Study Guide for Comparative Politics Mid-term Exam

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key concepts in comparative politics for exam preparation.

Bureaucratic Authoritarianism

Military rule where the congress acts as a figurehead and the military makes decisions.

Collective Action Problem

A situation where everyone benefits, but no one wants to contribute.

Competitive Authoritarianism

A political system where elections are skewed in favor of the ruling party.

Direct Democracy

A system where 100% of the people vote on 100% of the issues and make decisions.

Anarchy

A state with no government and no stability.

Dictatorship

A system with a leader that provides stability.

Ecological Fallacy

The erroneous assumption that a stereotype of a group applies to an individual and vice versa.

Electoral Democracy

A system with free and fair elections under the rule of law, where the bureaucracy benefits citizens.

Event Horizon Problem

The challenge of governance transition following a dictator's death.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party.

Random acts of violence and surveillance

Methods used by dictators to maintain power.

Top-Down Democracy

Democracy initiated by elites due to system shocks.

Bottom-Up Democracy

Democracy initiated by popular protests or revolutions.

Hybrid Regimes

Political systems that mix elements of authoritarianism and democracy.

Kleptocracy

A government that exploits its resources and population for personal gain.

Liberal Democracy

A form of democracy characterized by the rule of law and citizen benefits.

Malapportionment

A situation where representation is not proportional to the population, leading to misrepresentation.

Most Different System

Different governments yielding the same political outcome.

Most Similar System

Similar governments resulting in different political outcomes.

Path Dependency

The idea that past decisions and actions significantly influence future choices.

Clientelism

A system where representatives provide goods in exchange for votes.

Patronage

The practice of giving jobs or favors in exchange for political support.

Principal-Agent Problem

A dilemma where a solution is created, but the agent must implement it.

Proportional Representation

An electoral system where the percentage of votes equals the percentage of seats won.

Totalitarian Regimes

Governments that seek to control every aspect of citizens' lives.

Waves of Democracy

Periods where democratic governments emerge globally in waves.

Weber’s Sources of Authority

Types of authority: bureaucratic, charismatic, and traditional.

Self-corrective feedback loop

A mechanism in democracies allowing adjustment based on the majority's preferences.

Winner Takes All

An electoral system where only the leading candidate wins without proportional consideration.