Unit 2: Peace and Conflict

social movement

a widely shared demand for change in some aspect of the social or political order

structural violence

violence that results from the way that political and economic forces structure risk for various forms of suffering within a population

Relative Deprivation Theory

Actions of groups that are oppressed/deprived of rights that others in society enjoy. ex. Civil Rights Movements

resource mobilization theory

Focus on factors that help/hinder a social movement like access to resources

political opportunity theory

social protests are directly related to the political opportunities that potential protesters and movement organizers believe exist within the political system

Resistance Movement:

A social movement that arises to block change or eliminate a previously instituted change.

Non-violent resistance

The use of peaceful means to protest; refusing to fight back.

Violent resistance

partner forcibly fights back against intimate terrorism

Digital activism

the use of hashtags and posts to raise awareness and foster discussion about specific issues and causes via social media

Arab Spring

A revolutionary wave of protests and demonstrations overtaking dictators in the Middle East (2011)

political party

A group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, conduct government, and determine public policy

coalition

a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose

party system

the categorization of the number and competitiveness of political parties in a polity

political attitudes

Individuals' views and preferences about public policies, political parties, candidates, government institutions, and public officials.

political ideology

a more or less consistent set of beliefs about what policies government ought to pursue

political leaders

charismatic and strong leaders are able to mold public opinion to support their ideas and policies.

Political Polarization

Polarization itself is typically understood as "a prominent division or conflict that forms between major groups in a society or political system and that is marked by the clustering and radicalisation of views and beliefs at two distant and antagonistic poles.

Consociationalism

a form of governance that seeks to regulate the sharing of power in a state among diverse groups, promoting cooperation and stability.

Political Pillarization

the vertical separation of citizens into groups by religion and associated political beliefs. These societies were (and in some areas, still are) divided into two or more groups known as pillars

head of state

The executive role that symbolizes and represents the people both nationally and internationally.

head of government

The executive role that deals with the everyday tasks of running the state, such as formulating and executing policy

Regime Type

the form of a political regime, such as democratic versus authoritarian, as well as subtypes, such as personalistic dictatorships or totalitarian regimes

Government Systems

unitary system and federal system

Democratic leaders

leaders who encourage group discussion and decision making through consensus building

authoritarian leaders

Political figures who centralize power and limit individual freedoms, often using oppressive measures to maintain control.

revolutionary leaders

Top-down and directive, leaders need to be decisive and time is of the essence