Poli sci exam 4

What are the two categories of developing countries?  Name and describe at least five reasons why some countries are less developed than others.

The two categories of developing countries are middle-income countries and lower-income countries. Middle-income countries are countries that were once less developed but are now experiencing economic growth and some political development. Lower-income countries are countries that still have very low levels of economic development and weak political institutions. 5 reasons are corrupt insitutions, other religiosity, Geographic challenges, resource curse, imperialism and colonialism. corrupt institutions prevent fair economic growth. Other-worldly religiosity, which can sometimes shift focus away from economic development. Geographic challenges, such as being landlocked or having poor natural conditions, can make trade and growth more difficult. The resource curse is another factor, where countries rich in natural resources like oil often experience corruption instead of development. Additionally, a history of imperialism and colonialism has left many countries with weak political systems, social divisions, and economies focused on exporting raw materials rather than building strong domestic industries.

What is imperialism?  Why has Africa been especially impacted by imperialism?  What is colonialism?  What have been the political consequences of colonialism?  What have been the social consequences of colonialism?  What have been the economic consequences of colonialism?

Imperialism is when a powerful country takes control of weaker countries or territories to gain power, resources, or influence. Africa was affected by imperialism because European countries took control of most of the continent, drew new borders, and used Africa's resources for their own benefit. Colonialism is when one country takes control of another territory and governs it for its own benefit. The political consequences of colonialism include the loss of self-rule and the creation of weak or unstable governments after independence, since many countries had little experience governing themselves. The social consequences include the imposition of new religions, identities, and artificial borders, which have led to ethnic conflict and divisions within societies. The economic effects included focusing local economies on exporting resources and cash crops, making them dependent on global markets and slowing economic growth.

Name and describe at least four pathways to development.

Four pathways to development are neomercantilism, structural adjustment, political/social reforms, and economic stimulus. Neomercantilism involves government guidance of the economy through trade and industrial policies. Structural adjustment uses free-market reforms such as privatization, reduced government spending, and freer trade. Political and social reforms improve development by strengthening democracy, reducing corruption, and investing in education and health. Economic stimulus promotes growth through programs like microcredit that help people start businesses and increase income.

In at least 10 sentences, describe the political regime of the India.  Does the state have a written constitution and if so, when and under what conditions was it written?  How is the executive structured?  What is the title and power of the head of government?  Is the head of state a separate office?  Who is currently head of government and head of state?  How is the legislature structured?  If the legislature is bicameral, how do the two chambers differ?  How is the judiciary structured?

India has a democratic political regime and is the world’s largest democracy. The country has a written constitution that was adopted in 1950 after gaining independence from British colonial rule, and it established India as a federal republic with power shared between the central government and the states. The executive branch is structured around the Prime Minister and the cabinet, also called the Council of Ministers, which is selected from members of parliament. The Prime Minister is the head of government and holds the most real political power, including leading the government, creating policy, and commanding the military. The current Prime Minister is Narendra Modi. The head of state is a separate office held by the president, who has a largely ceremonial role but can play an important part during political crises or when no party has a majority. The current president is Droupadi Murmu. India’s legislature is a bicameral parliament consisting of two chambers: the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha is the more powerful chamber, where members are directly elected by the people and where most laws are debated and passed. The Rajya Sabha represents the states, with members elected indirectly by state legislatures, and it plays a reviewing role in the lawmaking process. The judiciary is headed by the Supreme Court, whose justices are appointed by the president and serve until retirement, and it has the power of judicial review, although this power is somewhat limited because the constitution can be amended relatively easily.

In at least 10 sentences, describe the political competition of the India.  What type of electoral system does the state have?  How are members of the executive elected?  What are the term lengths?  How are members of the legislature elected?  What are the term lengths?  What type of party system does the state have?  What are the names and ideological orientations of the major parties?  When was the last election?  What were the results?  When is the next scheduled elections?

India has a competitive democratic political system with a multiparty system, even though it uses a first-past-the-post (plurality) electoral system in single-member districts for its lower house, the council of Lok Sabha. Members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected by voters and serve terms of up to five years. The executive is not directly elected by the people; instead, the Prime Minister is chosen from the majority party or coalition in the Lok Sabha and becomes the head of government. The current Prime Minister is Narendra Modi, who leads the government through his party’s majority. The legislature is bicameral, with the Lok Sabha as the lower house and the Rajya Sabha as the upper house; members of the Rajya Sabha are elected indirectly by state legislatures and serve staggered six-year terms. India’s party system includes many parties, but politics is mainly dominated by two major ones: the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is right-wing and promotes Hindu nationalism, and the Indian National Congress (INC), which is center-left and more secular. These parties lead larger alliances, with the BJP heading the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the INC leading the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), while a third group of left-wing parties forms the Left Front. In the most recent national election in 2019, the BJP won a strong majority with 301 seats, while the INC won 52 seats, confirming the BJP’s dominance. India’s elections typically occur every five years, so the next general election is expected in 2024. Voter turnout is relatively high, showing strong public participation in the democratic process.

In at least 10 sentences, describe the political regime of the Mexico.  Does the state have a written constitution and if so, when and under what conditions was it written?  How is the executive structured?  What is the title and power of the head of government?  Is the head of state a separate office?  Who is currently head of government and head of state?  How is the legislature structured?  If the legislature is bicameral, how do the two chambers differ?  How is the judiciary structured?

Mexico has a democratic political regime based on the Constitution of 1917, which was created in the aftermath of the Mexican Revolution to establish political stability and limit the power of authoritarian rulers. The executive branch is led by the president, who serves as both head of state and head of government, meaning there is no separate office for these roles. The president holds significant powers, including commanding the military, appointing cabinet members and ambassadors, proposing legislation, and vetoing laws. The current president is Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Mexico’s legislature is bicameral and is known as the Congress of the Union. It consists of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The Chamber of Deputies is responsible for passing laws and handling taxation, while the Senate approves treaties and confirms presidential appointments, such as Supreme Court justices. The judiciary is headed by the Supreme Court, which has the power of judicial review, though multiple justices must agree to strike down a law. Justices are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, and the court system has undergone reforms to reduce corruption.

In at least 10 sentences, describe the political competition of the Mexico.  What type of electoral system does the state have?  How are members of the executive elected?  What are the term lengths?  How are members of the legislature elected?  What are the term lengths?  What type of party system does the state have?  What are the names and ideological orientations of the major parties?  When was the last election?  What were the results?  When is the next scheduled elections?

Mexico has a competitive multi-party political system. The country uses a mixed electoral system for its legislature and a plurality system for presidential elections. The president is directly elected by the people, and the candidate with the most votes wins, even without a majority. The president serves a single six-year term and cannot be reelected. Members of the legislature are elected in two ways: in the Chamber of Deputies, 300 members are elected from single-member districts while 200 are chosen through proportional representation. In the Senate, each state receives three seats, with two going to the winning party and one to the runner-up, while additional seats are allocated through proportional representation. Legislative elections occur every three years, while presidential elections occur every six years. Mexico has a multi-party system with several major parties representing different ideologies. The National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) is a left-wing party currently in power, while the National Action Party (PAN) represents conservative, pro-market policies, and the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) is a left-wing party. The PRI, once dominant, is now a center or center-left party but has lost much of its influence due to corruption scandals. In the most recent election in 2018, MORENA and its allies won a majority in both houses of Congress, and Andrés Manuel López Obrador was elected president in a landslide victory. The next major presidential election is scheduled for 2024, with midterm congressional elections occurring every three years in between.

In at least 10 sentences, describe the political regime of the Brazil.  Does the state have a written constitution and if so, when and under what conditions was it written?  How is the executive structured?  What is the title and power of the head of government?  Is the head of state a separate office?  Who is currently head of government and head of state?  How is the legislature structured?  If the legislature is bicameral, how do the two chambers differ?  How is the judiciary structured?

Brazil has a democratic political regime based on the Constitution of 1988, which was written after the end of military dictatorship and the country’s transition back to democracy. The constitution established a federal democratic republic with a separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Brazil’s executive branch is led by the president, who serves as both head of state and head of government, so there is no separate prime minister. The president has significant powers, including appointing cabinet members, proposing legislation, issuing line-item vetoes, and directing the armed forces. The current president and head of government is Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Brazil’s legislature is called the National Congress and is bicameral, meaning it has two chambers. The lower house is the Chamber of Deputies, while the upper house is the Federal Senate. Both chambers must approve legislation before it becomes law, although Brazil’s many political parties often make coalition-building difficult. The judiciary is headed by the Federal Supreme Court, whose judges are appointed by the president and approved by the Senate. The Supreme Court has developed a reputation for independence since democratization, although lower courts are often criticized for corruption. Brazil is also strongly federalist, with its 26 states having their own governments and constitutions.

In at least 10 sentences, describe the political competition of the Brazil.  What type of electoral system does the state have?  How are members of the executive elected?  What are the term lengths?  How are members of the legislature elected?  What are the term lengths?  What type of party system does the state have?  What are the names and ideological orientations of the major parties?  When was the last election?  What were the results?  When is the next scheduled elections?

Brazil’s political competition is shaped by its open-list electoral system and its multi-party system. Citizens over the age of 18 are required to vote. The president is directly elected by the people and serves as both head of state and head of government. Presidents serve four-year terms and may serve up to two consecutive terms. Members of the Chamber of Deputies are elected using open-list, which allows voters to choose individual candidates rather than only voting for a party. Members of the Federal Senate are elected separately by the states. Deputies serve four-year terms, while senators serve eight-year terms. Because of the proportional representation system, Brazil has many political parties, making coalition governments necessary in order to govern effectively. The major left-wing party is the Workers' Party (PT), which is associated with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Major conservative and center-right parties include the Liberal Party (PL), Progressistas (PP), Republicanos, and the Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB-Cidadania). In the 2022 election, Lula and his leftist Brazil of Hope Federation coalition defeated the conservative coalition associated with former president Jair Bolsonaro. Because no single party usually wins a majority in Congress, presidents must build broad governing coalitions, a system often called coalition presidentialism. The next presidential and congressional elections in Brazil are scheduled for 2026.

In at least 10 sentences, describe the political regime of the South Africa.  Does the state have a written constitution and if so, when and under what conditions was it written?  How is the executive structured?  What is the title and power of the head of government?  Is the head of state a separate office?  Who is currently head of government and head of state?  How is the legislature structured?  If the legislature is bicameral, how do the two chambers differ?  How is the judiciary structured?

South Africa has a democratic political regime based on the Constitution of 1996, which was written after the end of apartheid and the country’s transition to majority rule. The executive branch is led by the president, who serves as both head of state and head of government. The president is elected by the National Assembly from among its members and may serve up to two terms. The president appoints a deputy president and cabinet ministers to run the government. The current president is Cyril Ramaphosa, who replaced former president Jacob Zuma after Zuma resigned amid corruption scandals. South Africa’s legislature is bicameral and consists of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. The National Assembly is the more powerful chamber because it elects the president, passes legislation, and approves the national budget. The National Council of Provinces represents the provinces, with each province sending ten delegates. The judiciary consists of several levels of courts, including Magistrates’ Courts, High Courts, the Supreme Court of Appeals, and the Constitutional Court. The Constitutional Court is the highest authority on constitutional matters and has the power of judicial review.

In at least 10 sentences, describe the political competition of the South Africa.  What type of electoral system does the state have?  How are members of the executive elected?  What are the term lengths?  How are members of the legislature elected?  What are the term lengths?  What type of party system does the state have?  What are the names and ideological orientations of the major parties?  When was the last election?  What were the results?  When is the next scheduled elections?

South Africa’s political competition is based on a proportional representation electoral system and is dominated by one major political party, the African National Congress (ANC). Citizens vote for political parties rather than individual candidates in elections for the National Assembly. Seats in the National Assembly are then distributed to parties according to the percentage of votes they receive. Members of provincial assemblies are also elected, and those assemblies help select members of the National Council of Provinces. The president is not directly elected by the public; instead, the National Assembly elects the president from among its members. Presidents can serve up to two terms. Members of both houses of Parliament serve five-year terms. South Africa has a dominant-party system because the ANC has won every national election since the end of apartheid in 1994. The ANC is generally considered a center-left party that historically had Marxist influences but now supports democratic capitalism and moderate social reform. The main opposition party is the Democratic Alliance (DA), which is centrist to center-right and supports free markets, civil liberties, and anti-corruption policies. Another major opposition party is the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a far-left socialist party led by Julius Malema that supports aggressive wealth redistribution and land reform. In the 2019 election, the ANC retained control of Parliament, winning 230 seats in the National Assembly, while the DA won 84 seats and the EFF won 44 seats. Cyril Ramaphosa remained president after the election. The next scheduled national elections are expected to take place in 2024.

In at least 10 sentences, describe the political regime of the Nigeria.  Does the state have a written constitution and if so, when and under what conditions was it written?  How is the executive structured?  What is the title and power of the head of government?  Is the head of state a separate office?  Who is currently head of government and head of state?  How is the legislature structured?  If the legislature is bicameral, how do the two chambers differ?  How is the judiciary structured?

Nigeria has a federal presidential democratic regime established under the Constitution of the Fourth Republic, which was enacted in 1999 after decades of military rule. The constitution created a democratic system with separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Nigeria’s executive branch is led by the president, who serves as both head of state and head of government, so there is no separate prime minister. The president is directly elected by the people. The president also serves as commander-in-chief of the military and has the power to introduce legislation into the National Assembly. The current president of Nigeria is Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Nigeria’s legislature is called the National Assembly and is bicameral. The upper house is the Senate, which has 109 seats, while the lower house is the House of Representatives, which has 360 seats. Each of Nigeria’s 36 states receives three senators, giving the Senate equal state representation, while the House of Representatives is based more on population. Elections are held on the same day as presidential elections. Nigeria’s judiciary combines influences from British common law and Islamic Sharia law, especially in the northern states where Sharia is more strongly enforced. The highest court is the Supreme Court, whose judges must retire at age 70. Nigeria also has state and local governments as part of its strongly federal system, although the military continues to play an important role in politics because of the country’s history of military rule.

In at least 10 sentences, describe the political competition of the Nigeria.  What type of electoral system does the state have?  How are members of the executive elected?  What are the term lengths?  How are members of the legislature elected?  What are the term lengths?  What type of party system does the state have?  What are the names and ideological orientations of the major parties?  When was the last election?  What were the results?  When is the next scheduled elections?

Nigeria’s political competition takes place within a federal presidential democracy that uses competitive elections and a multi-party system. The president is directly elected by the people and must win both a national majority and at least 25% of the vote in at least 24 states in order to reduce ethnic and regional conflict. Presidents serve four-year terms and may serve a maximum of two terms. Nigeria’s legislature, the National Assembly, is bicameral and consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Members of both chambers are elected through single-member district (SMD) voting, and all legislators serve four-year terms. Elections for the presidency, Senate, and House are held on the same day. Nigeria has many political parties, but three major parties dominate competition. The All Progressives Congress (APC) is generally centrist and has strong support among the Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani populations in the southwest and north. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is generally center-right and traditionally strong in parts of the north and Christian south. The Labour Party (LP) is considered center-left. The most recent election was held on February 25, 2023. In that election, Bola Tinubu of the APC won the presidency, while the APC also won pluralities in both chambers of the National Assembly. The APC won 54 Senate seats and 150 House seats, while the PDP won 33 Senate seats and 87 House seats, and the Labour Party won 7 Senate seats and 36 House seats. The next scheduled presidential and legislative elections in Nigeria are expected to take place in 2027.

What is globalization?  What is the difference between political, economic, and social globalization?  Provide an example of each.

Globalization is the process of expanding and intensifying connections between states, societies, and economies around the world. It makes countries and people more interconnected politically, economically, and socially.

Political globalization is the spread of political systems and international cooperation between states. An example is the European Union, where countries work together through shared institutions and laws.

Economic globalization is the growing interconnection of the world’s economies through trade, investment, and business activity. An example is multinational corporations like McDonald's operating in many countries around the world.

Social globalization is the spread of cultures, religions, languages, and lifestyles across countries. An example is the global spread of American fast food, movies, and music into other societies.

Is globalization new?  Is globalization exaggerated?  Is globalization inevitable?

Globalization is not new. Forms of globalization have existed for thousands of years through trade routes like the Silk Road and the spread of religions, cultures, and empires. Modern technology has simply made globalization faster and more intense.

Globalization is sometimes exaggerated. States are still the main political organizations in the world, national identities remain strong, and not all economies are fully connected. For example, international trade still makes up only part of global economic activity.

Globalization is also not inevitable. It can slow down or reverse because of wars, terrorism, economic crises, or pandemics. Events like the 2008 financial crisis, the 9/11 attacks, and COVID-19 all disrupted global trade and investment.