Lecture Notes on Comparative Politics: Mexico, Russia, China, UK, Nigeria, and Iran

Flashcards for review

Corporate System

A system where interest groups become an institutionalized part of the state structure.

Import Substitution Industrialization

An economic policy aimed at reducing reliance on developed countries through local production.

Structural Adjustment

Economic policies implemented by international organizations like the IMF and World Bank, often involving privatization and austerity.

Zapatista Uprising

An uprising coinciding with NAFTA, addressing indigenous rights and economic liberalization issues in Mexico.

Economic Liberalization

The move to free markets and reduced government intervention in the economy.

Social Cleavages

Divisions within a society based on religion, ethnicity, class, etc.

Legitimacy

The belief that a regime is right and proper.

National Electoral Institute (INE)

An electoral regulatory organization example in Mexico.

Corporatism

A system transitioning towards pluralism in Mexico, but initially featured strong state control.

Pluralism

A system with multiple competing interest groups.

Government Structure of Mexico

Presidential, single executive, federal, symmetrical bicameral.

Pemex

Mexico's state-owned oil company, subject to reforms.

Multiparty System

A system where multiple parties have a chance to win elections.

North/South Social Cleavage (Mexico)

A division between the more developed north and the less developed south of Mexico.

Civil Society in Mexico

Transitioning from corporatism to pluralism, but considered fairly weak due to historical one-party dominance.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

Investment from foreign companies into a country.

Maquiladoras

Example of FDI in Northern Mexico, driven from companies from the United States.

Federalism

Constitutional division of power.

Semi-Presidential System

A system that mixes presidential and parliamentary elements.

Rule by Law

Using the legal system to enforce their will rather than the legal system being above all.

Asymmetric Federalism

Accommodating for regional differences, especially for ethnic minorities.

One-Party Dominant System

A system with other minor political parties, but they are not very strong voices of opposition.

Ethnic Cleavages

Coinciding cleavages of region, ethnicity, religion, plus political violence.

Renter State

Strong reliance on a natural resource.

Resource Curse

A situation in which a strong reliance on a natural resource results in a lack of diversification of the economy, and other detriments for democracy.

Rapid Economic Liberalization (Russia)

Considered largely a failure in Russia, leading to corruption and the rise of oligarchs.

Renationalization of Natural Resources (Russia)

A key economic policy under Putin after Yeltsin, increasing state control.

Semipresidential System (Russia)

Features a president and prime minister, with separate elections for the legislature and president.

United Russia

The dominant party in Russia, supporting Putin.

Ethnic Cleavages in Russia

Region, ethnicity, religion, are coinciding, and are causes for civil war.

Orthodox Church (Russia)

Emphasized as a form of legitimacy by the Russian government.

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

An example of Russia extending regional influence.

Economic Liberalization (China)

Den Xiaoping's policies: resulted in foreign direct investment, urbanization.

Socialist Market Economy

System with the government playing an active role in regulation and economic policy.

Special Economic Zones (SEZs)

Enclaves designed to attract foreign investment.

Tiananmen Square

A lack of political liberalization.

Great Firewall

Illustrates a key instrument in the control over media, censorship, political socialization.

Village Elections (China)

The only form of direct elections in the country.

Anti-Corruption Campaign (China)

A way for Xi Jinping to consolidate power

Unitary State (China)

Where the central government has all the power but can choose to give it to the regions.

One Country, Two Systems (China)

The relationship that China has with many countries, including Hong Kong.

Hukou System

System that decreases the degree of rural restrictions on migrations, but the system isn't completely eliminated and restrictions are still in place

Collectivist Consensus

Was in power before the Collectivist system, with the power of the labor unions within nationalized industries

State Capacity

The ability of that of the government to carry out what it wants

Economic Liberalization (UK)

Margaret Thatcher's policies Privatization, rolling back the welfare state, deregulation, going against the unions

Devolution (UK)

Decentralization, through ad hoc divisions of power

Austerity

The government's decisions to reduce, often sharply, the amount of money it spends

Parliamentary System (UK)

Prime minister is chosen from within the majority party

Multiculturalism (UK)

The product of immigration from former colonies

Post Materialism (UK)

People are interested in political issues beyond their own needs

Federalism (Nigeria)

A way to keep things together given societal divisions.

First Past the Post (UK)

Whoever wins a plurality within a district gets that particular seat.

Federal Character Quotas (Nigeria)

Ethnic quotas in the bureaucracy.

Bicameral Legislature (Nigeria)

Two part system with each part containing 3 senators per state.

OPEC

A mechanism which oil exporting countries can align their trade policies, especially in constraining supply to affect prices.

Rentier State (Nigeria)

They've the highest fertility rate, so this creates various different challenges of a high dependency ratio, but in this case, it's a young people population unlike in say China or Russia, it's an old person population.

ECOWAS

A regional trade organization in the Rentier state countries.

Theocracy

A form that countries operate under, in Iran. The presidents are in charge of the foreign policy and military

Islamic Republic.

The central contradiction of dual sources of legitimacy, both from religion and through elections

Modulates (Iran)

The country uses Unit Camerois, which is where religion takes precedent

Religion and the Shia Faith

Most of the country has their beliefs and their culture integrated, making them well acclimated

Guardian Council (Iran)

Helps supervise elections, veterans candidates, and ultimately has power to remove some officials, even the president

Expediency Council

Its job is to resolve differences between the modulates and the guardian council.