Exam 2 Global Politics

Mixed Regime

A form of government that combines elements of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy (or rule by one, few, and many) to balance power and prevent tyranny. Often associated with classical political philosophy (Aristotle) and modern constitutional systems with blended institutions.

Conservative Party

A major center-right political party, most notably in the United Kingdom, that traditionally emphasizes free markets, limited government intervention, individual liberty, traditional social values, and a strong national defense.

Cohabitation

A political system arrangement (most famously seen in France's Fifth Republic) where the President and the Prime Minister belong to rival political parties or coalitions. This occurs when the legislative majority opposes the president's party, forcing a division of executive powers.

Judicial Review

The power of courts (especially supreme or constitutional courts) to review laws, executive actions, and legislative acts to determine their consistency with a country's constitution, and to declare them null and void if they violate it.

House of Commons

The lower, yet overwhelmingly more powerful, elected chamber of the British Parliament. It is responsible for making laws, holding the government accountable, and choosing the Prime Minister (who commands a majority).

House of Lords

The upper, non-elected chamber of the British Parliament. Historically composed of hereditary peers, life peers, and bishops, its powers are now largely restricted to revising, delaying, and suggesting amendments to legislation.

Bundestag

The lower, primary legislative chamber of the German federal parliament (located in Berlin). It is directly elected by the German people and is responsible for passing federal laws, electing the Chancellor, and overseeing the government.

Landtag

A state parliament in Germany (or Austria). Germany is a federal republic, and individual states (Länder) have their own Landtage responsible for regional governance, education, and police.

Ascriptive Society

A society in which social status, power, and privileges are assigned or "ascribed" to individuals at birth based on fixed characteristics (such as race, gender, caste, ethnicity, or family lineage) rather than earned through achievement

Parliamentary Sovereignty

A core constitutional principle of the UK legal system where the legislative body (Parliament) holds absolute legal supremacy and can make, unmake, or override any law, with no other institution (including the courts) having the authority to set its acts aside.

Knesset

The unicameral national legislature of Israel. It has 120 members, elects the President, passes laws, approves the cabinet, and oversees the executive branch under a proportional representation system

Fifth Republic

The current republican constitution of France, established in 1958 under Charles de Gaulle. It replaced the unstable Fourth Republic by creating a semi-presidential system that significantly strengthened the powers of the executive branch.

European Council

An EU institution comprising the heads of state or government of the EU member states, along with the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission. It defines the overall political direction and priorities of the European Union.

ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community)

An international organization formed in 1951 by six European countries (France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg) to pool steel and coal production. It served as the foundational historical precursor to the European Union.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

A military alliance formed in 1949 by North American and European nations (under the collective defense principle, famously anchored by Article 5) to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.

Balfour Declaration

A 1917 public statement issued by the British government during World War I announcing support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine.

Article Five (NATO)

The cornerstone of NATO’s founding treaty, which states that an armed attack against one or more member states in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all, triggering collective self-defense measures.

Schengen Area

A zone comprising 29 European countries that have officially abolished passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders, allowing free movement of citizens and goods.

Shock Therapy

An economic policy approach involving sudden, radical, and sweeping changes—such as rapid price deregulation, swift privatization of state-owned enterprises, trade liberalization, and tight monetary policy—designed to transition a command economy into a market economy.

Global South

A broader modern term encompassing regions of Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, broadly characterized by lower income levels, developing industrial infrastructure, post-colonial histories, and economic inequalities relative to the Global North

Third World

A Cold War-era term originally used to describe countries that aligned with neither the capitalist First World (US-led bloc) nor the communist Second World (Soviet-led bloc). Over time, it came to be used loosely as a synonym for economically developing or impoverished nations.

Referendum

A direct democratic vote in which the entire electorate is invited to vote on a particular proposal, constitutional amendment, or specific piece of legislation, rather than leaving it strictly to elected representatives

Elitist Theory of Democracy

A political model arguing that democracy is merely a system where a small, cohesive minority (an elite group drawn from corporate, political, or military spheres) holds the actual power, while public participation is largely limited to choosing between competing elite leaders during elections.

Delegate Theory of Representation

A model of representation where elected representatives view themselves strictly as mouthpieces for the direct wishes and immediate preferences of their constituents, acting on direct instructions rather than their own independent judgment

Presidential System

A democratic system of government where the executive branch is constitutionally independent of the legislature. The president is popularly elected for a fixed term and serves as both head of state and head of government (e.g., the United States).

Constitutional Monarchy

A system of government where a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a written or unwritten constitution, while political power and real governance are held by an elected parliament and prime minister (e.g., the UK, Spain, Japan)

Run-off Elections

A voting system used in single-member districts when no candidate achieves an absolute majority (over 50%) in the initial round. A second election is then held between the top two candidates to ensure the winner commands majority support.

Modernization Theory

A sociological and political theory asserting that economic development, urbanization, education, and industrialization naturally drive societies away from traditional values and toward stable, secular, and democratic political systems.

Dependency Theory

A theoretical approach rooted in Marxist and structuralist traditions arguing that resources flow from a "periphery" of poor and developing states to a "core" of wealthy states, enriching the latter at the expense of the former and locking developing nations into structural underdevelopment.

Alternative for Germany (AfD)

A right-wing to far-right political party in Germany known for its strong Eurosceptic, anti-immigration, nationalist, and populist platform.