Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Britain, Russia, Mexico

globalization

• what happens in one country affects other countries

politics

• processes through which groups of people govern themselves or are governed

political science

• study of political systems and political behavior

• studies how individuals and groups relate —> make theories to explain the nature of politics and events

comparative politics

• examines / compares / contrasts the constitutions / legal systems / governmental systems / political party systems / economies / civil societies around the world

• to better understand best approaches for political issues

positive / empirical theory

• what happens

• why it happens

• based on empirical / factual evidence (more comp)

normative theory

• what should happen

• value laden

• open to debate

causality

• relationship with multiple variables

• one is changed —> others change

theory

• generally accepted claim of how / why things relate to each other

authority

• having some sort of conferred legitimacy to wield power

legitimacy

• when society thinks that a government has the right to rule

sovereignty

• state’s claim to wield power with authority and effective control in a defined territory

• means state is the ruler

government

• organizations and people in charge of the territory at a given time (Biden Government = Biden Administration)

• change more often

regime

• system / rule / laws in place in a certain territory at a certain time (Constitutional regime)

• change less often but still can change

state

• includes all individuals and institutions that exercise power

• has monopoly on legitimate coercion (state = country)

• began in Europe

• exported via colonialism / imperialism

• set population

• defined territorial boundaries

• political institutions

• sovereignty

• international recognition

industrialized democracy

• strong political socialization against gov use of power

• strong constitution / public opinion / elections that limit power of leaders

• abundant resources to help maintain state

• UK

communist state

• gov controls everything (economy / pol system / society)

• most collapsed after Cold War and had to adjust regimes

• China (liberal econ reforms)

• Russia (pol liberalization —> authoritarianism)

less developed state

• most countries (130)

• poor

• large populations

• usually young / illiterate

• poor health / environment

• poor quality of life

• often coups / corruption / weak judicial systems / lack of many pol institutions

• Nigeria

newly industrializing country

• less developed state that is elevating itself out of that category

• Mexico

failed state

• gov cannot maintain simple law and order / provide basic services

• gov can turn rogue / violate law / be violent to its own people

• Iran (in danger of achieving status)

• Nigeria (borderline)

democracy

• fair / frequent / competitive elections (opposition can participate)

• balance of majority rule / minority rights

• constitutional limitations

• pol / civil rights held by all citizens (equality)

• transparency in decision making

• accountability of elected officials

• independent judiciary

• elected officials have supreme power (even over military)

• rule of law (legal procedures respected, resolution not through violence)

consolidated democracy

• if state excels at all democracy characteristics for extended period of time

• UK

liberal / substantive / functioning democracy

• all aspects of consolidated democracy

• not long enough

• Mexico

illiberal / procedural democracy

• electoral process confers legitimacy

• leaders use elections to stay in power / gain legitimacy

• fair / frequent / semi-competitive elections

• limits on civil liberties / rule of law

• lack of independent judiciary

• civilian control over military

• Russia (used to be)

authoritarianism

• rule by single leader / small group / single party

• limited pol participation

• little autonomy of society

• few outlets for political opposition

• low transparency / accountability

military authoritarianism

• military in power

• Nigeria

party authoritarianism

• single party state

• Mexico (until recently)

theocracy

• religious rule

• Iran

totalitarianism

• total control over citizens

• centralized / dictatorial

• requires complete subservience to state

fascism / communism

• regime controls everything

• official ideology

• one party

• usually one ruler

• lots of pol violence / secret police

• Soviet Union (communism under Stalin)

• China (communism under Mao)

hybrid regime

• semi-authoritarian

• semi-democracy

• transitional democracy

• elements of democratic regime + other regimes

• some pol corruption / control of media / extra-constitutional manipulation or limiting of pol opposition

• Russia (used to be)

• Nigeria

• Mexico

legitimacy

• when state / regime / gov is seen as justified in use of wielding power

• now power is almost the exclusive domain of states

coercive power

• getting one’s way by rewards / punishments (bribes, terror)

• shows lack of legitimacy

noncoercive power

• how one can observe if state / regime / gov is legitimate or not

• if people obey without fear of punishment / promise of rewards

• power based on noncoercive authority confers authority to those who wield power

traditional legitimacy

• power from family claim

• usually a belief that God ordained current power structure

• often many rituals / myths / pomp / ceremony

• “divine right of kings“

charismatic authority

• power based on individual’s personality so much that people feel personally attached to them

• authority usually ends once leader dies

• Russia (Putin)

• Iran (Ayatollah Khomeini)

cult of personality

• more intense charismatic authority

• worship of a leader

• mass media / propaganda —> creates adoration / worship of a leader / religious group / nonpol leader for pol purposes

• Russia (Stalin)

• China (Mao)

rational-legal authority

• power based on established rules / constitutional system

• legal authority usually lasts beyond leader

• UK

constitution

• body of laws: creates rules by which pol system is run

• citizens obey rules (like or dislike) due to rule of law (system is legitimate)

• written (USA) vs. unwritten (UK)

• detailed vs. vague

• confers great legitimacy (USA, UK) vs. disregarded (Russia)

nation

• group of people with unified identity

• shared culture / history

• often tied to ethnicity / common language

nation state

• self-governing nation

state formation

• historical creation / development of state

ethnic nation

• nationality defined by shared ethnicity

• Russia (Chechens)

civic nation

• multiethnic people with common identity

• beliefs / ideals / tradition / history / religion

types of regimes

• unified

• decentralized

• federalism

• democracy

• dictatorship

• presidential system

• parliamentary system

types of legitimacy

• charisma

• ideology

• tradition

• revolution

• religion

• constitution

• rule of law

• rational-legal authority

• competitive elections

• aspects of pol culture

types of public policy

• issues all states must deal with (regardless of pol structure)

• natural environment

• social / ethnic diversity

• economic performance

• delivering healthcare for all citizens

state formation of the UK

only CURRENT democratic state that became such w/o a revolution

gradualism

dem traditions evolve slowly; step by gradual step

benefits of the land

unique geography; last invaded in 1066

major document written in 1215

Magna Carta

when was a bill of rights introduced

1689

church of england

a stronger monarchy = more independence

important things in important times

1700s - parliamentary rule

1800-1900s - universal suffrage

the uk has a _____ history which allows for _____ levels of legitimacy

long, high

efficacy

belief that participation matters

parliament

legislative branch; ex. Congress

unitary system

king is head of state, prime minister is head of government; parliament is bicameral (house of lords is “symbolic”, house of commons has real power); central authority is distributed into regional authority

house of commons

prime minister elected by HoC, selected by the winning party and is the leader of the largest party (monarch “officially“ appoints said person as the head of government). the PM will then work with his/her party to select cabinet heads within parliament

fusion of power

executive are part of legislative

first past the post

majority not needed, only a plurality

single member district (smd)

members of parliament represent certain areas; encourages a two-party system

divided government

does not exist in uk because of parliamentary system; bills pass easily in par. system and fast, significant changes can quickly be made; pm and cabinet are the government/cabinet heads are in charge of specific policy areas

shadow government

minority party forms in a gov in waiting

party loyalty

greater in par system than pres; PM can take jobs away from rogue members of parliament and legislation passes very easily

elections

once every 5 years for HC (at LEAST); irregular elections can be caused by…

• vote of no confidence

• key vote fails

• PM calls for an earlier election

• king dissolves parliament

Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act of 2022

repealed the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 and reinstated the prior constitutional situation, by reviving the prerogative powers of the monarch to dissolve and summon parliament

house of lords

can delay a bill for 7 days; can debate/make advisory comments

Blair Reforms of the 90s

The Blair government subsequently passed the House of Lords Act 1999. On 7 November 2001 the government undertook a public consultation. [3] This helped to create a public debate on the issue of Lords reform, with 1,101 consultation responses [4] and numerous debates in Parliament and the media.

• some hereditary peers and some appointed by merit

referendums

the people vote on a rule/law/etc; par. is sovereign and the people are not. ex. Scottish independence, Brexit, etc

two-party system

political party system in which two major political parties consistently dominate the political landscape

still a TPS?

no ☹ .

prior to WWI - libs vs torries

after WWI - labour party emerges

two major parties - torries & labour

libs are minor party

Beveridge Report (1942)

argued for increase of social services

after WWII - mass consensus for “cradle to the grave“ welfare state (capitalism x socialism watered down)

nhs created and many industries were nationalized

followed by decades of labour party dominance

led to seismic change in uk politics, culture, society, & economy

class cleavage

upper, middle (skilled tradesmen), working (unskilled workers)

fading in importance but still relevant

1970s strikes + riots

loss of empire; stagnate economy (inflation :p)

The Iron Lady

2011 biographical drama film based on the life and career of Margaret Thatcher, a British politician who was the longest-serving Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of the 20th century and the first woman to hold the office.

what happened with girl queen MT?

cons. party won and enacted neoliberalism under MT in 1979 (labour party dominance = broken); enacts free market reforms that reshape welfare state

austerity

usually related to neoliberalism; raise taxes, cut spending; “tighten the belt“

parties

• labour - working class

• conservative - upper middle class & elites

• liberal dem party - social liberals (less socialist economically than labour)

• scottish national party

• UKIP/brexit - anti-immigration/anti-EU

• others - DUP, pirates, plaid oymru, etc

Irish cleavage (lmao)

deepest cleavage is over Northern Ireland

1970s-1990s terrorism

ceasefire since 1995

race cleavage

large spike in ethnic, racial, and religious diversity

1 in 3 British citizens have 1 minority parent

deepest divide in Britain today is ethnicity

Constitutional Reform Movement

*ongoing* movement to change character of British constitution

2000s - HoL

2005 - Supreme Court

Fixed Terms Act of 2011

Devolution (1990s)

central gov gave power to regions (Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland); purpose was to help with less national changes; result was spike in regional and secessionist parties and the system remains unitary

AV Referendum

The United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum, also known as the UK-wide referendum on the Parliamentary voting system was held on Thursday 5 May 2011 in the United Kingdom to choose the method of electing MPs at subsequent general elections. (proportional rep)

Republican Movement

republicanism in uk is the political movement that seeks to replace the uk's monarchy with a republic. republicans support alternative forms of governance to a monarchy, such as an elected head of state.

2015 Referendum (Scotland)

general election was held in uk on May 7, 2015 and all 59 seats in Scotland were contested under the first-past-the-post, single-member district electoral system.

interest groups

increase participation by people in the democratic system

media

ex, BBC; state-owned but not state-run

brexit

in EU since 1970s

2016 - referendum to leave Union

coalition government

form of government in which political parties cooperate to form a government; Dublin Union Party (DUP)/Conservative

common law

judge made law; try to apply precedent

some names

boris johnson

theresa may

margaret thatcher

liz truss

rishi sunak

Political Institutions

Building blocks of the political system

(ex: executive, CNN, NRA, Republican party)

Unitary System

System where one central government has full authority over all lower levels of government. Lower levels of government have no authority which is protected by a constitution.

Federal system

System where the central government shares power with other levels of government

Confederation

System where sovereign states work together without a strong central government.

Advantages of Federalism:

Advantages of ______: Different groups are allowed to live their individual lives

Disadvantages of Federalism:

Disadvantages of ______: Lack of uniformity in policy, accentuation of differences

Devolution

Phenomenon where, in a unitary system, power is given to the regional governments from the federal government

The Executive is...

• Head of the executive branch

• In charge of the bureaucracy

The Head of State…

Represents the state in international affairs