Political Science Key Terms and Concepts

Vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental political science definitions, theoretical distinctions, economic measures, and statehood concepts from lecture notes.

Politics

The making of a common decision for a group through the use of power.

Power

The ability of 1 person to cause another to do what the 1st wishes, by whatever means.

State

A political unit that has ultimate sovereignty.

Nation

A group of people bound by a common culture.

Nationalism

The passionate identification with a nation.

Treaty of Westphalia

A landmark historic treaty that set a precedent for noninterference in other states' affairs.

Montevideo Convention Criteria for Statehood

The four criteria defined for statehood: having territory, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into formal relations with other states.

Public Good

Something that benefits all members of the community (e.g., national defense, clean air), distinct from excludable goods such as toll roads.

Gini Index

A statistical measure used to capture economic inequality.

Human Development Index (HDI)

A composite index that combines measures of health, education, and standard of living/income.

Classic Liberalism

An ideology holding that power is a bad thing and should be limited as much as possible.

Classic Conservatism

An ideology emphasizing the importance of hierarchy, acceptance of class and other forms of domination, and the responsibility of the powerful to help the weak.

American Conservatism

An ideological tradition that is an offshoot of classic liberalism.

Positive Theories

Theories that express what is.

Normative Theories

Theories that express what ought to be.

Central Bank Independence

An institutional condition where greater central-bank independence is generally associated with lower inflation.

Somaliland

A breakaway region not recognized as a state because the international community fears that other breakaway regions will seek independence and conflict will erupt.

Ideologies

Systems of thought that help individuals make sense of politics, gather allies for public argument, organize ideas, absorb new ideas, and evolve.

Governmental Bureaucracies

Administrative bodies that develop internal pressures for expansion.

Government Spending in Democracies

Public sector expenditure that tends to be higher in democracies than in dictatorships.