POLI SCI 2000

EXAM IN 2 DAYS LETS GO

methodology

• the system by which we forumulate conclusions about relationshios between diffrent varibles

• based on observaitions and experimentation

  • eg: why do countries develop and not others

independant varaible

variable that is manipulated to test its effects on another variable

eg: tine spent sleeping

mechanism

scientific explanation in poli sci for relationship between varaibles

eg: more time spent sleeping boosts immune system

dependant variable

varible that is affected by other factors

eg: time it takes to recover from illness

cases

• used to establish relationships often are countries

• more cases show robust information

• sample size

quantatitive method

• involve numbers, mathemathical/statistical methods

  • large N analysis using many cases

qualitative methods

• do not involve manipulation of numbers

• historical anlysis, intervies, archival research

correlation vs causation

• correlation does NOT equal causation

  • eg: altough wealthier countries seem more democratic, wealth itself does not EQUAL democracy

Lipsid reading

• problem of many variables, small #of cases

  *add

experimental method

• expose 1 group to stimulant

• results are attributed to stimulant

  • eg: placebo or non- placebo

  • cons: ethical problems not practical in polisci

• eg: natrual experiments north korea/south= prove communism leads to economic failure

natural expirment

• eg: North Korea vs South Korea what makes these states different

• hard to do due to ethical concerns

  • eg: can study various provinces evolution when isolated

statistical method

• use many case studies and attempt to reach conclusions using stat analysis

• pro: find a relationsip between a large variety of cases

• cons: lack of depth, correlation not causation

comparative method -n

• small/medium numbers of case studies (N)

• evidence is not as conclusive

• can understand mechanisms at play

most similar system design

• method of comparing similar cases that may differ in one or more key areas to find the effects of political variables

  • eg: twins that had same genes, family, upbringing except public vs private school

• picking countries from a study that are most similar to compare differing factors

  • South Korea VS North: Similarities ethnic, cultiural geographical, historicall union until 1945. Diffrences in political system totalitarian regime

most diffrent system design

• comparing cases that are very diffrent but share same outcome

• helps identify common factors equal same political outcomes despite carying context, strucutre or culture

• used to strengthen a claim and test a theory

  • eg sweden (democratic welfare) and singpaore (semi-auth with limited politcal opposition). bouth countries vary culturally but have exbit high level of economic devlopment and quality of life

historical instituionalism

• emphasizes the importance of historical context in political institutions and their development

  • evolution of institutions over time and their infleunce on political behavoir

path dependance

• idea that once a country takes an institutionalism route it is very difficult to get off that path

• becomes self-reinforcing and tends to persist

  • in countries like Sweden, comprehensive welfare systems developed early on due to labor movements and social democratic parties

deep historical analysis

• nature of Spanish colonized vs British; trace institutional policies led to different paths led to present day

  • advantages: future improvement based on past, root causes of topic/issues

  • disadvantages: long process with alot of work, limited information from the past

critical juncture

• moment in history when countries make a critical deacon, altering the trajectory of institutional developments

examples of critical junctures

• Revolutions, regime changes, major economic crises, 911, Great Leap Forward, CCP abandoning communism, Abolishment of Slavery

Controlling for variable

can split into subgroups to ensure there are no other variables that could cause outcomes

Deviant case

•  outliers, something as far away from the mean as possible.

  • value of study = can refine your hypothesis ( debunk it so you can come to a better reason)

  • more insight into other facots than eg economic devlopment

  • more insight to hyptohesis

• eg: very wealthy auth states

State

 community that successfully claims the monopoly of the use of force within a given territory

How do states monopolize power/force

• military

• police

• justice sytem

services of states

• tax agencies

• education

• health care

• ministries (labor, etc0

failed state

• the state has no control over its territory

  • Ex. Somalia is a failed state as the government only controls some parts of its territory 

• weak governments results in crisis (AIDS in Africa)

  • Implementation of pre-exisiting resouces is proven by nation

  • leads to humanitarian disasters domestiaclly and internationally

Francis Fukuyama “The Imperatives of State-Building.”

• building up the state

• west proposes economic+ liberal freedom sought out worldwide

• fall of communism, Berlin Wall, Soviet Union: counter trend- Thatcherism + Reaganism

• reducing the size of state dominant in 80s, 90s

State strength

ability to plan and execute policies and enforce such laws

• can the state stop terrorists from buying illegal weapons and deal with crimes

washington consenus

• reducing state intervention in economic activities after “Washington Consensus”

  • anti- globalization protestors

  • liberizaing economic reform to aid devloping nations

  • nation state must have proper institojalized framework to implement liberal economic reform

  • failed to consider lacking institutions in developing countries

state size (scope)

• different roles and functions taken on by government

• distribution of resources, range of functions, domestic and foreign security, safety nets

  • eg USA scope is weak: seperation of powers, fragmented health care, weak welfare, educational inequality

  • Scandinavian country strong:

Institutions

 a set of rules and procedures that constrain and enable human behaviour. Both informal and formal

Formal institutions

 legal documents say they exist, (the law says they exist) 

• Ex. justice system is formal, Charter of Rights and Freedoms, religious institutions 
  

Informal institutions:

 nothing written down legally, but people still have behaviour controlled by it 

• Ex. Family has expectations and roles but not written down, gangs, tipping in restaurants 

Anarchy state:

no state at all, they do not exist as anything but a failed state 

Neoliberalism state

• minimal state intervention in economic matters, no tariffs and free market.

• Only police and basic infastructre

• Milton Freedman is the father of this.

  • Markets are better at allocating resource more efficiently

  • People have individual responsibility

Chigaco Boys

were a group of economists that helped South American leaders become neoliberal 

Chile Augusto Pinochet: 

• Came to power in coup

• Help from Chigaco Boys who let him study under Milton Friedman

• Removed protects it tariffs, subsidies, deindustrialised economy 

• No price controls or welfare cut

• Fastest growing economy in South America 

• Lots of factories failed 

Developmental state

• uses tariffs and subsides to support industryes (South Korea Park Chung Hee)

• There are scenarios where the market does not actually efficiently allocate resources

• Market will not create long term prosperity

• Can be helpful for countries trying to build a industry from scratch by making subsidies and tariffs (Protectionism)

Park Chung-Hee:

• Nationalism used to promote growth 

• Managed to create export economy 

• State and private businesses were close, threw CEOS into jails and then released them when they said they would obey him 

• Inefficient companies not subsidised 

• Wages low and hours long and nationalised banks (so he could take money) 

Tariffs

 tax on imports 

Subsidies

money given to business to help grow

Democracy

 system of government where the government represents will of the citizens 

• Free and fair elections

• Reasonable playing field between incumbents and opposition 

• Leaders have actual power 

Tyranny of the majority

the majority takes away a minority group's rights and oppresses them

Republican democracy

elected officials, competing branches of government, and protection for minority rights due to the constitution 

Direct democracy:

uses initiatives where people sign up saying they favour a bill or law to be passed, does not always protect minority rights

pros:

• Effective if there  is a corrupt legislature 

• Can circumvent political polarisation

Cons

• Initiatives often were incomprehensible

• Oppression of minority (tyranny of majority) 

• Can cause budget issues (no one wants to be taxed) 

• Easier to get signatures if you have money but not without money 

• Lobbyist can still pass laws 

Example:

• Ex. California gave more rights to fowl and how their coops should be kept but took away the right to gay marriage 

• Ex. California had incentives due to corruption in the old election system