Comparative Government Unit 1 Review

Comparative politics

The study and comparison of domestic politics across countries.

International relations

Concentrates on relations between countries, including foreign policy, war, trade, and foreign aid.

Institutions

Organizations or activities that are valued for their own sake, important in defining/shaping political life.

Politics

The competition for public power, where power is the ability to influence others or impose one’s will on them.

Comparative method

The comparative method involves comparing cases and drawing conclusions.

Sovereignty

The ability to carry out actions and policy within a territory independent of external actors and internal rivals.

State

An organization that maintains a monopoly of violence over a territory.

Regime

A bit different than a state, focusing on the fundamental rules and norms of politics.

Government

The leadership that runs the state, which includes the elite in charge, either elected or unelected.

Country

A shorthand term for the combined political entities of state, regime, government, and the people living under that political system.

Democracy

Political power exercised directly or indirectly by the people through participation, competition, and liberty.

Liberal democracy

Promotes participation, competition, and liberty.

Civil rights

The promotion of equality.

Civil liberties

The promotion of freedom.

Referendum

Voting directly on particular policy issues.

Initiative

When citizens collect signatures for a national vote, allowing more direct participation.

Electoral systems

The rules and systems used to determine the results of an election.

Weak states

States that are unable to fulfill basic tasks such as enforcing rules and collecting taxes.

Strong states

States that can fulfill basic tasks effectively.

Totalitarianism

A form of nondemocratic rule with a highly centralized state and a well-defined ideology.

Clientelism

A system where the state co-opts individuals by providing benefits in exchange for support.

Kleptocracy

A regime marked by corruption and personal gain at the expense of the public.

Populism

The belief that elites do not represent the will of the people and the people can establish a new order.

Illiberal regimes

Regimes that exist between democratic and nondemocratic systems with weak rule of law.

Patrimonialism

A system where a leader trades benefits for political support within a small circle of regime supporters.

Corporatism

A method used by nondemocratic regimes to solidify control by creating limited organizations to represent public interests.

Bureaucratic authoritarianism

A regime where state bureaucracy and military work together, eliminating public participation.

Multicasualty

The concept that a single variable is unlikely to explain variations in political phenomena.

Legitimacy

A value whereby something or someone is recognized and accepted as right and proper.

Federalism

A system where powers are devolved to regional bodies defined in the national constitution.

Asymmetric federalism

A system that divides power unequally among regional bodies.

Unitary government

A system where political powers are concentrated at the federal level, limiting local authority.

Devolution

The trend of giving more power to local or state governments instead of central authorities.

Capacity

The ability of a state to wield power to provide security and manage equality.

Autonomy

The ability of a state to wield its power independently of external influences.