PS 1400 Unit 2 Terms Practice

Authoritarianism

A political system in which a small group of individuals exercises power; no rights to choose leaders and limits on public rights and freedoms.

Selectorate

The people who play a role in selecting the leader in office.

Winning Coalition

The subset of the selectorate whose support is needed for a leader to stay in power.

Public Goods

Goods that everyone has access to.

Private Goods

Goods that only the winning coalition receives.

Selectorate Theory

A theory stating that leaders must provide goods to the winning coalition to ensure their loyalty.

Personalistic Regime

An authoritarian regime controlled by one leader with no autonomous institutions.

Party-based Regime

An authoritarian regime governed by a single party that also holds power in institutions.

Military Regime

An authoritarian regime where military leaders control the government.

Monarchy

A political system where royal descent grants policy-making power and control of the military.

Electoral Autocracy

An authoritarian regime that holds elections but uses unfair advantages to win.

Illiberal Democracy

Winning an election fairly but then undermining democratic processes after in power.

Campaign Advantages

Factors like funding or media coverage that give one candidate an edge over others.

Electoral Laws

Rules governing the electoral process, impacting representation in democracies.

Barriers to Candidate Entry

Obstacles preventing opposition candidates from running in elections.

Reverse Modernization Theory

Poorer countries tend to be less democratic (and more authoritarian)

Legitimizing Basis

Establishing credibility and rationale for authority to ensure loyalty in an authoritarian regime.

Repression

Acts or threats of violence used by authoritarian regimes to maintain control.

Co-optation

Giving benefits to citizens in exchange for loyalty to the regime.

Commitment Problems

Issues arising from the need to balance resources among citizens to maintain loyalty.

Personality Cult

The practice of depicting a leader in a heroic or idealized manner to gain obedience.

Executive Aggrandizement

The tendency of leaders to concentrate power and weaken institutions.

Democratic Backsliding

Gradual erosion of democratic norms while still maintaining a democratic facade.

Autocratization

Extreme backsliding leading to a regime that is no longer democratic.

Polarization

The division of political ideologies in a way that leads to conflict.

Party-State

The overlap of the Communist Party's power with state institutions.

Institutionalization in CCP

Implementing norms and procedures to stabilize leadership succession and governance.

Methods of Co-optation

Strategies used by autocratic leaders to recruit opposition and maintain control.

Xi Jinping

Current leader of China who has transitioned the regime toward personalism.

Head of State vs. Head of Government

The symbolic leader of a nation vs. the person who runs the government.

Formal Powers

Powers exercised based on constitutional or legal authority.

Partisan Powers

Powers derived from leadership within a political party.

Informal Powers

Powers not officially recognized but gained through custom or influence.

Presidential Systems

Systems where executive and legislative branches are elected separately.

European Model of Democracy

A system emphasizing parliamentary governance and multi-party dynamics.

Parliamentary System

A government system combining executive and legislative power.

Indirect Election

Elections where representatives are appointed to vote on behalf of citizens.

Vote of Confidence

A parliamentary vote to express support for the government.

Snap Election

An election held before the regular expiration of a term.

Shadow Cabinet

An informal group of opposition members monitoring government ministers.

Single Party Majority Government

A government where a single party dictates policy decisions.

Party Discipline

The ability of a political party to ensure that its members vote and act in line with the party’s policies and decisions

Coalition Formation

The process of parties banding together to achieve a majority.

Grand Coalition

An alliance of the two largest centrist parties to strengthen governance.

Semi-Presidential System

A system combining both presidential and parliamentary elements.

Strategic Logic of Personality Cults

Promoting a strong, often worshipful image to secure authority and control.

What do these trends imply about the consolidation of democracy?

Democratic consolidation is hindered by authoritarian persistence, selectorate theory, weak institutions, elite survival, control of resources