Comparative Politics and Global Issues

Vocabulary flashcards covering core political science concepts, comparative politics issues, and global developments from the lecture notes.

Politics

Activities associated with the control of public decisions among a given people and within a given territory.

Public sphere

The realm that deals with collective decisions that extend beyond the individual and typically involve government action.

Private sphere

The realm that deals with actions that do not bind anyone outside a group, such as family and friends.

Sovereignty

The right of a state to self-determination.

Nation

The self-identification of a people with a common identity, built upon a common language, history, race, culture, or shared occupancy of a territory.

Max Weber

The German sociologist who argued that ethnic groups are usually defined by common physical traits, languages, and cultures that individuals believe separate them from other people.

Ethnicity

An identity group usually defined by common physical traits, languages, and cultures that individuals believe separate them from other people.

Human Development Index (HDI)

A measure used to assess national economic development, human well-being, and living standards.

Democratization

The process of making a democracy, which includes the enhancement of human rights and expansion of freedom.

Democracy

A political system where citizens enjoy basic civil and political rights, and political leaders are elected in free and fair elections and are accountable under the law.

Authoritarian systems

Political systems that lack defining features of democracy, including oligarchies, dictatorships, and totalitarian regimes.

First Wave of Democratization

A period of democratization occurring during the first half of the 20th century primarily in Western states.

Second Wave of Democratization

A period of democratization from 1943 to the 1960s involving newly independent states and defeated authoritarian powers.

Third Wave of Democratization

A wave of democratization starting in 1974 affecting Southern Europe, East Asia, Latin America, and a number of African states.

9/11

The September 11 terrorist attacks linked to Al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden, which triggered the War on Terror and the invasions of Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003).

Patriot Day

A day of remembrance commemorated under the motto 'We Will Never Forget' following the events of 9/11.