Comparative Politics Exam Study: Chapters 8-11 Terms & Definitions

Nondemocratic regimes are often described using an array of terms, like "dictatorship," "tyranny," or"autocracy." These terms are frequently used interchangeably, though at times they seem to convey different meanings (such as the degree of repression or violence). Why do nondemocratic regimes

seem to suffer from this lack of clarity in terminology?

In many cases, nondemocratic regimes do not resemble one another in the way democracies do, leading to a variety of terms to describe them.

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Which of the following statements would most accurately reflect the relationship between nondemocratic regimes and ideology?

Nondemocratic regimes may have a strong underpinning of ideology, but the ideology may vary or may be weak.

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Many nondemocratic regimes utilize violence to maintain control. What other important element would we expect to see in order to view a regime as totalitarian?

a strong ideology that seeks to remake institutions in order to achieve some particular set of goals

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What kind of political attitude would we most likely associate with totalitarianism?

Totalitarianism is typically associated with both radical and reactionary political attitudes.

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Russia is one of the world's largest producers of oil, gas, and diamonds. What explanations of nondemocratic regimes would emphasize this information?

an elite-based explanation that emphasizes the "resource curse" whereby natural resources enrich those in power while stunting a middle class

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Cultural arguments are common, but problematic, explanations for nondemocratic rule. Why do scholars consider cultural arguments to be problematic?

While culture may be a distinct outcome of interconnected experiences, each one is an array of ideas that are not fixed in some specific way as to prevent democracy.

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Corporatist and clientelist structures can be an important part of nondemocratic rule in that

they co-opt the public by bringing them into a beneficial relationship with the

nondemocratic regime, thus making individuals dependent on it.

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Why might it be the case that a seemingly strong personality cult may give way suddenly, leading to the downfall of the individual in power?

Charismatic legitimacy, even when backed by the media, may fade over time, kept in place only by the threat of force. This is unstable.

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Imagine that a military regime comes to power in a country, overthrowing democratic institutions. One officer is installed in power and gathers around a small group of regime supporters who support the officer's rule in return for their own personal enrichment. What element of nondemocratic rule is most likely at work here?

patrimonialism

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Which of the following elements would be a good indicator that a country's regime is illiberal, or moving in that direction?

There is weak rule of law and media freedom.

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Imagine a country with a high degree of economic inequality. How would communist ideology explain the source of this inequality?

It would focus on how structures allow people to extract value from others.

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A dictatorship of the proletariat is a key part of communist ideology in that

authoritarianism would be a necessary temporary phase in order to wipe out the remnants of capitalism.

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Which of the following best reflects the relationship between communist theory as articulated by Marx and communist ideology as articulated by leaders like Lenin and Mao?

In both cases, the desire to carry out revolution in less-developed countries meant a substantial modification of Marxist thought, such as the notion of a vanguard.

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What is the relationship between the nomenklatura and the party state?

The nomenklatura is a means by which the communist party is able to control key positions within the state, thus limiting any opposition.

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One major challenge in communist economies was managing information and planning production. A second key challenge was

the lack of worker incentives, which affected the quality of goods.

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What is the relationship between communist regimes and ethnic and national identity?

While communist theory arqued that nationalism and ethnic conflict would disappear, these identities persisted and, in some cases, intensified.

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The policies of glasnost and perestroika are critical to understanding the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in that

the limited nature of these reforms failed to make significant change while undermining the legitimacy of the existing regime.

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Which of the following best describes the process of democratization among former communist countries in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union?

Countries with a history of Western European contact and a shorter period of communist rule have experienced stronger democratization.

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In trying to understand why some post-communist countries have done well in making the economic transition while others have not, scholars have focused on

the past legacies of communist rule as well as the rule of law.

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Which statement best reflects the state of gender equality in postcommunist states?

Many postcommunist states rank higher in gender equality than noncommunist countries at a similar level of economic development; however, there is a wide

range of differences in the levels of inequality among postcommunist states.

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The category of developing countries may be useful, but also problematic. What is the limitation of this categorization?

These countries have grown dissimilar over time, making it a challenge to group them together.

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Colonialism relates to imperialism in that

colonialism refers to the physical occupation of territory through military force, business, and settlers as a means of imperial rule.

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Why is state capacity and autonomy of an imperial country an important consideration regarding imperialism itself?

Because such variation can help explain the degree of centralization practiced in the territories under imperial control.

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Which of the following best describes the relationship between ethnicity and imperialism?

Empires imposed ethnic identities as institutions that became both the source of later independence and domestic conflict.

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Mercantilism is a key part of imperialism in that

colonies were expected to develop their own industries to meet local needs.

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Following their independence, many countries faced challenges with state capacity and autonomy. What factor contributed to this?

Many states' reliance on clientelism and patrimonialism weakened state power.

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Which statement reflects the relationship between import substitution and export-oriented industrialization?

Both cases rely on state policies to direct the economy but differ in their focus on what is being produced and for what markets.

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How does political science view the relationship between natural resources and ethnic identities in developing countries?

Each group may seek to control these assets at the expense of others, which is consistent with the idea of the resource curse.

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What is the question that scholars struggle with regarding the establishment of the rule of law in many developing states?

Is the rule of law best institutionalized through such institutions as the courts and police or through the norms of elites and social actors?

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It is often argued that poverty in developing countries can be effectively reduced through microfinance. What is the challenge with this approach?

There is little evidence that those benefiting from microfinance see a reduction in poverty or an improvement in other social indicators.

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Some might assert that countries have always been globalized due to their international connections. What argument might be made against this claim?

Historically, countries were interconnected, but these ties tended to be "thin" or much less intensive.

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How does the idea of a regime in comparative politics relate to the idea of an international regime in the study of globalization?

They both emphasize political norms that bind actors together.

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How might globalization be related to the idea of illiberalism?

As power moves to the international level, this can "hollow out" states and limit public control.

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What statement best reflects how scholars understand the relationship between economic globalization and economic development?

Scholars note that poverty has decreased, but inequality within many countries has also increased.

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Some argue that globalization can generate a global cosmopolitanism, binding people together across borders. What is the criticism of this argument?

Globalization can generate alienation and reinforce old identities rather than undermine them.

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What statement best describes the state of globalization and its effect on domestic and international institutions?

Globalization presents a mixed picture in terms of its effects and how permanent those effects may be.

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