Study Guide test #2 Comparative Politics

Authoritarianism

rejection of political plurality, strong central power wishes to maintain status quo

autocracy

absolute power held by an individual

could be other branches, executive is overpowering, repression of opposition and lack of civil participation

closed autocracy

one in which neither the autocrat or legislative is chosen via election. EX Saudi Arabia, Jordan

open autocracy

there are public elections that give citizens some role in choosing leadership (theoretically) EX. Turkey

Military Rule

form of totalitarianism

emerges through coup, military seizes control of state civil liberties are often restricted during this time

the government may be restricting future elections, also may be transitioning to become a military regime (ex. Chile, Brazil)

Nondemocratic Regime

a system where power is concentrated in a single authority or small group, rather than the people, and citizens have little to no say in leadership.

Oligarcy

“rule by few” control rests within small elite group that typically is more wealthy

Why do countries with valuable resources tend to be nondemocratic / underdeveloped (resource curse)

resources = a barrier. Resource wealth changes the social contract within a state.

citizens do not trust the state, so the state therefore does not
owe” the citizens resources. Most times the wealth will be concentrated into elite zones. EX. Saudi Arabia

Populism

not a specific ideology, but a want to draw power from anti-establishment parties. Views that elites don’t represent the people, and their movement can usher in a new order. EX. Sanders + Trump

Civil Society

a fabric of organizations casted by people to help define their interests (typically defined by voluntary associations)

people argue that civil society is a crucial part of democratic life because it allows democratic associations of equality and community

coercion

Compelling idea by threatening lives or livelihood

Compliance

with regime goals is often enforced through threats against population. EX Death Squads in Latin America

Surveillance

Allows for the government to prevent opposition from organizing, but it instills uncertainty. It may use an internal service (secret police) who are monitoring public activity

corporatism

emerged as a method by which nondemocratic regimes attempted to solidify their cotrol over the public by creating or sanctioning a limited number of organizations to represent interests of the public

Ex. Churches, labor unions, student groups are approved and funded by the state - part of totalirianism

Clientelism

state co-opts members of public by providing specific benefits to people in return for public support

• relies on individual patronage rather than organization in both clientelism and corportalist the state gas a # of pre requisites it can use to co-opt individuals

patrimonialism

relies on co-optation, a form of clientelism. A patrimonial leader trades benefits for political support.

One Party Rule

regime where single political party monopolizes politics and bans other parties or excludes them from power

• serves as a mechanism for mobilization, associated with fascism and communism

Political economy

how poltiics are related and how their relationship shapes the balance between freedom and equality

Market

• market mediums are where goods are exchanged, emerge spontaneously

• not easily controlled by the state

Property

refers to the ownership of the Goods and Services exchanged through the markets. EX. land, buildings, business

• states could retain but would have to pay you

Public Good

goods provided or secured by the state that are available for all society

Social Expenditures

commonly called welfare

• costly for state, especially if population is old or there is high unemployment

central bank

institution that controls how muc money flows through the economy and how much it costs to borrow money

hyperinflation

when govs find themselves lacking in funds so they print more money. considered hyperinflation when inflation is above 50% for more than 2 months

Tarrifs

quotas limit the quality on certain goods coming into the country

Why do we need to regulate tarriffs?

States may favor tariffs to generate revenue and can support local industries

GDP

useful because it’s a comprehensive indicator to value the total market of G+S produced by a country in one year

Communism

idea that capitalism cannot serve the needs of society as a whole. state capacity and autonomy is high

mercantilism

active industrial policy

Liberalism

led to capitalism, sees the state as a threat

Social Democracy

Sees the government as the great equalizer. combines a capitalist market economy with strong state regulation, high taxation, and a robust welfare state to reduce inequality

Middle Income

Countries that have a $4-13,000 per capita GDP. Resemble developed democracies

Lower Income Countries/Less developed countries

econ and political structures are weak and growing weaker. May regress in terms of poverty or conflict. less than $400 GDP per capita

Imperialism

A system where a state extends it’s power to directly control regions, peoples, and resources beyond it’s borders

Colonialism

a form of imperialism involving the physical occupation of foreign territories

Settler Colonialism

migration of groups from imperial power to get in the new colony. Either eliminates or assimilates indigenous peoples

Exploitation Colonialism

use of force to eploit a population as labor to extract.

Challenges post-imperialism

building capacity + autonomy

capacity = fulfillment of basic tasks

autonomy = ability to exist independently without foreign influence

Neocolonialism

states “captured” by groups that see the state as a resource to be exploited for self-enrichment

ex. France intervenes in many African conflicts

Middle Income Trap

economic growth, but cannot develop speed to become a deeloped country