Cultural Determinants of Democracy and Dictatorship

Flashcards covering key concepts related to the cultural determinants of democracy and dictatorship, including theories and influential scholars.

Primordialist arguments

Treats cultures as objective and inherited, fixed since primordial times.

Constructivist arguments

Treats culture as constructed or invented rather than inherited.

Civic Culture

A shared cluster of attitudes including interpersonal trust and support for the political system, conducive to democracy.

Political Culture

The way individuals think and feel about their political system.

Almond and Verba

Researchers who identified three types of political culture: Parochial, Subject, and Participant.

Parochial Culture

Political culture typical of traditional systems, such as some African tribes.

Subject Culture

Centralized authoritarian systems where individuals obey the state.

Participant/Civic Culture

Political culture associated with democracy, where citizens actively engage in politics.

Inglehart and Welzel

Scholars who categorized cultural values into traditional vs secular-rational and survival vs self-expression.

Traditional Values

Associated with religion, family roles, and authority, often conflicts with democracy.

Secular-Rational Values

Less emphasis on religion and more on individual rights, supportive of democracy.

Survival Values

Emphasize physical and economic security, often present in authoritarian contexts.

Self-Expression Values

Highlight equality and interpersonal trust, more prevalent in democratic societies.

Cultural Modernization Theory

Poses that without cultural change, democracy will fail; economic development is needed.

Demographic Transition

Cultural and political changes accompanying lower fertility rates and increased female employment.

Malthusian Trap

Cycle where technological advances improve living standards temporarily before population growth diminishes them.

Collective Action Theory

Explains why individuals may not participate in group efforts to achieve a common goal.

Public Good

A commodity or service that benefits all members of a community and is non-rivalrous.

Preference Falsification

The tendency for individuals to hide their true preferences in public, especially under dictatorship.

Tipping Models

Model explaining how individual preferences can lead to a mass participation in protests.

Revolutionary Threshold

The point at which individuals are willing to join a protest or revolution.

Cultural Determinism

The belief that culture alone determines the societal and political structure.

Democracy

A system of government by the whole population, usually through elected representatives.

Dictatorship

A form of government where a single entity or group holds absolute power.

Legitimacy

The right and acceptance of an authority, often a governing law or regime.

Bottom-Up Transition

A revolution where the populace rises to overthrow an authoritarian regime.

Top-Down Transition

A process where authoritarian leaders implement reforms that lead to democratic transitions.

Selectorate Theory

A theory that explains the stability of governments based on the size of the winning coalition and selectorate.

Loyalty Norm

The degree of loyalty members of a winning coalition have toward their leader.

Kleptocracy

A form of corruption where political leaders exploit their power for personal gain.

Cooptation

The process of assimilating potential threats into a regime to maintain control.

Military Tutelage

A system where the military plays a guiding role in political affairs.

Civilian Control

A condition where civilian authorities maintain control over the military.

Personalist Dictatorship

A dictatorship centered around a single leader, characterized by strong personality cults.

Cultural Configuration

A particular combination of attributes within a culture that influences political behavior.

Cultural Entrepreneur

An individual or group that seeks to modify cultural configurations for political ends.

Interpersonal Trust

The belief in the reliability and integrity of others, important in civic culture.

Political Liberalization

The process of introducing more democratic elements into an authoritarian regime.

Democratic Backsliding

The process through which democratic institutions and practices are weakened.

Authoritarianism

A political system characterized by strong central power and limited political freedoms.

Social Desirability Bias

A tendency for survey respondents to answer questions in a manner they believe will be viewed favorably.

Differential Item Functioning (DIF)

A situation where different groups understand survey items differently.

Cultural Modernization Theory

Suggests that cultural changes brought by economic development can lead to democratization.

Hierarchical Authority

A system of organization where individuals or groups are ranked one above the other.

Civic Engagement

Active participation in public life and civic affairs.

Genre of Political Culture

Categories within political culture that reflect varying degrees of citizen engagement.

Role of Education in Democracy

Education helps create informed citizens capable of engaging in democratic processes.

Religion's Impact on Democracy

Different religions can play varying roles in supporting or undermining democratic values.

Huntington's Clash of Civilizations

The idea that future conflicts will be driven more by cultural identities than political ideologies.

Cultural Attributes

Specific elements that characterize a culture, like norms, beliefs, and practices.

Moral Relativism

The idea that moral principles are not universal and can vary based on cultural context.

Political Trust

Confidence in political institutions and leaders to perform effectively.

Existential Security

The degree of safety individuals feel regarding their survival and well-being.

Relative Deprivation Theory

A perceived discrepancy between what individuals have and what they believe they deserve.

Democracy's Requirements

Preconditions necessary for a stable democratic system, including civic culture.

Electoral Fraud

Manipulation or unfair practices in electoral processes.

Political Institutions

Established laws or practices that govern political interactions.

Support Coalition

Groups or individuals that provide essential backing to a political leader.

What is authoritarian control?

Authoritarian control refers to the concentration of power in a single authority or a small group, limiting individual freedoms and political plurality.

What are common characteristics of authoritarian regimes?

Common characteristics include suppression of dissent, limited political freedoms, control of media, and the use of coercion.

How do authoritarian regimes maintain power?

They maintain power through surveillance, censorship, propaganda, political repression, and by establishing a cult of personality.

What is the impact of authoritarian control on society?

It often leads to human rights abuses, lack of political participation, and stunted social and economic progress.

What are the differences between authoritarianism and totalitarianism?

While both involve central control, totalitarianism seeks to control all aspects of life, including ideology, while authoritarianism is primarily focused on maintaining political power.

What is the selectorate theory?

The selectorate theory is a political theory that explains how leaders maintain power and make decisions based on the size and composition of the group that selects them.

What are the three key groups in the selectorate theory?

1. The Selectorate: The group of individuals who have a say in choosing the leader.
2. The Winning Coalition: The subset of the selectorate whose support is essential for the leader to stay in power.
3. The Interchangeables: Individuals within the selectorate who can be easily replaced.

How does the size of the winning coalition affect governance?

As the size of the winning coalition increases, leaders tend to cater to broader interests, leading to more inclusive policies. Conversely, smaller coalitions often result in favoritism and patronage.

What role does loyalty play in the selectorate theory?

Loyalty is crucial as leaders must ensure their winning coalition remains supportive, often through incentives or rewards that align their interests with those of the leader.

How does selectorate theory explain corruption?

In smaller winning coalitions, leaders may engage in corrupt practices to retain support by providing private goods to coalition members, facilitating personal gain over public interest.

What is the loyalty norm in the context of selectorate theory?

The loyalty norm refers to the expectation that individuals within the winning coalition will support the leader in exchange for rewards or benefits, ensuring stability of the regime.

How do leaders use the loyalty norm to maintain power?

Leaders leverage the loyalty norm by providing selective incentives to coalition members, reinforcing their allegiance and ensuring their continued support.

What happens when the loyalty norm is weak?

When the loyalty norm is weak, coalition members may be more likely to defect, leading to instability for the leader and potential challenges to their authority.

Can the loyalty norm impact governance quality?

Yes, a strong loyalty norm can lead to prioritization of personal loyalty over merit, potentially compromising governance quality and policy effectiveness.

What are some factors that can strengthen the loyalty norm?

Factors include providing economic benefits, ensuring political security, and creating a sense of shared identity or ideology among coalition members.