Introduction to Political Science Exam 2 SG

Comparative Politics

Study of countries around the world (regime type, institution, behavior , policy, economics)

State

The institutions that maintain a monopoly of the legitimate force

Sovereignty

ability to carry out actions or policies within a territory freely from external actors or internal rivals

• The state is a major point of study of comparative politics (Formation, Strength)

Beginning of the Modern State System 

Dated to treaty of Westphalia in 1648 

-Tribes, nations, absolute monarchies, city -states etc

Regime

the norms and rules of politics

• embodies long-term goals regarding freedom and equality

• when, where, and how power should be used

• can be distinguished as democratic/ non-democratic

Government

The leadership or elite in charge of running the state

• elected legislators, executives etc

• dictators, monarchs, military juntas etc

• must operate within the institutions of the state and the rules of regime

• maintain legitimacy or overthrow regime

Treaty of Westphalia (1648)

Ended Thirty Years War (1618-1648)

• recognized a system of independent states 

• each state was assigned the attribute of sovereign power over its territory 

• competing states held in check by a balance of power 

Colonialism

imposed the state as a political organization from Europe all over the world

Statism

developed in Europe over centuries, forced onto others very quickly

• Many of these new states lacked resources, infastructure, capital, and organization to be successful

“Failed” or weak states as result : 

cannot exert sovereignty over territory 

Many theories put forth to explain the political and economic development of modern states

Economics : GDP, industrialization, urbanization

Social : human rights, systemic discrimination

Political: rule of law, citizenship rights, security, equitable public spending

Modernization

as societies develop, they would become democratic (capitalistic)

• Greater education

• weakening traditional institutions that stressed hierarchy and authority

• Rise of the middle class

• Share certain value (western- oriented)

• More developed states would guide the process

• Fell out of favor : Theory did not prove true in example

• Political Studies became more inclusive, less paternalistic

Dependency 

Former colonies and non-industrialized nations and structurally different from colonial powers and must develop differently 

• colonization made those countries economically dependent on mother countries 

• Capitalism and free trade continue to disadvantage post-colonial states 

Terminology

Developing, Global South (Tropic of Cancer), Emerging

Regime Types (two basic types)

Democratic and Non-Democratic Regimes

Democratic Regimes

• Free, Open; protected civil rights

• Different types of institutions and power distributions

Non-Democratic Regimes 

• Lack of Free, open elections; no protected rights etc 

• Communism, Fascism, Military dictatorship etc