POSC017 Final - Key Terms

abertura

political liberalization that could lead to democracy - Brazilian

absolute poverty

UN term used to describe people living in bad poverty with no access to basic necessities such as food, clean water, etc

accountability

government is held responsible for its actions - vertical (citizens holding leaders) and horizontal (among branches)

acephalous society

stateless society where there is no full time executive. people are governed by committees or consensus

african lions

neoliberal and development state model. countries move beyond raw cash crops and produce manufactured goods and technology.

amnesty

government pardons a group of people for their past criminal offenses (happens during a transition in regime)

anarchism

they don’t like the state and believe it is the source of inequality and want to get rid of it. they want freedom and equality. they don’t think anyone should have authority over another.

aspiration gap

disparity between what is desired and what can be realistically met.

asian cubs/tigers

state led development model. japan was the start of export led growth and other east asian countries copied the model. it brought them out of poverty and took them from the periphery to the core. rapid growth and expansion to china.

austerity plan

complete shutdown of external government functions (e.g. social welfare) in order to cut government sending as much as possible.

authoritarianism

ruler + a few others make decisions. they depend on coercion and abuse of human rights. power is concentrated in the executive branch with no interference from other branches. no accountability, low levels of political participation.

bourgeoisie

capitalist, land owning people who control the means of production (factories, businesses, etc.)

capacity

ability to get things done.

case study

a detailed examination on a specific phenomenon, country, or state in order to find causal connections by tracing them to other similar cases

caudillo

a charismatic, authoritarian leader who is also a member of the military

charismatic legitimacy

having legitimacy because you have charisma (national hero or leader). they use nationalism to create legitimacy where institutions are weak.

civil society

organizations that exist outside of a government’s/state’s control (e.g. social movements, nongovernmental organizations)

class

people grouped together because they have certain things in common (e.g. occupation, social status, etc)

cleavage

society is divided/split based on ethnicity, gender, political opinion, or other factors. prone to conflict.

cold war

rivalry between the U.S. and the soviets after wwII to see who will become the world’s hegemon (country with more control than all the other countries). U.S. won the cold war. attempt at nationalism

there was no physical conflict though.

first - U.S, Canada, Japan, Western Europe; second - Russia, Central Asia, Eastern Europe; and third world (Global South)

communism

they like the state but they don’t like capitalism. rejects the idea of personal/individual freedom. Soviets/second world. property is owned by the state and the market is controlled by the state. a lot of communist supporters in the global south. THEY LOVE THE STATE BASICALLY.

comparative advantage

the belief that economies should specialize in producing goods that are the most cheap to produce to them.

E.g. let england produce wool since it’s cheaper for them.

this was a way for the colonial powers to justify keeping colonies in raw material/commodity goods production since "that was what they were good at naturally.”

comparative studies

identifies relationships and interactions between actors as well as patterns of behavior in order to find similarities and differences.

competitive/electoral authoritarianism

elections take place by are manipulated (not free or fair). Elections are not what is being manipulated, is is the election process that is being manipulated (e.g. control media coverage, bribery)

consolidation

democracy becomes the only option for society as a whole (phase 2 of a democratic transition after authoritarian regimes collapse)

contestation

citizens are free to express opposing views and challenge those in power if they don’t agree with something.

corruption

misconduct or the abuse of power for private gain.

debt service suspension

instead of countries focused on paying back debt, they could focus on devoting their money on fighting COVID.

delegative democracy/”super presidencies”

concentrates power in the hands of a president.

destroys horizontal (branch to branch) accountability. vertical still exists.

executive branch is too powerful and the other branches are weak (due to weak separation of powers).

president can change the bill and is a part of the legislative process.

democracy

a type of regime - “government by the people.” - decentralizes power.

Elections to move up in power. people choose their representatives.

free and fair elections

political participation and civil liberties.

accountability exists

In order for a democracy to grow, you need a strong state, legitimacy, and national identity.

dependency

it is difficult for the Global South to break out of poverty because it has been purposely put into poverty by richer countries so that they could keep exploiting/extracting resources from the Global South.

development

the achievement of a stable democracy that promotes the economic well being of its citizens in a humane manner.

divide and conquer

a means of colonial conquest where the main power sets 2 other powers against each other in order to cause tension and conflict. (E.g. Hutus and Tutsis)

economic liberalization/”market reforms”

neoliberal economic reforms that dismantle government controls & promote opening up economies to foreign trade and investment. BASICALLY REDUCING GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER THE MARKET AND ECONOMY.

efficacy

a citizen’s belief that their participation in politics can create change/make a difference (strong efficacy = more likely to be engaged in politics and public affairs)

electoral democracy

citizens select their leaders through free, fair, and competitive elections. (basically the U.S. rn)

elites

those who hold more power than others culturally, economically, or politically. They are outnumbered by the masses/”normies".”

empire

the largest, most complex form of state organization. Vast and has a centralized government. Dominate trade regionally and internationally. Large militaries. Rich because of their conquests.

fallacy of electoralism

the mistake of focusing on elections as “proof” of democracy and ignoring other political realities.

the false belief that holding elections means that you are a democracy.

four tigers

hong kong, singapore, south korea, taiwan. Strong growth rates and shared reliance on state capitalism.

fusion of powers

different branches of government blend/fuse together (parliamentary - usually legislative and executive intertwined)

globalization

the increased integration of economics and societies worldwide (done at the behest of the Global North)

grievances

people feel dissatisfaction, injustice, threat, or exclusion (and thus act). BEING UPSET ABOUT SOMETHING.

The main drivers of grievances are: economic inequality and political repression.

growth

how much your development is changing over time (and is it changing positively?)

Measured through GDP (gross domestic product) - captures how much economic activity has happened in a country in a year. High GDP = good.

guerrilla

when loosely organized, nonstate groups use violence against a state (and it is hard for the state to fight back against since they are constantly moving and being secret).

Guerrilla is what happens when an insurgency gets bigger. It specifically refers to hit and run tactics, ambushes, avoiding direct battles, and blending in with civilian populations.

means “little war”

Small insurgency —> guerrilla warfare —> large scale civil war

human development

1) long and healthy life 2) knowledge/education 3) a decent standard of living

focuses on education, health, and individual incomes (the quality of life for the masses, not just the elites).

High human development 0.700 - 0.799

Medium human development 0.550 - 0.699

Low human development below 0.550

hybrid regime/illiberal democracies/”messy middle”

combines elements of democracy with authoritarianism. concentrates power in the hands of one leader or has unfair elections. They look like democracies but are corrupt internally.

identity

the collective aspect or characteristics by which a group is known (race, class, gender, region).

the concept of identity (upper, middle, lower classes) came from colonizers.

identity can be used to break up or bind a society (method of control!)

ideology

a more or less coherent set of ideas the provides the basis for organized political action (whether that is intended to preserve, modify, or overthrow the existing system of power).

authoritarian leaders use ideology to rationalize why they should rule.

import substitution industrizalization (ISI)

a strategy used to promote growth in developing states and break way from dependency. Since the U.S. would resell their goods back to them at a higher price, they restrict/refuse imports and put tariffs on anything coming from the U.S. They manufacture goods themselves and sell them cheaper than the U.S.

They are owned by the state.

internal consumption.

ISI works in the short-run, but is prone to corruption.

insurgency

what happens when a social movement is still trying to achieve things through peaceful means.

usually smaller and weaker than the state at first.

mixes political activities with violence and relies on guerrilla tactics, propaganda, and civilian support.

institutions

established norms, rules, and cognitive schemas that structure political behavior

irredentist war

fights to realign the border to better fit their new “state.”

legitimacy

convincing someone to do something that they would otherwise not do by convincing them that it is the good and right thing to do.

liberal democracy

a democratic regime in which power is derived from the people and is exercised through competitive elections, participation, and civil liberties.

2 types of liberal democracies: (presidential: like the U.S. right now where executive and legislative are separate) and parliamentary: where the executive/prime minster is chosen by the legislator, who is picked by the citizens).

liberalism

they believe that the government needs to get out of the way. They like capitalism because they think that it moves society forward.

they want a limited state role in the society and economy.

They emphasize personal freedom and private property, but they know inequality is bound to arise… “survival of the fittest” - social Darwinism. They have an “every person for themselves” mindset, not collection/community.

masses

the masses/”normies” lack power and influence, but outnumber the elites.

mercantilism

a precapitalist economic system in which states sought to accumulate wealth through trade surpluses, monopolies, and colonial control to increase national power.

Buying raw resources cheaply, manufacturing them, then reselling it to the same people who produced the raw goods for an increased price. All the money stays in the motherland. Makes the colonies consistently dependent on the motherland.

Maximize exports and minimize imports.

military regime

an authoritarian government where armed forces/military control political power, usually seizing it through a coup d’etat.

mother country

another name for a colonizing country. (Global North ig)

nation-state

a combination of a group of people with similarities/common culture and a government (political entity with physical control)

nationalism

being proud of your country and governing yourself. Nation is the primary source of political authority.

Civil nationalism (anyone.. not necessarily citizens is proud of the country).

Ethnic nationalism (nation built around shared culture and shared ethnicity.. more exclusive).

neocolonialism

a country is formally independent, but its economic decisions are influenced by external power.

indirect form of imperialism. powerful countries overly influence the economies of less developed nations.

neoliberalism

a country will industrialize if the government gets out of the way so that foreigners can come in an invest and build (export-led model).

free markets; less government involved.

nongovernmental organization (NGO’s)

organizations that operate independent/outside of a state or government’s control.

non-aligned movement

countries that shunned military alliances and have come together. a summit is held every 3 years.

parliamentary system

a system of government where the executive (prime minister) is chosen by and accountable to the legislature. citizen’s don’t vote for the prime minister, they vote for the legislator, who then selects the executive.

less common in the global south

more durable (80% survival rate).

both vertical and horizontal accountability.

5 year term

vote of no confidence - the legislators can vote the executive out if they don’t like them.

party system

the collection of political parties in a given state or region. (one-party - single party exercises all the power; multi-party system - 2 major contenders for power)

participation

any activity a citizen engages in to influence their government (e.g. protests)

personalist regime

a single, highly charismatic leader holds unchecked power and seeks to maintain personal control (either for life or hereditary succession).

Personalist is how monarchies start - one single authoritarian figure who refuses to give up power and instead pass it down through generations.

very common in the global south.

political culture

the set of shared orientations/beliefs towards politics, including beliefs about authority, legitimacy, participation, and the role of the state - that shape how a population relates to a political power.

identities + ideologies + state + legitimacy

democracy or authoritarianism

political liberalization/abertura

a political system is becoming more liberal.

a process of political reform based on the extension of civil and political rights, and the promotion of a more open political system.

political opportunity

the idea that external environmental factors determine whether a social movement or protest will succeed (for citizens ig)

polyarchy

a system based on the “rule by many.” power is invested in multiple people.

it describes the process of democratization

populist

a political party or agenda designed to appeal to the “common people” rather than to the minority elites, creating a shared sense of belonging.

first originated in Europe to appeal to the rural poor.

praetorianism

people part of the forces/military start taking over the government (military coups lead to authoritarianism).

Economically costly.

presidential system

citizens directly elect their legislators and their executive.

hard to remove executive from power

proletariat/”working class”

the working class of a society. they do not own the “means of production” and must sell their labor in exchange for a wage in order to survive.

rational-legal legitimacy

a form of authority based on impersonal rules, laws, and formally established procedures.

Following a leader/laws because you believe the laws that govern the country were established formally (agreeing with the process, not the outcome).

E.g. Agreeing with some of Trump’s policies because they came to be in the “right way” through the government, even if you don’t necessarily like Trump.

relative deprivation

a comparative statement that reveals the sense that individuals or groups are not doing as well as other groups.

the feeling of discontent when you compare yourself to others and realize there is an unfair disparity.

gap between their expectations and reality.

resource mobilization

resource and organization movements need the ability to organize and sustain action through things like leadership, monetary support, etc.

emphasizes the resources necessary for success (money, social media, etc)

revolution

conflict that overthrows a government/regime.

the people seek fundamental transformation or replacement of the system itself.

starts out as a non-violent collective action, then progresses into a revolution

can be violent.

rule of law

a situation in which the power of individuals is limited by a supreme set of rules that prevent unfair actions by government officials.

rely on written rules to govern, not the virtue of rulers (to prevent corruption likely).

everyone is subject and accountable to the law (no one is “above the law”).

secession

an attempt from regioners to break away from the state and create their own state

secularism

the separation of civil, political, and educational institutions from religion.

Keeping religion and the state separate.

self-determination

the idea that people can govern themselves and they get to choose how they want to be governed.

social democracy

they don’t like capitalism. the state is moderately involved in society and the economy. They don’t want to let capitalism run wild and let it be the only thing that controls society.

Supports freedom, equality, private property, and markets.

social movement

a sustained (over a long period of time), organized, collective effort by a group or people who use repeated, non-violent actions over time to promote or resist social, political, or cultural change, often outside formal institutional channels.

Not always progressive, some try to take us back (e.g. MAGA).

sovereignty

nations having the right and authority to rule themselves. a state can do whatever it wants within its own territory without interference from another/outside state.

state

an entity with the monopoly on the legitimate use of force in a given territory.

police have the legitimate use of force since they are the “official” ones who can punish people when they do bad things.

basically a set-up system like the U.S. - with a constitution, judicial system, military force.

state-sponsored terrorism

the state hires non-state actors to incite violence for foreign policy reasons.

a state supports/provides resources to non-state actors to attack civilians in a different state.

structural adjustment program (SAP)

changes in government/ruling systems (that must be made before another country can loan a country money)

terrorism

violence or the threat of violence by nonstate actors that deliberately target civilians in order to influence political behavior/get the state to do something.

non-state actors attack civilians for political purposes.

terrorism can be domestic or international.

terrorism does not work and does not effect changes in the way that terrorists hope for.

theocracy

a type of regime where a country is ruled by religious leaders.

You get selected into power be being a religious leader.

E.g. Iran

totalitarianism

an extreme form of authoritarian rule where there is total control over sociwty and individuals. (controlling you “TOTALly”).

Totalitarianism has not prevailed in the past (and has been met with resistance) because we’ve never had the technology. Now we do.

E.g. Mao Zedong, Stalin, Hitler, Poi Pot

traditional legitimacy

people listen to the ruler because of inherited status, custom, and norms.

Hereditary monarchies and chiefdoms.

transparency

the principle of emphasizing openness in government decisions and actions that allow citizens to monitor state activity.

all to reduce corruption

weapons of the weak

non violent actions to show resistance (no weapons, no combat)

e.g. foot-dragging/slowing down your work to reduce effectiveness; compliance overload/following everything to a T to the point where it makes it impossible to finish a task; boycotts; protests, etc.

zero-sum game

political gains for one country are directly viewed as a loss for another country.