POSC017 midterm

First World

-The first world consisted of capitalist, industrialized democracies. (ex the U.S.) Rich countries

-Cold War era model (1945-1990): 1st, 2nd, and 3rd world

Second World

-The Second World comprised communist, industrialized, authoritarian regimes under Soviet influence.

-2.d world was communist (Soviet-led)

Third World

-The third world referred to countries unallied with either, many of which were poor and suffered from the lasting effects of colonization

-3rd world was non-aligned

Developing World

Misunderstanding the Developing World is Costly

Developed World

Global North

-The Global North refers to wealthier regions that traditionally obtained raw materials from others at minimal cost.

Global South

-The Global South is a conceptual term for poorer regions that remain largely dependent on the Global North

-Currently the preferred label as it is seen as more value-neutral, referring to countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East that comprise over 75% of the world’s population

Global Inequality

Brandt Line

-A visual representation of the division between the global “haves” and “have-nots”

-A 1980 visual rep. introduced by former German Chancellor Willy Brandt, dividing the world into a wealthier “Global North” and a poorer “Global South” to highlight international economic inequality.

Majority World

-A term used because these nations constitute more than 50% of the global population.

-According to World Bank

Semi-colonized

-When the country or state is sovereign but is very dependent on foreign countries for resources and trade.

Development

-Development is a broader concept focused on human well-being and the distribution of resources.

Sustainable Development

-An approach that considers the long-term impact on the environment and resources of current development strategies

-Also known as, “development that needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Growth

A summation of economic performance referring to an increase in the volume of trade or economic output of a country, measured by gross domestic product (GDP, gross national income (GNI), or gross national product (GNP).

-Growth is usually a key indicator of a healthy economy, measured against the previous performance of each national economy, not a single worldwide standard.

Income Inequality

Income inequality is the uneven distribution of household or individual income across a population, which has grown significantly in the US over the last 40 years.

Human Development

Human development is the multidisciplinary study of how people change, grow, and mature across the lifespan from conception to death, encompassing physical, cognitive, and psychosocial domains.

Human Development Index (HDI)

A composite index measuring health (life expectancy), education (literacy/schooling), and income.

Life Expectancy

-Life expectancy is the average number of years a person is expected to live, based on statistical mortality rates for a given population and period.

-It serves as a key indicator of population health, heavily influenced by factors like location, gender, and socio-economic conditions.

Education

Education is the lifelong process of acquiring knowledge, skills, values, and habits through instruction, study or experience, aimed at personal development and intellectual growth.

Standard of Living

Standard of living refers to level of wealth, comfort, material goods, and necessities available to individuals, households, or nations, typically measured by income, GDP per capita, and for a more comprehensive view, factors like health and education.

Fertility

Fertility is the natural capability to produce offspring or, in agriculture, the ability of soil to support plant growth.

Income-Based Classification

Countries are categorized into Low-Incomes (LICs), Lower-Middle-Income (LMICs), Upper-Middle-Income (UMICs), and High-Income (HICs)

Gross National Income (GNI)

The primary measure used by the World Bank to classify global development (per capita).

Low-Income Countries (LICs)

-Low-income countries are nations defined by the World Bank as having a gross national income (GNI) per capita of $1,135 or less as of the 2026 fiscal year.

-These nations often face significant structural challenges, including limited industrialization, high poverty rates, and low human capital development. (Most are located in Africa and parts of Asia)

Lower-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs)

-These nations, often referred to as developing economies, represent about 63% of the world’s countries and 54% of the population, experiencing challenges in infrastructure, health, and education.

-(ex. Zimbabwe, Egypt, and Nigeria)

Upper-Middle-Income Countries (UMICs)

These countries are in a transitional phase, often experiencing rapid industrialization, urbanization, and growing middle classes, positioning them between developing and high-income status.

High-Income Countries (HICs)

A nation with a high gross national income (GNI) per capita, classified by the World Bank. These nations generally feature advanced economies, strong infrastructure, high standards of living, and high human development index (HDI) scores.

Less Developed Countries (LDCs/LLDCs)

-Little to sell on the world market, they are eclipsed by it. The poorest in the world, with the worst ratings for virtually every market of human development, these countries are marginalized and utterly dependent on what little foreign assistance they receive.

-Low-income nations recognized by the UN as facing severe structural impediments to sustainable development.

-They exhibit low human assets (health/education), high economic vulnerability to shocks, and low gross national income (GNI) per capita, with most located in Africa and Asia.

Advanced Economies

Advanced Economies are countries or regions classified by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as having high levels of economic development, characterized by high GDP per capita, significant industrialization, diversified exports, and deep integration into the global financial system.

Economies in Transition

-Nations shifting from state-led, centrally planned systems to market-oriented economies, primarily in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, and Asia.

-This process involved price liberalization, privatization of state assets, and institutional reforms.

-Challenges include high inflation, economic volatility, and the need for legal reforms.

State

-An organized political entity that occupies a specific territory, has a permanent population, is controlled by a government, and is regarded as sovereign.

-Currently, there are approximately 190 recognized states worldwide.

Nation-State

A combination of a shared national identity and an internationally recognized political boundary and government.

Regime

-A regime is a system, method, or form of government and management, often referring to a particular, sometimes authoritarian, government in power.

-It consists of the fundamental rules and norms that shape who gets to rule and how

Government

-A government refers to the specific current officeholders exercising power.

-The system, organization, or group of people that holds the authority to control, manage, and regulate a state, community, or society.

Political Regime

-The set of formal and informal rules, norms, and institutions that determine how political power is acquired, exercised, and transferred within a state.

-It defines the relationship between rulers and the ruled

Sovereignty

-The right of a state to determine what happens within its own borders without outside interference.

-Freedom from foreign control; the state is the principal actor in international relations and is subject to no higher political authority.

Modern State

The modern state is a centralized political entity exercising sovereign authority over a clearly defined territory and population.

Monopoly of Legitimate Violence

A foundational concept in modern political science and sociology, primarily attributed to the German sociologist Max Weber in his 1919 essay, “Politics as a Vocation”

Bureaucracy

-A system of administration in governments or large organizations characterized by a strict hierarchy, specialized roles, formal rules, and impersonal management.

-It is designed to manage large-scale operations, but often results in “red-tape”—slow, complex, and rigid procedures.

Federalism

Federalism is a system of government that divides power between a central (national) authority and constituent political units, such as states or provinces.

Constitutional Monarchy

A form of government where a hereditary monarch (king or queen) acts as the head of state within the boundaries of a written or unwritten constitution.

Democracy

A system based on the decentralization of power and popular sovereignty where citizens choose representatives through free and fair elections.

Authoritarianism

A nondemocratic system where the ruler depends on coercion rather than popular legitimacy; power is concentrated in the executive branch.

Totalitarianism

A full-blown dictatorship where the state attempts to exercise absolute control over virtually every aspect of citizens’ lives.

Theocracy

A system of rule based on religion and dominated by clergy.

Oligarchy

-A form of government or power structure where control rests with a small, elite group of people, often defined by wealth, family ties, noble status, or military control.

-Unlike democracy, it focuses on preserving the interest of this minority group rather than the public

Populism

-It is a “thin-centered ideology” that divides society into two antagonistic camps—”the pure people” vs “the corrupt elite”.

-It is often described as a political style or strategy rather than a comprehensive ideology like socialism or liberalism.

Patrimonialism

A form of governance where the ruler treats the states as personal property and uses co-optation and repression.

Weak State

A state deficient in providing security, basic services, or protecting civil freedoms (discussed under Disintegration).

Accountability

A characteristic of democracy where the government is held responsible for its public actions.

Militarization of Politics

-The increasing influence of military methods, values, and personnel on civilian governance and political processes, often blurring the lines between war and domestic politics.

-It involves using armed force, military rhetoric and security personnel to manage social order and solve political problems, threatening democratic institutions.

Colonialism

Colonialism is the practice of a foreign power dominating, exploiting, and often settling another territory and its people for economic, political, and cultural gain, usually driven by resource extraction and geopolitical power.

Direct Rule

-Colonizers exercise full political control through imported European officials (bureaucrats).

-Administrative control handled entirely by colonizers themselves

-Ex. British direct rule in certain Indian territories, French colonial governance.

Characteristics: High administrative burden on colonial power; expensive strategy

Indirect Rule

-Colonizers govern through existing local authorities

-Key advantages:

• More cost-effective than direct rule

• Reduces administrative burden on colonial power

• Uses strategy of “divide and conquer; create animosity on purpose”