AP Comp Terms Unit 1

Comparative Politics

The study of the similarities and differences between states, how different governments operate, and why political changes occur.

State

Political institutions with a monopoly of force over territory.

Nation

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

Legitimacy

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

Rule of Law

All members of a society are considered equally subject to publicly disclosed legal codes and processes.

Globalization

The increasing interconnectedness of the world.

Sovereignty

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

HDI

Human Development Index, which measures life expectancy, birth and death rates, education, and quality of life.

GDP per capita

GDP divided by the population.

Political Economy

The relationship between government policies and the economy.

Market Economy

An economic system where wages, production, and prices are set based on supply and demand.

Communism

A system of government based on the writings of Karl Marx, aiming for economic equality.

Welfare State

A government that provides support to citizens, such as unemployment benefits and health care.

Rentier States

States that derive a significant portion of their revenues from rent, such as renting land to oil companies.

Dependency Theory

The idea that colonial rule left a legacy of political and economic dependence, hindering former colonies.

Post-Materialism

Societies where basic needs are met, allowing focus on higher goals, like the environment.

Authoritarian State

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

Illiberal Democracy

A government with elections that are not completely free and fair, lacking some civil rights.

Liberal Democracy

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

Democratization

The transition from an authoritarian state to an illiberal democracy to a liberal democracy.

Transparency

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

Civil Rights

Protections granted by the government to prevent discrimination against groups.

Civil Liberties

Protections that safeguard individuals from government infringement.

Unitary System

A system where all power is held by the central government.

Federal System

A system where power is shared between the national and state governments.

Bicameral Legislature

A legislature with two houses.

Referendum

A measure sent by the legislature to the citizens for approval.

Judicial Review

The ability of a Supreme Court to overturn a law or executive action if it is unconstitutional.

Theocracy

A state led by religious rulers.

Revolution

An overthrow of the government based on broad popular support.

Coup

A change in leadership brought about by a small group, often a military leader.

Nationalism

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

Political Ideology

An individual's belief system about the role of government.

Cooptation

When the government buys off its critics.

Corporatism

The inclusion of large businesses and labor unions in the policymaking process.

Civil Society

Voluntary associations outside of government control that strengthen society.

Grassroots Movements

When ordinary citizens push for reform.

Corruption

Use of position in government for personal benefit.

Coercion

Persuading citizens to follow a certain policy or action.

Political Cleavage

A division over a policy issue.

Causation

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

Correlation

An apparent connection between variables.

Empirical Statement

A verifiable fact.

Normative Statement

A judgment about what should be.

regime

a government in which the system has not changed even though there have been different leaders

hybrid regime

a government with both authoritarian and democratic elements

rational/legal legitimacy

based on a fair and understandable system of laws that are followed and apply to everyone

traditional legitimacy

because it has always been that way

charismatic legitimacy

based on a ruler’s engaging personality

rule by law

government officials are not subject to the same rules as everyday citizens. The government may apply the law arbitrarily. laws may be written in vague language and enforced selectively to punish perceived opponents of the regime

GDP

the total value of goods and services produced in a country

gini index

measures income inequality

developed

countries have a high GDP per capita and HDI rankings, service-based economies

developing

countries are emerging economies; based on production

underdeveloped

least developed

poorest of poor countries

economic liberalization

the move to a free market by reducing tariffs, trade barriers, and government control over the economy

command economies

the government makes decisions regarding wages, prices, and production, and private property is limited

structural adjustment

programs that require countries to increase taxes and cut spending to improve budgets

devolution

occurs when the national government grants more power to states

proportional representation

awards sets of political parties based on their percentage of votes received; there may be a threshold in gaining seats

common law

systems that use court decisions written down and serve as precedents for future cases.

code law

systems that are based on rules written by the legislature

judicial review

is the ability of a Supreme Court to overturn a law or executive action if is is unconstitutional

political socialization

the process through which an individual acquires his or her political beliefs and behaviors

political culture

the shared beliefs of a group of people

political right

favors the status quo

political left

favors change

reactionaries

extreme and want to go back to the past

liberalism

favor freedom in the economy and in civil rights and liberties

pluralism

when many groups compete in policymaking

political recruitment

the process for selecting current and potential leaders, including formal and informal power structures

cross-cutting cleavages

bring different kinds of groups together, strengthening society

coinciding cleavages

exacerbate feelings of different, weakening society

area studies

regional focus

behavioral revolution

importance of empirical research and the systematic study of individual and group behavior in politics

casual relationship

when two things have a cause and effect

comparative method

a way to compare cases and draw conclusions

deductive reasoning

starting with a puzzle and from there generating some hypothesis about cause and effect to test against a number of cases

endogeneity

problem distinguishing between cause and effect

game theory

a way to study the rules and games by which politics is played and how human beings act on their preferences

inductive reasoning

studying to generating a hypothesis

international relations

relations between countries

multicausality

when many variables interact to produce particular outcomes

qualitative method

evidence, methodology, interviews, observations

quantitative method

statistical analysis, mathematical models drawn from economics

Mexico

• not corrupt

• federal system

• uses popular support for power/authority

• uses elections for legitimacy

• democratic

  • strong history of authoritarian regimes

United Kingdom

• not corrupt

• unitary systems

• uses political parties for power/authority

• democratic

• uses traditions for legitimacy

• DOES NOT HAVE A CONSTITUTION but still considered a constitutional monarchy

Russia

• highly corrupt

• federal system

  • asymmetrical

• uses military force for power/authority

• uses elections/constitution for legitimacy

• authoritarianism

  • rule by law not rule of law

China

• highly corrupt

• unitary system

• uses legislature/political parties for power/authority

• authoritarian

Iran

• highly corrupt

• unitary system

• uses religion as a source of power/authority/legitimacy

Nigeria

• highly corrupt

• federal system

• uses a constitution for power/authority

• democratic