Chapter 4 - Politics 6th Edition

Legitimacy

From the Latin legitimare, meaning 'to declare lawful' broadly means 'rightfulness'. Confers a binding or unquestionable character on a decision, thus transforming power into authority.

Tradition

Anything that is handed down or transmitted from the past to the present, such as long-standing customs and practices, institutions, social or political systems, etc.

Charisma

Charm or personal power: the capacity to establish leadership through psychological control over others.

Revolution

A popular uprising, involving extra-legal mass action, which brings about fundamental change (a change in the political system itself) as opposed to merely a change of policy or governing elite.

Reform

Change brought about within a system, usually by peaceful and incremental measures; reform implies improvement.

Consent

Assent or permission; in politics, usually an agreement to be governed or ruled.

Performance legitimacy

The capacity of a regime to generate public acceptance and a sense of rightfulness through the delivery of favourable economic and social outcomes.

Universal suffrage

The idea that as many people as possible who are subject to the laws and powers of a government have a right to vote in its elections and participate in its political life.

Majority rule

The rule that the will of the majority, or numerically strongest, overrides the will of the minority, implying that the latter should accept the views of the former.

Cosmopolitan democracy

A form of democracy that operates at supranational levels of governance and is based on the idea of transnational or global citizenship.

Radical democracy

A form of democracy that favours decentralization and participation, the widest possible dispersal of political power.

Economic democracy

A broad term that covers attempts to apply democratic principles to the workplace, ranging from profit-sharing and the use of workers' councils to full workers' self-management.

Political equality

An equal distribution of political power and influence. It ensures that each individual carries the same weight.

Natural rights

God-given rights that are fundamental to human beings and are therefore inalienable (they cannot be taken away).

General will

The genuine interests of a collective body, equivalent to the common good; the will of all, provided each person acts selflessly.

Accountability

Answerability; a duty to explain one's conduct and be open to criticism by others.

Deliberative democracy

A form of democracy that emphasizes the need for reasoned discussion and debate to help to formulate legitimate political outcomes.

Leninist democracy

A form of democracy in which the communist party, organized on the basis of 'democratic centralism', articulates the interest of the proletariat.

Liberal democracy

A political regime in which a 'liberal' commitment to limited government is blended with a 'democratic' belief in popular rule.

Madisonian democracy

A form of democracy that incorporates constitutional protections for minorities that enable them to resist majority rule.

Pluralist democracy

Sometimes used interchangeably with liberal democracy. More specifically, it refers to a form of democracy that operates through the capacity of organized groups and interests to articulate popular demands and ensure responsive government.

Ruling class

A Marxist term, denoting a class that dominates other classes and society at large by virtue of its ownership of productive wealth.

Elitism

A belief in, or practice of, rule by an elite or minority. Refers to a minority in whose hands power, wealth or privilege is concentrated.

Neocorporatism

A tendency found in Western polyarchies for organized interests to be granted privileged and institutionalized access to policy formulation.

Peak association

A group recognized by government as representing the general or collective interests of businesses or workers.

Global civil society

A realm in which transnational non-governmental groups and associations interact. These groups are typically voluntary and non-profitmaking, setting them apart from transnational corporations.

Democratic deficit

When political institutions and processes fall short of democratic expectations of accountability, transparency and/or public participation.