Comp. Gov. Intro Terms

Political Left

Favors change, usually favors social programs. Values equality and fairness most.

Political Right

Favors the status quo/conservatives. Values family, tradition, and purity more than equality and fairness.

Reactionaries

Extreme; want to go back to the past, which they believe possessed positive characteristics absent from contemporary society.

Liberalism

Favors freedom in the economy and in civil rights and liberties.

Political ideology

An individual's belief system about the role/goals of government, politics, and policies. Can be political and economic theories or one of them. Examples: individualism, neoliberalism, communism, fascism, and populism.

Nationalism

The belief that a group of people has its own unique destiny, often including a desire for a separate state.

Deviant case study

Study of cases that contradict the pattern.

Most similar case study

Comparing similar cases that differ in the dependent variable.

Most different case study

Comparing different cases that vary in the independent variable but produce similar outcomes.

Empirical statement

A verifiable fact.

Causation

When a change in one variable precipitates a change in another variable.

Institutions

Stable, long-lasting organizations that make formal political policies within the government.

Transparency

The ability of citizens to see what the government is doing.

Correlation

An apparent connection between variables.

Normative statement

A judgment about what should be.

Coinciding cleavage

Exacerbates feelings of difference, weakening society.

Political cleavage

A division over a policy issue.

Cross-cutting cleavage

Brings different kinds of groups together, strengthening society.

Political culture

Widely shared beliefs, values, and norms that define the relationship between citizens and government and to one another.

Legitimacy

The people's belief that the government has the right to rule.

Traditional legitimacy

The state is obeyed because there is a long tradition of it being obeyed.

Rational-legal legitimacy

Based on a fair and understandable system of laws that apply to everyone.

Charismatic legitimacy

The people's belief that a ruler has the right to rule because of their magnetic personality.

Sovereignty

The ability of a government to rule without internal or external influence.

Coercive diplomacy

Diplomacy or forceful persuasion of a state, group, or non-state actor to change behavior through threats.

Civil liberties

Protect individuals from government infringement, like free speech.

Civil rights

Protections granted by the government to prevent discrimination against groups.

Authoritarian state

A government where elections are not free and fair and civil rights/liberties are lacking.

Authoritarian populism

Party/leader that promises dramatic upheaval to represent the interests of the common person, fights a "corrupt elite class," demands direct democracy, doesn't follow rule of law, and is critical of immigrants and globalization.

State

Political institutions with a monopoly of force over territory; individuals/institutions who can make public policy.

Nation

A psychological sense of identity based on shared ethnicity, language, history, or culture.

Liberal/Substantive democracy

A government with free and fair elections and civil rights/liberties.

Democratization

The transition from authoritarian → illiberal democracy → liberal democracy.

Illiberal/Procedural democracy

A government with elections that are flawed and not completely free or fair.

Mixed regime / Hybrid regime

A government with both authoritarian and democratic elements.

Federal system

Power shared between national and state governments; state powers constitutionally protected.

Rule of law

Where law is applied equally to everyone, including government officials.

Formal political participation

Voting, referendums, joining political groups, donating, contacting officials.

Informal political participation

Protests, civil disobedience, and political violence including terrorism.

Post-truth politics

When people's loyalty to politicians, ideas, or communities is based on emotions and feelings rather than facts.

Political economy

The relationship between government policies and the economy.

Free market economy / Laissez-faire capitalism / Neoliberal economic policies

Wages, production, and prices are based on supply and demand with little government interference.

Economic liberalization

Moving toward a free market economy by reducing tariffs, trade barriers, and government control.

Gini Index

Measures income inequality within a country.

Human Development Index (HDI)

Measures standard of living, life expectancy, education, quality of life.

GDP per capita

GDP divided by population.

GDP

The total value of goods and services produced in a country. Measures the economic activity of a country annually and is useful to measure the economic health of a country vs. another country.

Globalization

Increasing interconnectedness of the world (vs. policies to limit it).

Geoeconomic fragmentation

When the global economy divides into regional economic blocs where countries primarily trade with each other, disrupting the flow of goods, services, capital, and technology across borders. Opposite of globalization.

Protectionism

An economic policy that restricts international trade to protect domestic industries and workers from foreign competition, often using tariffs, quotas, and other trade barriers to make imported goods less attractive or accessible.

Underdeveloped countries

Low GDP per capita and HDI; mostly agricultural economies.

Least developed countries

Poorest countries with very low GDP and HDI.

Socialist/Welfare state

Government provides social supports such as healthcare and unemployment benefits.

Developing countries

Economies with middle-range GDP/HDI; often industrializing.

Emerging economies / NICs (Newly Industrializing Countries)

Developing countries with potential for economic growth where foreign direct investment is happening. Institutions like the World Bank and UN define these "hot" economies differently, but these are different names for the same concept.

Foreign direct investment (FDI)

Foreign countries/companies setting up businesses in an emerging economy, which the domestic government welcomes.

Developed countries

High GDP per capita and HDI; service-based economies.

Rational-choice theory

Explains how individuals act strategically to maximize interests.

Middle-level theory

Focuses on institutions, policies, or classes of events (e.g., revolutions, elections).

Grassroots movements

Occur when ordinary citizens push for reform.