AP Comparative Government

Devolve

Refers to the transfer of powers and responsibilities from a central government to regional or local governments. This process allows for more localized governance and decision-making, which can lead to increased political and administrative efficiency and can also address regional demands for greater autonomy.

The English Question

Pertains to the debate over how England should be governed within the United Kingdom. This includes discussions about whether England should have its own parliament or greater representation and autonomy, similar to the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The question arises from the lack of a distinct English legislative body and seeks to address the governance imbalance within the UK.

Reasons For Political Legitimacy

the right and acceptance of an authority, usually a governing law or regime. Reasons for political legitimacy can include: Popular Sovereignty, Rule of Law, Performance Legitimacy, Tradition and History, and Charismatic Leadership.

Democratic Consolidation

The process by which a new democracy matures, becoming stable and enduring. It involves the strengthening of democratic institutions, practices, and norms to the point where democracy is unlikely to revert to authoritarianism. Key components include: Free and Fair Elections, Rule of Law, Civil Society, and Political Culture.

Boko Haram

An extremist Islamic terrorist group based in Nigeria. The group aims to establish Sharia law throughout the country and is known for carrying out violent attacks, including bombings, kidnappings, and mass killings.

Populism

A party that tries to appeal to “the people” against both the established power structure and the dominant ideas a values of society.

System Type UK

Unitary Parliamentary System

Head of State UK

Monarch

Head of Government UK

Prime Minister

Party System UK

Two-party system (Conservative & Labour)

Electoral System UK

Plurality system (First-past-the-post)

Historical Influence UK

Thatcherism – free-market reforms

Key Concept UK - Devolution

Transfer of powers to regional governments like Scotland & Northern Ireland

Key Concept UK - Noblesse Oblige

Idea that elites have a responsibility to care for the less privileged

Key Concept UK - Constitution

No single written constitution; based on tradition and precedent

Social Cleavages UK

Historically class-based, recently more ethnic

System Type Russia

Semi-Presidential, Asymmetrical Federal

De Facto Regime Russia

Authoritarian (Hybrid regime)

Key Leader Russia

Vladimir Putin

Legislature Russia

Duma (proportional rep.) and Federation Council

Key Concept Russia - Statism

Citizens expect strong state role in daily life

Key Concept Russia - Oligarchs

Wealthy elites who support or are supported by the regime

Key Concept Russia - Democratic Centralism

Governance by a small elite claiming to represent the people

Cleavages Russia

Ethnic, religious, and regional (e.g., Chechnya); Westernizers vs. Slavophiles

Authoritarianism vs Totalitarianism Russia

Russia is authoritarian, not totalitarian

System Type China

Authoritarian, Unitary, Party-State

Leader China

Xi Jinping

Ruling Party China

Chinese Communist Party (CCP)

Key Concept China - Parallel Hierarchies

The CCP, state government, and military operate alongside one another

Key Concept China - SEZs

Special Economic Zones are capitalist-leaning, coastal regions for economic reform

Key Concept China - Mass Line

The CCP claims to incorporate feedback from the masses into policymaking

Key Concept China - Civil Society Control

Heavily restricted, e.g., the Great Firewall

Cleavages China

Han majority vs. ethnic/religious minorities like the Uyghurs

Historical Movements China

Great Leap Forward, Cultural Revolution

One China Policy China

Taiwan is viewed as part of China, not a separate country

System Type Mexico

Presidential, Federal

Electoral System Mexico

Mixed system (Plurality + Proportional representation)

President Term Limit Mexico

Single 6-year term (Sexenio)

Dominant Party Mexico

Morena

Key Concept Mexico - Patron-Clientelism

Political support exchanged for favors or benefits

Key Concept Mexico - Corporatism

State-controlled or affiliated interest groups (e.g., PEMEX)

Trade Agreements Mexico

NAFTA (now USMCA)

Cleavages Mexico

Ethnic (Indigenous vs Mestizo), class-based, regional (north vs south)

Issue Areas Mexico

Corruption, cartel violence, uneven development

System Type Iran

Theocracy, Unitary, Authoritarian

Supreme Leader Iran

Highest authority; interprets Sharia law

President Iran

Subordinate executive role under Supreme Leader

Key Concept Iran - Guardian Council

Approves or disqualifies political candidates

Key Concept Iran - Axis of Resistance

Iran-backed anti-U.S. and anti-Israel regional groups

Key Concept Iran - Rentier State

Economy dependent on oil rents

Key Concept Iran - Dependency Theory

History of foreign exploitation and economic dependence

Cleavages Iran

Reformists vs Conservatives, and persecution of religious minorities (e.g., Baha’i)

System Type Nigeria

Presidential, Federal

Status Nigeria

Developing country

Key Challenge Nigeria - National Identity

Ongoing struggle with uniting diverse groups (national question)

Key Concept Nigeria - Rentier State

Oil is the primary source of national revenue

Key Concept Nigeria - 11 Constitutions

Reflects a history of instability and regime changes

Religious

North (Muslim, poorer) vs South (Christian, wealthier)

Ethnic

Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, and others

Key Concept Nigeria - Boko Haram

Northern Islamist terrorist group

Population Crisis Nigeria

Rapid population growth, public health issues like HIV/AIDS

Power

The ability to make others act in a certain way

Authority

The recognized and accepted right to rule

Legitimacy

Citizens’ belief that their government has the right to rule

Sovereignty

A state's ability to govern within its borders; can be challenged by non-state actors (e.g., cartels, Boko Haram) or supranational bodies (e.g., EU)

Supranational Organizations

Groups like the EU that require states to cede some sovereignty

Globalization

Growing interdependence of nations through trade, migration, and culture

HDI (Human Development Index)

Measures life expectancy, education, and income

Gini Index

Measures income inequality

Freedom House Index

Rates countries from liberal democracy to authoritarianism

PPP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Compares buying power of currencies

GDP

Total economic output of a country

GDP per Capita

Average income per person

United Kingdom

Liberal Democracy

Illiberal Democracy

Mexico, Nigeria

Hybrid Regime

Russia

Authoritarian Regime

China, Iran

Populism vs. Facism

Populism appeals to the common people against elites, while fascism is an authoritarian, nationalist ideology that glorifies the state and often uses violence.

Socioeconomic

Refers to the combined social and economic factors that shape individuals’ or groups’ positions in society.

Political Opportunity Structure Theory

Explains how external political conditions, like state openness or elite divisions, create opportunities for social movements to emerge and succeed.

Democratic Peace Theory

Holds that democracies are less likely to go to war with each other due to shared norms and institutional constraints.

Rational Choice Institutionalism

Argues that political actors make decisions by weighing costs and benefits within institutional rules.

Modernization Theory

Suggests that as countries develop economically, they are more likely to become democratic.

Austerity

Refers to government policies that cut public spending and raise taxes to reduce budget deficits, often during economic crises.