Comparative Politics midterm

What is a state?

An organized political organization that makes and enforces laws within a specific gained territory

What makes a state legitimate?

Sovereignty, Recognition, Territory, Monopoly of force, Government institutions, and Population

Types of Regimes

Democracy, Authoritarianism, Totalitarianism, Monarchy, Absolute Monarchy, Constitutional Monarchy, Theocracy

Democracy

A system where citizens choose their leaders through fair elections, and political power is exercised indirectly or directly by the people

Authoritarianism

Power is held by one leader or a small group, and citizens have limited political freedoms and little influence over government decisions.

Totalitarianism

the government tries to control nearly every aspect of public and private life, including media, culture, and beliefs.

Monarchy

A system where a king or queen rules, usually because they inherited the position.

Absolute Monarchy

A monarchy where the ruler has almost complete political power and is not limited by laws or a constitution.

Constitutional Monarchy

monarch’s power is limited by a constitution, and elected officials usually run the government.

Theocracy

religious leaders control the government and laws are based on religious principles.

Anarchy

no central government or authority to enforce rules or laws.

Where does legitimacy come from?

The people (elections), Traditions (its been like this forever), God ( God gave me the power to do this)

Homeland

a geographically distinct territory associated with the history and origins of the particular people

Components of a political economy

Politics, economy, how political forces govern economic interaction

Public Goods

Goods or services that everyone can use and that the government usually provides, because private companies may not provide them efficiently.
Examples: roads, national defense, public parks.

Social Expenditures

Government spending on programs that support people’s well-being.
Examples include healthcare, pensions, unemployment benefits, and education.

Inflation

When prices of goods and services increase over time, meaning money buys less than before.

Deflation

When prices of goods and services decrease over time, meaning money buys more than before.

Money

A medium of exchange used to buy goods and services and measure value in an economy.

Tariffs

Taxes placed on imported goods to make foreign products more expensive and protect domestic industries.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP – especially GDP per capita)

A measure of a country’s total economic output.
GDP per capita divides this by population to estimate average wealth per person.

Gini Index

A measure of income inequality in a country.

• 0 = perfect equality (everyone earns the same)

• 100 = perfect inequality (one person has all the income)

Human Development Index (HDI)

A measure of a country’s overall development and quality of life, based on:

• Education

• Life expectancy / health

• Income

What can measure happiness?

• Income / economic security

• Social support (having people you can rely on)

• Healthy life expectancy

• Freedom to make life choices

• Generosity

• Low corruption / trust in government

Systems of Political economy

Liberalism, Capitalism, Mercantilism, Socialism, Communism

Capitalism

Economic system based on the principle of private ownership and free market. The system is

driven by prof it.

Economically ef f icient

Encourages technological progress

Driving force – competition and consumer ’s choice.

Liberalism

A political and economic idea that supports individual freedoms, democracy, and free markets, but may allow some government regulation to protect rights and opportunities.

Simple: Freedom, democracy, and regulated markets.

Mercantilism

dominant (in Europe) economic system in the 16th to 18th centuries. It

focuses on accumulating wealth by building up gold and silver stocks.

• Protectionist (maximizes export and minimizes import)

• Colonialist (focus on acquiring and profiting from natural resources)

• Industrial (builds industries)

The goal is to boost state power

Socialism

is an economic and political system.

Advocates for collective or governmental ownership of the means of

production

Aimes:

• to reduce economic inequality

• to ensure social welfare

• to incorporate regulations in free market

Communism

A system where all property and businesses are owned collectively (usually by the state) and the goal is complete economic equality with no social classes.

Simple: No private property; resources are shared equally.

Markets

gathering of people for the purchase

and sale of provisions, livestock, and other

commodities.

Types of Market

Black market, monopoly, stock market

Nation

A group of people who share a common identity, often based on language, culture, history, or ethnicity.

Nation-state

A political system where the boundaries of the nation and the state largely overlap, meaning most people share the same national identity.

Nationalism

an ideology emphasizing intense loyalty, pride, and devotion to one’s nation, often placing its culture and interests above all others

Components of nation

• Shared language

• Shared culture and traditions

• Common history

• Shared territory

• Group of People

National Identity

A person’s sense of belonging to a nation.

Ethnic Identity

Identity based on shared ancestry, language, or heritage.

Social Identity

Identity based on social groups, such as class, religion, gender, or occupation.

Political Identity

How people identify politically, including ideology, party affiliation, or views about government.

Culture

The shared values, beliefs, traditions, and behaviors of a group of people.

Culture influences political systems, institutions, and national identity.

Modernization Theory

The idea that economic development leads to social and political changes, often encouraging democracy.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that political power comes from the people, who choose their leaders through elections or participation.

Political Polarization

When political opinions become extremely divided, often creating strong conflict between groups or parties.

Revolution

A rapid and fundamental change in a political system, usually involving mass mobilization and sometimes violence.

Terrorism

The use of violence or threats against civilians to achieve political goals.

Guerrilla Warfare

irregular warfare where small groups use hit-and-run tactics against stronger military forces.

Nihilism

A belief that traditional values, beliefs, or institutions have no real meaning or legitimacy.

State Terrorism

Violence carried out by a government against its own population or other groups to maintain power or create fear.

Relative Deprivation

The idea that people become politically violent when they feel deprived compared to what they believe they deserve.

Institution

Rules, organizations, or structures that shape political behavior and decision-making.

Types of instituions

Formal and informal institutions

Formal institutions

Official rules and organizations such as constitutions, courts, and legislatures.

Informal institutions

Unwritten rules or traditions that influence politics, such as customs, networks, or social norms.

What is a coup

A sudden and illegal seizure of power from a government, usually by the military or political elite or insiders

Civil war

A violent conflict between groups within the same country for control of government or territory.

Primordialism

The theory that nations are ancient and based on deep historical, ethnic, or cultural ties.

Perennialism

The idea that nations have existed for a very long time but may change form over history.