PLSC 113 3

Political participation

Actions by individuals intended to influence government and the actions it takes.

Conventional participation

Participation that takes place within formal political processes and the law.

Unconventional participation

Participation that takes place outside formal political processes or even the law.

Digital activism

Political activism that uses social media, email, podcasts and other digital media.

Clicktivism

A form of political engagement involving online activities like sharing tweets or supporting online petitions, often pejoratively called slacktivism.

Political exclusion

The phenomenon by which certain groups, such as the poor, minorities, and unemployed, are discouraged from participating in decision-making.

Paradox of participation

The idea that voting is an irrational act given the time and effort involved and the minimal chance of making a difference.

Social class

A hierarchical division of society based on wealth, education, occupation, and status.

Economic voting

The theory that there is a strong correlation between voter choice and the state of the economy.

Vote buying

The provision of goods and benefits by parties to voters in return for electoral support.

Issue voter

A voter who makes choices based on policies that interest them, not just on demographic factors.

Secularization

The declining influence of religion in political, social, and personal life.

Public opinion

The range of views held on a public issue by a community.

Opinion poll

A series of questions asked in a standard way to gauge public opinion.

Sample survey

A detailed questionnaire similar to an opinion poll, often commissioned by researchers.

Clientelism

The provision of material goods in exchange for electoral support.

Patron-client relationship

An informal hierarchical relationship where political patrons provide favors in return for support.

Mobilized participation

Elite-controlled involvement in politics meant to express popular support for the regime.

Political violence

Violence perpetrated for political purposes by individuals or governments.

Electoral fraud

Illegal interference in an election's conduct.

Electoral system

Rules governing elections, including ballot structure and vote conversion.

Single-member plurality

An electoral system where each district has one representative, and the candidate with the most votes wins.

Proportional representation

An electoral system where seats for each party correspond to the number of votes received.

Mandate

Authorization from the people for the government to follow a specific course of action.

Distribution requirements

Rules specifying how votes must be distributed across regions or social groups.

Referendum

A vote by the electorate on a limited public policy issue.

Initiative

A procedure allowing citizens to propose a popular vote or agenda for legislation.

Voter turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who participate in an election.

Electoral authoritarianism

A regime that presents itself as democratic while concealing its authoritarian traits.

Ballot stuffing

A form of electoral fraud where one individual casts multiple votes.

Political party

A group identified by name and ideology that candidates at elections to control government.

Party identification

Long-term attachment to a political party that helps voters navigate politics.

Partisan dealignment

The weakening of bonds between voters and political parties.

Cadre party

An early type of political party made of elites with limited interest in expanding membership.

Mass party

A political party that attracts large numbers of previously unrepresented people and is funded by its members.

Political cleavage

Emerging voter groups displaying similar preferences based on various differences.

Catch-all party

A political party aiming to attract a wide variety of political views.

Niche party

A party appealing to a narrow electoral section focusing on specific non-economic issues.

Party system

The configuration of political parties based on their number, variety, and interactions.

Ideology

A system of connected beliefs or a blueprint for structuring politics and society.

Iron law of oligarchy

The idea that political organizations, even democratic ones, become dominated by a ruling elite.

Primary election

An election held before a general election to determine party candidates.

Cartel party

A leading party that exploits its dominance to reinforce its strong positions in the political market.

Interest group

A body working outside government to influence public policy.

Advocacy

The process of supporting or promoting a cause to decision-makers.

Civil society

The arena outside government where citizens engage with each other regarding public problems.

Social movement

A societal movement pursuing non-establishment goals through unconventional means.

Pluralism

Tolerance for diverse ideas and views, often shown in the dispersal of power among interests.

Lobbying

Efforts to influence decisions made by officials on behalf of groups or individuals.

Protective group

An interest group seeking selective benefits and insider status.

Promotional group

An interest group promoting broader issues, with open membership.

Peak association

An umbrella organization representing the interests of business or labor to the government.

Think tank

A private organization that researches policy areas to foster debate and change.

Iron triangle

A policy-influencing relationship among interest groups, bureaucracy, and legislative committees.

Issue network

A flexible set of interest groups and experts working on mutual policy interests.

Density

The proportion of eligible group members who actually participate, affecting authority and bargaining power.

Corporatism

An arrangement where selected societal interests are involved in government for access.

Public policy

The positions taken and actions avoided by governments addressing societal needs.

Policy cycle

Understanding public policy as a cycle from agenda-setting to evaluation.

Structuralism

A study approach emphasizing relationships among groups within larger political systems.

Rational model

An approach to policy understanding that identifies the most efficient means to achieve goals.

Cost-benefit analysis

A systematic review of the costs and benefits of available options for decision-making.

Incremental model

A policymaking approach viewing policy evolution as gradual changes through negotiations.

Garbage-can model

An approach recognizing the disorganized nature of policymaking processes.

Policy style

Defining characteristics of public policy in a community based on values and traditions.

Policy diffusion

The tendency for policy programs to spread across countries.

Policy convergence

The tendency for policies in different countries to become more similar.

Political economy

A social science branch studying relationships between markets and the state.

Economics

The study of production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

Markets

The arenas where goods and services are bought and sold, with prices determined by supply and demand.

Economic system

Interactions and institutions managing production, distribution, and consumption in society.

Free trade

Reduction or removal of trade barriers for open and competitive marketplaces.

Development

Improvement of economic and social well-being, often in poorer states.

Dependency theory

Perspective arguing that resources flow from poor states to wealthy ones, creating dependency.

Fair trade

The principle that producers in poorer countries should receive a fair share of profits.

Global financial crisis

Crisis initiated in 2007, spreading quickly due to financial deregulation.

Capitalism

An economic principle prioritizing free-market decisions regarding production and pricing.

Night-watchman state

A state performing limited functions like law enforcement and national defense.

Neoliberalism

An economic philosophy reviving classical liberalism, adopted by conservatives since the 1980s.

Class theory

Theory asserting class hierarchy affects political consciousness.

Communism

Position suggesting that class conflict leads to common ownership and a withering state.

State socialism

Centralized political and economic control in 'communist' states.

Command economy

An economic system where government planners make all production decisions.

Welfare economics

Economics focusing on allocation effects on overall social welfare.

Convergence thesis

Theory suggesting high-income economies develop similar liberal, pro-market frameworks.

Welfare state

A system providing legal provisions for those in need.

Social security

Welfare programs targeting individuals with inadequate or no income.

Resource curse

Phenomenon where resource-rich states experience lower economic growth due to corruption.

State capitalism

System where the state controls the economy, fulfilling roles typically left to the market.

Rent-seeking

Using resources to transfer wealth rather than create new wealth.

Rentier state

A state relying mainly on national revenues from exporting raw materials or leasing resources.