AP Comparative Politics: Key Concepts and Indexes for Unit 1

Empirical Statement

factual assertion

Normative Statement

A value judgment/opinion

Sovereignty

A state's ability to act without internal or external interference

Regime

A type of government, such as liberal democracy or authoritarian

Authority

the legitimate power a state has over the people within its territory

Rule of Law

A clear set of rules where government officials are subject to the same rules and penalties as citizens

Rule by Law

Where the law is applied arbitrarily, and government officials are not subject to the same rules and penalties as citizens.

Illiberal /Hybrid Democracy

ruling party controls elections and civil liberties are diminished

Democratization

The process of transitioning from an authoritarian regime to a democratic regime

Authoritarian

a system without free and fair elections in which civil rights and liberties are restricted

Civil Rights

Positive actions taken by the government to prevent people from being discriminated against when engaged in fundamental political actions

Civil Liberties

protections from the abuse of government power

Democratic Consolidation

the point at which it is unlikely for a new democracy to backslide to authoritarianism usually characterized by independent election commissions and peaceful transfer of power to a new government

Devolution

granting of powers by central government to regional governments to enhance legitimacy

Federalism

political system in which government power is legally and constitutionally divided among more than one level of government

Unitary state

political system in which central government has sole constitutional sovereignty and power

Theocracy

system based on religious rule -Iran

Ethnic Cleavages

historically determined social or cultural line which divides citizens within a society into groups with differing political interests, resulting in political conflict among these groups.

Coup

a sudden and illegal removal of a government and seizure of its powers by an elite faction typically allied with military and security leaders.-20th century Nigeria

Supranational Organizations

large-scale, international government institutions

Charismatic Leadership

ruler who maintains legitimacy as they are appeal to the needs of the public and are likable, virtuous or heroic.

Transparency

the ability of citizens to know what government is doing

Centralization

authority increasing concentrated in the national government or executive branch

Political Legitimacy

citizen's belief that the government has the right to rule

Political Efficacy

citizen's belief that their political actions can impact the government

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

investment from abroad in economic activity in another country

Civil Society

groups that form outside the government's control

The Human Development Index (HDI)

aggregate measure of life expectancy, education, and per capita income

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

a measure of the total value of goods and services produced in a country in a year

Gini Index

A measure of income inequality

Freedom House

NGO measures political rights and civil liberties

Transparency International

Company that created the Corruption Perception Index

Fragile States Index

A measure of state strength and stability