AP Comparative Government Unit 3: Political Culture and Participation

Civil Society

Voluntary associations independent of the state that help people define and advance their own interests

ex.) churches, news media, business/professional associations, NGOs

Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs)

Civil society organizations that operate outside of the formal political arena but that are nevertheless influential in spearheading international initiatives on social, economic, and environmental issues.

ex.) World Economic Forum

Political culture

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

Political Socialization

the process of acquiring one's beliefs, values and orientations toward the political system

Political Ideology

a set of values and beliefs about the goals of government, public policy or politics

Individualism

Belief in individual civil liberties and freedom over government restrictions

Neoliberalism

refers to the removal of barriers and restrictions on what internal/external economic actors can do; belief in limited governmental intervention in the economy; privatization of government controlled industries, free trade to lower tariffs on imported goods, deregulation of governmental controls on business, and the elimination of state subsidies for industry.

Communism

the belief in the abolition of private property with near total government control over the economy

Socialism

The belief in the reduction of income disparities and the nationalization of major private industries

Fascism

An extreme nationalist ideology that favors authoritarian rule and the rights of the ethnic majority oer that of ethnic minorities and the political opposition.

Populism

A political philosophy supporting the rights and power of the people in their struggle against the privileged elite.

Post-materialism

Societies in which basic needs are met and citizens can concentrate on social values of self-expression and quality of life issues, like the environment, feminism, economic equality

Political Participation

ways that citizens can attempt to shape government policy.
- can be formal (casting a ballot)
-can be informal (protests, political criticism/social media)

Referendum

Allowing citizens to vote directly on policy questions as exemplified by the UK's 2016 national vote about whether citizens preferred leaving or remaining in the EU
- Brexit
- Scotland
- Alternative Vote

Political stability

The ability of the government to consistently provide services that meet basic needs of most of the population to foster the public's confidence in the institutions of the state

Separatist movement

When a group's actions to gain greater autonomy from a government diminishes the sovereignty of that government

Ex.) Scotland in UK, Uighurs in China, Biafra in Nigeria

Cleavages

Social and political cleavages are internal divisions that structure societies and may be based on class, ethnicity, religion, or territory.
- Coinciding: Strengthens differences thereby weakening society
- Cross-cutting: When groups in one cleavage overlap or miz with groups for other cleavages, thereby strengthening society

Brute Repression

Use of coercive force by the government to suppress the actions the government opposes.