameral System

A political system in which the legislature comprises two houses.

Civil Liberties

Individual rights regarding freedom that are created by the constitution and the political regime.

Civil Rights

Individual rights regarding equality that are created by the constitution and the political regime.

Civil Society

Organizations outside of the state that help people define and advance their own interests.

Concrete Review

Judicial review that allows the consi