Thinking Like a Political Scientist

Flashcards covering key concepts related to political science, including definitions and theories of power and politics.

Politics

Who gets what, when, and how; involves members of a political organization including individuals, groups, corporations, unions, and politicians.

Power

The ability to influence or control the behavior of people or the course of events, often categorized in three dimensions.

Pluralism

A theory suggesting that many groups compete for power in politics and that no single group dominates.

Hyper-Pluralism

A theory stating that government is overwhelmed by conflicting demands from many interest groups, leading to chaos and inaction.

Elite Theory

A theory suggesting that a small, wealthy group controls political decisions and outcomes.

Political Imagination

The ability to envision new and creative ways of organizing society and conducting politics.

Organized Interests

Political interest groups that work to influence public policy, often without running candidates for office.

Ideological Power

The capacity to shape people's perceptions, preferences, and beliefs, leading them to accept a particular social order.

Qualitative Analysis

A research method focusing on understanding the qualities or characteristics of phenomena.

Quantitative Analysis

A research method focusing on quantifying data and statistical analysis to understand patterns.

Political Ideology

A set of beliefs about the desired goals and methods of the political system, often categorized into liberal and conservative views.

Agenda Setting

The process of determining which issues are considered important and worthy of public discourse.

Dahl's Definition of Power

The ability of one person (A) to get another person (B) to do something that B would not do otherwise.

Government

A collection of institutions and people recognized as the legitimate authority to make decisions over a given territory.

Institution

An established organization, custom, or practice within a society, like legislatures or courts.

Reading Scholarly Articles

A systematic approach to understanding academic writings, including reading the abstract, conclusion, and key paragraphs.

Decorum in Lecture

The expected professionalism and conduct in academic settings, including communication with professors.