COGO vocab unit 1

Empirical Data

Evidence gathered by observation or experimentation, in other words, factual evidence.

Normative Data

Evidence that is conceptualized data in other words, norms, or opinion based on data.

Quantitative Analysis

A large number of cases that allows the researcher to analyze the data through the use of statistical techniques.

Qualitative Analysis

A small number of cases, which is much more limited in terms of statistical evidence, but tends to be more thorough and detailed in terms of subjective analysis.

Correlation

Exists when there is an association between 2+ variables.

Causation

Relationship between cause and effect, in other words what is the cause of something.

Human Development Index (HDI)

An index created by the United Nations. Summarizes measures of average achievement in key dimensions in human development (like schooling, life expectancy, and income)

Gini Index

Shows income inequality within a country.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Market value of a goods and services produced.

Freedom House

• A non-governmental organization that conducts research on the levels of "freedom" across the world and reports it annually. Their research takes into consideration a number of factors, such as the extent of political rights, freedom of the press and the strength of the rule of law to determine on a scale of 1 (most free) - 7 (least free) the level of freedom of each country.

Transparency International

A non-governmental organization that is engaged in fighting corruption and promoting integrity and accountability across the world. The most important data they provide is the annual Corruption Perception Index. This organization investigates corruption in the public sector, in the private sector, and in the political process.

Failed (or Fragile) States Index

This measurement provides an annual ranking of countries based on their perceived levels of social, economic and political stability. The FSI measure is important to indicate which countries are at risk of collapsing due to myriad of factors. The factors taken into consideration are poverty, corruption, inequality, weak governance, natural disasters, among others. The scale ranges from 0 (countries that are least at risk) to 120 (countries that are most at risk).

Political Systems

The laws , the ideas, and the procedures that decide who has the authority to rule and what the government's influence should be politically and economically.

States

Political organizations that combine a permanent population with governing institutions in a defined territory with international recognition.

Regime

Fundamental rules and norms of politics

Government

Leadership that runs the state

Nation

A group of people with items in common like language 🗣️, race 👦🏼👦🏽👦🏻, or religion ☪️.

Democratic

This regime type involves the selection of government officials through free and fair elections.

The public has a large role in government, with individual and public rights.

Anarchism

No government (equality and freedom) survival of the fittest. Has never happened.

Political ideology

Theocracy

A political ideology that unites religion with state (Iran)

Charismatic Legitimacy

Individuals who gain power through persuading the public by how they present their ideas.

Civil Liberties

rights that are given to citizens and cannot be taken away by the government. They are guaranteed in the Constitution and are characterized as substantive rights, meaning they place limits on the national government.

Civil Rights

the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.

Civil Society

A collection of groups or organizations working in the interest of the citizens but operating outside of the governmental and for-profit sectors such as labor unions, non-profit organizations, churches, and other service agencies.

Social democracy

an ideology in which there is a market, and private property. Everyone has the same chance of being rich or poor.

Communism

A political ideology emphasizing utilitarianism(the greatest good for the greatest number of people/social welfare) through authoritarianism, one party rule and revolution. Equality is the most important.

Devolution

The gradual granting or greater political autonomy to sub-nations, regions, states or localities within a larger nation-state.

Fascism

The state is the most important (limits freedom)

GDP Per Capita

The total value of all goods and services produced within a country divided by the population

Legitimacy

The degree to which the existing national government is respected by it’s people in terms of both tradition, history and popular support.

Liberal ideology

Freedom is the most important (few restrictions, less control from government)

that emphasizes individual rights, equality, and government intervention to promote social justice and welfare.

It supports progressive policies such as healthcare and education reform, environmental protection, and civil liberties.

Nationalization

The transition of private corporations and businesses into state run industries.

Nongovernmental Organizations(NGO’s)

A nonprofit association or group operating outside of government that advocates and pursues policy objectives.

Power

Ability to influence others or impose ones will on them.

Privatization

The transition of state run industries into private corporations and businesses.

Rational-legal Legitimacy

A determination of political legitimacy based on the rule of law, policies and procedures.

Sovereignty

The right of a state to have independence and autonomy in the governance of it’s own affairs.

Supranational Organization

Groups of nations that work together regionally or on an international level to achieve greater political and economic gain or influence.

Traditional Legitimacy

A determination of political legitimacy based on tradition such as divine right or other time-honored practices.

Unitary System

A system of government where all political power is unified in one structure, and there is no divestment to “non-national” political bodies.

Politics

The struggle for any group for power that will give 1+ people the ability to make decisions for the larger group.

Comparative method

a way to compare cases and draw conclusions

Comparative politics

Study and comparison of domestic policies across countries

International relations

Relations between countries

institutions

Organizations or activities that are self-perpetuating

attitudes

your belief on the pace and necessity of changes

Political ideology

If you think freedom or equality is the most important

radical

people who believe there has to be change now

multicasuality

Many variables cause one outcome

formal institutions

clear sanctioned rules

informal institutions

unwritten unofficial rules (corruption)

equality

standard shared by community

freedom

the ability to act independently without fear of punishment

country

combines state, regime, government and people between that political system

inductive reasoning

study a case to hypothesis

Deductive reasoning

generating a hypothesis and then finding evidence to support the hypothesis

area studies

focus on one region

selection bias

Choosing one area because of bias

endogeneity

Not being able to distinguish the cause from the effect

autonomy

being able to make decisions without relying on others

capacity

ability to carry out autonomy

conservatives

don’t see the need for change

reactionaries

want to go back to a real/ imagined past

market

where buyers and sellers meet to exchange goods

property

any tangible or intangible possession or right that is owned by an individual or entity.

public goods

goods that anyone can use

private goods

you have to pay to be able to use these goods

social expendetures

funds allocated by governments or organizations to support social welfare programs and services. (healthcare, education, social security, housing, and poverty alleviation)

private expendetures

what an individual spend their money on

debt

amount of money or resources that one party owes to another

taxation

process by which governments collect revenue from individuals and businesses to fund public expenditures.

central bank

Controls amount of money in circulation

inflation

prices rise, value of money lowers

deflation

value of money rises, prices lower

hyperinflation

inflation of 50% or more for 2+ months

monopoly

a single company or entity has exclusive control over a particular market or industry.

Tariffs

taxes on imported goods

quotas

Restriction on amount that can be imported

non-tarriff barrier

any restriction or obstacle imposed by a government on imports or exports, other than a tariff (tax) on goods.

lassiez faire

the belief that the market regulates itself

command economy

economic system where the government has complete control over the allocation of resources and the production of goods and services.

Neo corporatism

form of economic and political organization where interest groups, such as labor unions and business associations, play a significant role in decision-making processes.

corporatists

Everything is created by the state (unions)

mercantalism

Economic policy that advocates for a country to accumulate wealth and power through trade activities, such as exporting more than importing and establishing colonies.

economic liberalization

The process of reducing government intervention and regulations in the economy to promote free markets, competition, and private sector growth. It aims to increase efficiency, productivity, and innovation by allowing market forces to determine prices, allocate resources, and drive economic growth.

unitary

Form of govenment of UK, China, Iran

Federal

form of govenment of Russia, Mexico, Nigeria

Federal

A system of government where power is divided between a central authority and individual states.