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What is the makeup of Britain?
Scotland, Wales, England, N. Ireland
Welfare State
Provides benefits, healthcare, and unemployment assistance
Insularity
Culturally closer to the US than Europe
Sources of Power
Unwritten constitution, democratic & parliamentary system
Free Market Economy
Economic system promoting personal wealth creation
Protestant Dominant
Historical religious influence, Martin Luther, Henry 8th
Unitary System
Centralized government with limited federalism
Devolution
Increasing powers to Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
Collective Responsibility
PM & cabinet's duty to govern collectively
Bicameral Legislature
Two-house system with House of Commons as real power
Shadow Cabinet
Opposition party's cabinet ready to replace
Plurality
Winner-takes-all system promoting a two-party setup
Supreme Court
Highest court, no power of judicial review before 2005
Mao Tse-tung
Leader of China 1949-1976, implemented Maosim
Deng Xiaoping
Introduced Socialist Market Economy post-Mao era
Hu Jintao
Served as General Secretary of the Communist Party (2002-2012)
Wen Jiabao
Premier of China (2002-2012), oversaw economic growth
Xi Jinping
Current leader of China, made it possible to rule indefinitely
Politburo
Selects the leader of China, not elected by the people
Communist Party
True source of power in China, approves all government decisions
Rule of Law
Everyone must abide by the law, no one is above it
Tiananmen Square massacre
1989 protests suppressed, showing govt. intolerance
Cleavages
Divisions in society, like urban-rural and ethnic divides
Hong Kong
Operates under 'One country, Two systems' with China
Taiwan
Debate whether it is part of China or not
Empirical v. Normative
Distinguishing between fact-based and judgment-based statements
Sovereignty
State's ability to rule and implement policies within its borders
Nations
Groups sharing a common political identity
Nationalism
Extreme pride in one's country or ethnic group
Democracies
Political systems where citizens vote for representatives
Presidential System
Citizens vote for legislative and executive representatives
Legislative rep
Individuals responsible for making laws
Executive
Head of state such as president, prime minister, or dictator
Supreme Court
Part of the judicial branch in democracies
Checks and balances
System preventing concentration of power in one branch
Parliamentary Systems
Form of government where parliament has legislative power
Parliamentary Sovereignty
Parliament holds ultimate authority in governance
Authoritarian Regimes
Ruled by small elite groups with limited citizen input
Political and Economic Change
Different types of change including reform, revolution, and coup d'etats
Radicalism
Advocating rapid and drastic change
Liberalism
Supporting progressive reform
Conservatism
Desire to maintain the existing status quo
Reactionary
Wishing to return to past traditions or systems
Command v Market Economy
Contrasting state-controlled and capitalist economic systems
Federal System
Government with multiple levels of authority
Supranational
International organizations with multiple member states
Electoral System
Methods for electing representatives such as first-past-the-post or proportional representation
Purchasing Power Parity
Comparing citizens' purchasing power across different currencies
Gini Index
Measuring economic inequality in a society on a scale from 0 to 1
Human Development Index (HDI)
Indicator of citizens' well-being using factors like literacy and life expectancy
Population of Iran
89 million
Urban Population Percentage
77% of the population lives in urban areas
Iran’s Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)
$21,000 GDP per capita, ranking 78th in purchasing power
Muslim Population
89 million Muslims in Iran, constituting 99% of the population, with 89% being Shia
Size Comparison
Slightly larger than Alaska, ranking as the 18th largest country
Executions
314 executions carried out in Iran, ranking 2nd in the world
Stoning
A form of punishment still utilized in Iran
Authoritarianism
Political system characterized by centralized control and limited political freedoms
Totalitarianism
A political system where the state recognizes no limits to its authority and seeks to regulate every aspect of public and private life
Theocracy
A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God
Unicameral
A legislative body with a single chamber
Majlis
The Iranian Parliament, democratically elected by the people, with the power to enact laws
Guardian Council
A body responsible for ensuring legislation complies with Islamic principles and the Iranian Constitution
Jurist Guardianship
Concept where Islamic jurists have authority over the people
Ayatollahs
Title for Shi'a experts in Islamic studies, influential in Iranian politics
OPEC Membership
Iran is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
Bonyades
Religious foundations in Iran that contribute to about half of the country's budget
Sharia Law
Islamic law based on the teachings of the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet
Population of Iran
89 million
Urban Population Percentage
77% of the population lives in urban areas
Iran’s Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)
$21,000 GDP per capita, ranking 78th in purchasing power
Muslim Population
89 million Muslims in Iran, constituting 99% of the population, with 89% being Shia
Size Comparison
Slightly larger than Alaska, ranking as the 18th largest country
Executions
314 executions carried out in Iran, ranking 2nd in the world
Stoning
A form of punishment still utilized in Iran
Authoritarianism
Political system characterized by centralized control and limited political freedoms
Totalitarianism
A political system where the state recognizes no limits to its authority and seeks to regulate every aspect of public and private life
Theocracy
A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God
Unicameral
A legislative body with a single chamber
Majlis
The Iranian Parliament, democratically elected by the people, with the power to enact laws
Guardian Council
A body responsible for ensuring legislation complies with Islamic principles and the Iranian Constitution
Jurist Guardianship
Concept where Islamic jurists have authority over the people
Ayatollahs
Title for Shi'a experts in Islamic studies, influential in Iranian politics
OPEC Membership
Iran is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
Bonyades
Religious foundations in Iran that contribute to about half of the country's budget
Sharia Law
Islamic law based on the teachings of the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet
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