ap comparative gov unit 3: political culture and participation

civil society

voluntary organizations independent from the state

non-governmental organizations

organizations that pursue policy objectives and foster public participation

political culture

collective attitudes, values, and beliefs of the citizenry and the norms of behavior in the political system

political socialization

forming of a population’s values and beliefs about the role of government, the rights of the individual, and the extend and role of citizens in controlling government policymaking

political ideology

set of ethical ideals, principles, doctrines, myths or symbols of a social movement, institution, class or large group that explains how society should work and offers some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social order

individualism

prioritizes individual rights over government restrictions

neoliberalism

limited government paired with limited economic oversight (going back/removing state power)

communism

collective ownership and uniformity

socialism

society is run by social organizations and the people own the means of production

facism

extreme nationalist group that puts state above individual rights

populism

appeals to the common person at the expense of the elites (anti-elitism)

liberal democracy

an elected government cannot discriminate against specific individuals or groups when it administers justice, protects basic rights such as freedom of assembly and free speech, provides for collective security, or distributes economic and social benefits

power

Ability to direct the behavior of others through coercion, persuasion, or leadership

authority

The power or right to give orders or make decisions

rule of law

a state should be governed by a clear set of known laws not by arbitrary decisions made by individual government officials

civil rights

An individual's protection against an abusive of power on the part of the government

civil liberties

fundamental rights and freedoms that individuals possess

welfare state

set of public policies designed to provide citizens’ needs through provision pensions, health care, unemployment insurance, and assistance to the poor

post-materialism

social valuing of self-expression and quality of life that lead to applying pressure o government to address environmental issues and economic equality

formal political participation

government controlled methods of individuals voicing political opinions that are regulated by set laws (ex. voting, referenda)

informal political participation

voluntary individual actions intended to shape government policies with less regulation by the government

referenda

allow citizens to vote directly on policy questions

competitive authoritarian regime

formal democratic institutions exist and are widely viewed as the primary means of gaining power, but ... incumbents' abuse of the state places them at a significant advantage vis-à-vis their opponents

political stability

the preservation of an intact and smoothly functioning government or political system, avoiding significant disruptions or changes over an extended duration

cleavages

internal divisions that structure societies and may be based on: class, ethnicity, religion, territory

separatist movements

political movements seeking to break away or secede from an existing country in order to form an independent state

brute repression

the use of force or violence to control a group

freedom many countries have in their written constitution to address civil society

right to assemble

how authoritarian regimes treat civil society (as opposed to democratic regimes)

mandatory restrictions and government monitoring

best indicator of democratization

robust political culture of civil society pluralism

cleavages in Nigeria

christians in the south and muslims in the north

political culture in Iran

islamic theory and guardianship by the Islamic jurists

rule by law

the use of laws to reinforce the authroity of the state

china’s approach to the protection of civil liberties

does not protect liberties for protests and news coverage that critiques the authority of the communist party

nigeria’s approach to the protection of civil liberties

protects press freedoms of news coverage critical of excessive governmental force against some protests

authoritarian regime approach to the protection of civil liberties

does not consistently enforce written protections of civil liberties when the government’s authority is criticized

democratic regime approach to the protection of civil liberties

more consistently enforce written protections of civil liberties even when the governemnt’s authority is criticized