Comp Gov Unit 1

Political Left

Favors change and social programs; prioritizes equality and fairness.

Political Right

Favors the status quo and conservatism; prioritizes family, tradition, and purity.

Reactionaries

Want to return to the past because they believe it had positive characteristics missing from contemporary society.

Liberalism

Favors individual freedom in the economy and in civil rights and liberties.

Nationalism

The belief that a group of people has a unique destiny, often including a desire for a separate state.

Deviant case study

Study of cases that contradict an established pattern.

Most similar case study

Compares similar cases that differ in the dependent variable.

Most different case study

Compares different cases that vary in independent variables but produce similar outcomes.

Empirical statement

A verifiable statement about facts.

Causation

When a change in one variable produces a change in another variable.

Institutions

Stable, long-lasting organizations that make formal political policies within government.

Transparency

The ability of citizens to see what the government is doing.

Correlation

An apparent connection between variables.

Normative statement

A judgment about what should be.

Coinciding cleavage

Multiple divisions that overlap, intensifying differences and weakening society.

Political cleavage

A division within society over a political issue or identity.

Cross-cutting cleavage

Different social divisions that overlap in ways that bring groups together and strengthen society.

Legitimacy

The people's belief that a government has the right to rule.

Traditional legitimacy

Authority accepted because a tradition of obedience has existed for a long time.

Rational-legal legitimacy

Authority accepted because it follows a fair, understandable system of laws and rules.

Charismatic legitimacy

Authority accepted because people believe a ruler's magnetic personality makes them worthy of ruling.

Sovereignty

The ability of a government to rule its territory without internal or external interference.

Coercive diplomacy

Using threats or forceful persuasion to make a state, group, or non-state actor change its behavior.

Civil liberties

Protections against government interference with individual freedoms, such as free speech.

Civil rights

Government protections against discrimination and unequal treatment.

Authoritarian state

A state where elections are not free and fair and civil rights and liberties are restricted.

Authoritarian populism

A political movement or leader claiming to represent ordinary people against a corrupt elite, often opposing immigration and globalization and undermining the rule of law.

State

Political institutions that exercise authority over a territory, maintain a monopoly on legitimate force, and make public policy.

Nation

A group with a shared sense of identity based on ethnicity, language, history, or culture.

Liberal/Substantive democracy

A government with free and fair elections and protections for civil rights and liberties.

Democratization

The transition from authoritarian rule toward democracy, potentially progressing from illiberal to liberal democracy.

Illiberal/Procedural democracy

A government that holds elections but lacks strong protections for civil rights and liberties or has flaws in electoral fairness.

Mixed regime/Hybrid regime

A government combining both authoritarian and democratic elements.

Post-truth politics

Politics in which emotions and personal loyalties outweigh facts and evidence.

Political economy

The relationship between government policies and the economy.

Free market economy/Laissez-faire capitalism/Neoliberal economic policies

An economic system emphasizing supply and demand with limited government intervention.

Economic liberalization

The shift toward a free market economy by reducing tariffs, trade barriers, and government control.

Gini Index

A measure of income inequality within a country.

Human Development Index (HDI)

A measure of development based on life expectancy, education, and standard of living.

GDP per capita

A country's gross domestic product divided by its population.

GDP

The total value of final goods and services produced within a country over a specific period; measures economic activity.

Globalization

The increasing interconnectedness of countries through trade, investment, technology, and cultural exchange; can be contrasted with policies that limit these connections.

Geoeconomic fragmentation

The division of the global economy into competing regional blocs, disrupting international trade, investment, and technology flows.

Underdeveloped countries

Countries with low GDP per capita and HDI, often relying heavily on agriculture.

Least developed countries

The world's poorest countries, characterized by very low incomes and severe development challenges.

Developing countries

Countries with middle-range income and development levels, often undergoing industrialization.

Emerging economies/NICs (Newly Industrializing Countries)

Developing economies with strong growth potential and increasing industrialization and foreign direct investment (FDI).

Rule of law

Where law is applied equally to everyone, including government officials.

Developed countries

Countries with high GDP per capita and HDI, generally characterized by advanced economies and large service sectors.

Rational-choice theory

The theory that individuals make strategic decisions to maximize their interests.

Middle-level theory

A theory focused on particular institutions, policies, or types of events, such as revolutions and elections.

Grassroots movements

Movements in which ordinary citizens organize to push for reform or political change.