Midterm Comp Polotics

Rational Choice

A framework for understanding social and economic behavior, where individuals make decisions by weighing the expected benefits against the costs to maximize utility. “Only one that looks at us as individuals”

Structuralist Model

• Relationships are determined by the rules of the game. (insititutions, laws, congress)

• Shape what is possible (things we can and cannot do)

• Strengths: (How different countries succeed and fail)

• Weaknesses: ( Not good at looking at change)

Cultural Model

• Our beliefs and values shape how we acheive and what we can achieve. ( accounts for identity and religion)

• Problem: (Culture doesn’t really exist)

Sovereignty

How much control does the gov have over a given territory.

• 2 forms

  • Internal sovereignty: the authority of a state to govern itself without external interference. (People, Police)

  • External sovereignty: the recognition by other states of a state's independence and territorial integrity. (Outside world views your country, Military, Allies)

Legitimacy

Freely given Consent from the people to the goverment

Unitary and Federalist Systems and Devolution

• Unitary: One level of government, 1 decision maker.

• Federalist: Multiple levels of government, shared decision-making authority.

• Devolution: The move toward federalist and away from unitary government

Power, Autonomy, and Capacity

• Power: Measure of Sovereignty

• Autonomy: Freedom to act

• Capacity: A country has what ot needs to get stuff done.

  (Resources, Educated Population, Ports, Natural resources)

Ethnic Identity vs. National Identity (i.e Attitudes vs Ideologies)

The 4 types of Political economies

• Liberal: Freedom, Limited Government

• Social democratic: Much more Government intervention, Tax increase

• Mercantilist: State should be the main actor in trade (export based)

  • Government is invested in the industry (Learn to be good at something your bad at to get money)

Inflation/Deflation

• Inflation: Increase in price (demand>Supply)

• Deflation: Prices decrease (BAD)

  • The economy going to shrink

    • Companys cannot profit

Revolutions

• Structural: (Internal Relations) When a country has a rival —> Power Gap—> lower power countries create reforms—> Puts less people in power—> Needs of citizens are lost and grow angry = Revolution

• Relative Deprivation: Looks inside the government—> Where the country is v.s where the people want the country to be. Big Gap = Revolutions

  • Problem: Hard to know when the gap is is too big

Terrorism

• Violence by Non-state Actors “that target civilians” to achive a political goal.

Democratization Theories

• Modernization: is the country modern

  • Education Improves:

    • Questions why they don’t have a say

      • Womens rights

    • Need better Jobs—> Middle class emerges and they have something to protect now. (They need a say to keep the things they have)

• Civil Society: Any Group that teaches your opinion matters

  • As they grow, there is a better chance democracy will emerge.

Direct vs Indirect Democracy

• Direct: Citizens vote on everything (i.e, Ballet questions)

• Indirect: Representative Democracy

  • We select someone else

    • Can remove if you do not like our decision

Presidential vs Parliamentary

• Presidential: The people elect the president

  • Strength: We can elect (direct say) = Strong checks and balances

  • Weakness: Super Inefficient

• Parliamentary: Lower house of the legislature votes.

  • Strength: Efficient, much more autonomous

  • Weakness: Public has less say, checks and balances are weaker

Institutions in democracies, their roles, and how they vary by system

• Constitution: Contract in a democracy between government and civilians, laying out rights and responsibilities.

  • The branch closest to the people, the House of Representatives, or the lowest house.

• Executive Branch: Head of state

• Legislative Branch: Makes Policies

• Judiciary Branch: Enforce the law

  • Also rule on what laws mean

Proportional vs Single Member District systems

• Proportional; System in which you vote for a political party (Nation wide)

• Single Member: Vote for a single person to represent you

  • Party loyalty does not matter—> More extreme

Political Parties

Try to influence policies, advance goals, and represent citizens

Rule of Law

The law is Neutral, We cannot be punished without breaking the the law

Americas Path to Democracy

• Modernization theory: education improved (in men) and questioned the British ruling

  • Colonies grew rich (North)—> Wanted a say to protect their money (Middle Class)

• 1st Major successful rebellion against England

• Electoral College

Japan Path to democracy

• 1st Democracy (Taisho democracy) educated fast—> middle class emerged = Modernization

• 2nd (US implemented democracy) Education was largely good and stayed that way.—> Women’s Rights —> All of Japan became middle class ( wanted to protect their gains by running for office)

• Prime Minister: Elected by lower House

• 3D’s: (Deflation, Debt, Deficits)