POLS Exam 1 Vocab/Terms

Lasswell’s definition of politics

who gets what, when, and how

(broad, power dynamics, human behavior, and competition for scarce resources)

Easton’s definition of politics

authoritative distributing of values for a society

(conversion machine that takes inputs from society = binding outputs)

political science

scientific study and analysis of politics, especially politics of the state

politics

the subject, the practice of governing

prisoner’s dilemma

thought experiment showing why two completely rational people might not cooperate, even if it is in their best interest to do so

ideology

organized set of related ideas that modify one another

classical/Lockean liberalism origin

brought up by John Locke as a reaction to absolute monarchies and divine right

classical/Lockean liberalism principles (3 points)

• natural rights: life, liberty, and property

• government is formed thru. a social contract - protect natural rights

• “consent of the governed”, the people can overthrow government

American liberalism/conservatism (3 points)

• ideologies that are variants of the liberalism

• both want individual freedom, national security

• share same goal but in different ways

American liberalism values (3 points)

(based of John Locke)

• government has a responsibility to take care of the people

• focus on equality - access+outcomes

American conservatism values (3 points)

• government should be less involved

• economic freedom

• traditional standing

classical/Lockean liberalism (3 points)

• natural rights to life, liberty, and property

• consent of the governed

• government and people have responsibilities and obligations to each other

conservatism (2 points)

• political and social philosophy that supports traditions, customs, and social order

• opposed to radical change

socialism

economic and political philosophy which the community/state owns and controls major means of production and distribution (not individual!) - labor and workers

social welfare (3 points)

redistribution of resources/support:

• financial

• material

• social support

socialism values (3 points)

• economic equality

• social ownership

• social welfare

conservatism social welfare REASONING

Protect the vulnerable with family, community, and individual responsibility

conservatism social welfare METHODS (3 points)

• church

• charities

• families working together

socialism social welfare REASONING (3 points)

• economic equality

• social rights

• security

socialism social welfare METHODS

large role of governments/institutions to provide social services

variants of socialism (2 points)

• democratic socialist

• marxism-leninism (communist socialist)

state

(in a country sense)

a political unit with ultimate responsibility for conducting its affairs

four things needed to be a state

• power

• authority

• government

• legitimacy (identity/results/habit/procedures)

sovereignty

place of ultimate authority - political power is isolated

Ex: United States is independent from everyone else

nation (2 points)

• large group of people bounded together

• legitimacy thru. shared identity

Ex: language, history, ethnicity, culture…

failed states (+3 points)

Not effectively exercising sovereignty

• ensure laws obeyed

• provide public services+goods

• govern without influence

legitimacy (3 points)

quality of being:

• lawful

• authentic/real

• rightful (power to govern)

public goods (2 points)

services/products that

• is shared/available to everyone (50=50)

• everyone is allowed to use/benefit from

BECAUSE OF TAXES

Ex: public roads, national defense, clean air

free rider problem

enjoying a good without participating in its production

Ex: Not paying taxes

externalities (two examples)

an outcome of a transaction that affects a third party/actor/person that (sometimes) wasn't in favor

Ex: pollution = negative

public education = good

realism (1+2 points)

a theory that states act on:

• self interest

and are motivated by:

• power

• influence

liberal-humanitarianism

theory that states (democratic) don’t only act on self-interest, maybe also values like human rights

methodological individualism

we ASSUME a collective by reducing it down to descriptions of individuals

Ex: Traffic jams

international relations (two points)

a subfield of political science that:

• focuses on relationships between/among state

• the state is the primary actor

NGO (3 points)

an independent and nonprofit that operates separately from government

• influences public policy

• provide humanitarian services

• operants across state boarders - service on global issues

Ex: International committee of the Red Cross

IGO (3 points)

organizations of states that allow them to:

• collaborate

• coordinate

• compromise

Ex: United Nations, NATO

international system (2 points)

the overall structure and power dynamics of world politics

• balance of power

• alliances

international law (3 points)

a system of..

• rules

• norms

• standards

that govern relationships between states, international org.’s, and individuals

regime theory (4 points)

international relation framework (how states work without a global government):

• rules

• norms

• principles

• decision making procedures