Political Ideology and Behavior Review

This set of flashcards covers key concepts related to political ideologies, political behavior, and research methods in political science.

What is Political Ideology?

A system of ideas and ideals that forms the basis of political theory and policy.

What is the difference between Normative and Empirical approaches in political theory?

Normative focuses on 'what ought to be,' while empirical emphasizes 'what is.'

What does the Left-Right Spectrum represent?

A common framework to classify political ideologies, from progressive (left) to conservative (right).

What does Liberalism emphasize?

Individual freedoms, rights, and equality.

What is Conservatism?

An ideology favoring tradition, stability, and a limited role for government in personal lives.

What is the focus of Socialism?

Advocating for social ownership of production and economic equality.

Define Capitalism.

An economic system emphasizing private ownership and free markets.

What is Communism?

A classless society where resources are communally owned, associated with Marxist theory.

What is Nationalism?

A belief in prioritizing the interests of one’s nation over others.

What characterizes Fascism?

An authoritarian ideology emphasizing nationalism, militarism, and the suppression of dissent.

What is Populism?

A political approach appealing to 'the people' against perceived elites.

Differentiate Authoritarianism from Libertarianism.

Authoritarianism favors centralized authority, while libertarianism emphasizes individual freedoms.

What is Political Polarization?

The growing ideological distance between political groups.

What does Partisanship refer to?

Strong allegiance to a particular political party or ideology.

What is Marxism?

A socio-economic analysis advocating for class struggle and communism.

Define Neoliberalism.

A modern political-economic ideology emphasizing deregulation, privatization, and free markets.

What is Postmodernism?

A critical theory challenging universal truths and emphasizing the role of language and power.

What does Justice refer to in political theory?

Principles of fairness, often central to debates on equality and rights.

What is the Freedom vs. Equality debate about?

A classic ideological debate about prioritizing individual liberty or collective equality.

What is Political Socialization?

The process by which individuals acquire political beliefs, values, and behaviors.

What is Political Participation?

Actions taken by individuals to influence political decisions, including voting, protesting, and activism.

Define Public Opinion.

The aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs about political issues, leaders, or events.

What is Political Efficacy?

A citizen’s belief in their ability to influence political processes.

What is Voter Turnout?

The percentage of eligible voters who participate in an election.

What is Political Identity?

An individual’s sense of belonging to a political group based on shared characteristics.

What characterizes Civic Engagement?

Active participation in community or public affairs, broader than political engagement.

What are Electoral Systems?

Methods by which votes are counted and translated into political power.

What is a Swing Voter?

A voter who does not consistently support one political party.

What is the Incumbency Advantage?

The electoral edge afforded to those already in office.

Define Gerrymandering.

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries for political advantage.

What is Voter Suppression?

Actions or policies that intentionally reduce or inhibit voter turnout.

What does Cognitive Dissonance refer to?

The discomfort experienced when holding conflicting beliefs.

What is Confirmation Bias?

The tendency to seek out information that supports preexisting beliefs.

What is the Framing Effect?

The influence of how information is presented on individuals' perceptions.

Define Priming.

The process by which exposure to certain issues affects political attitudes.

What are Heuristics?

Mental shortcuts used by voters to make decisions.

What does Political Polarization indicate?

The growing ideological distance and hostility between opposing political groups.

What is Groupthink?

The tendency for group members to prioritize consensus over critical evaluation.

What is Identity Politics?

Political behavior influenced by shared characteristics.

Define Social Capital.

The networks, norms, and trust that enable collective political action.

What is the Collective Action Problem?

The difficulty of organizing individuals to achieve a common goal due to free-rider problems.

What influences the Political Opportunity Structure?

External factors like institutional arrangements or shifting power dynamics.

What does Grassroots Mobilization entail?

Political activism initiated by ordinary citizens.

What is Media Framing?

The way media shape the presentation of a political issue.

What is Sampling Bias?

A distortion in survey results due to non-representative sampling.

Define Regression Analysis.

A statistical method for estimating relationships between variables.

What distinguishes Correlation from Causation?

Correlation indicates a relationship, while causation means one variable influences another.

What is Ethnography?

A qualitative research method involving in-depth study of behavior in natural environments.

What is a Survey Experiment?

An experimental design embedded in a survey to test causal relationships.

What does Rational Choice Theory propose?

Individuals act based on rational calculation of self-interest.

What is Social Identity Theory?

Explains political behavior influenced by group membership.

What is Resource Mobilization Theory?

Focuses on resources like money and organization in facilitating political movements.

What does Prospect Theory describe?

How decisions are made under uncertainty, valuing losses more than gains.

What characterizes Civic Culture?

A political culture with active participation and trust in institutions.