APCOGO Unit 3 Terms

Civil society

Civil society

Groups that form outside of the government’s control

Political culture

A set of widely held attitudes, values, and beliefs about government and politics

Political socialization

The process through which an individual learns about politics and is taught about society’s common political beliefs and values

Postmaterialism

A set of values in a society in which most citizens are economically secure enough to move beyond immediate economic concerns to “quality of life” issues, like human rights

Individualism

The belief that people should be free to make their own decisions and that the government should not unnecessarily regulate individual behaviors or restrict civil liberties

Neoliberalism

A political ideology favoring economic policies that support the free market and reduce trade barriers

Communism

A political ideology that advocates for a classless and stateless society, with the government exercising complete control over the economy

Socialism

A political ideology in which economic equality is a core value, focusing on reducing inequality with government intervention in key sectors while allowing for some private enterprise

Fascism

A political ideology in which nationalism and the primacy of the state are the core beliefs, emphasizing the rights of the majority, oppressing the minority, and supporting strong authoritarian rule

Totalitarianism

A political ideology that emphasizes domination of the state over citizens, with the government having complete control over citizens’ lives

Populism

A political ideology based on the idea that the government should put the rights and interests of the people over the elites

Modernization theory

As societies become more economically modernized, wealthier, and more educated, their political institutions become increasingly liberal democratic

Formal political participation

• Voting in elections

• Referendums

• Contacting government officials

• Joining political groups

• Working on a campaign

• Becoming a candidate

• Donating money to a cause or candidate

Informal political participation

• Protest

• Civil disobedience

• Political violence

• Terrorism

UK - Country example

• Brexit = the UK's decision to leave the European Union

  • The Leave campaign appealed to nationalist and conservative ideologies, emphasizing sovereignty and anti-immigration sentiment

  • The Remain campaign reflected liberal ideologies, prioritizing economic integration and global cooperation

• Brexit highlights the role of ideological divisions in shaping public opinion, voter turnout, and political mobilization

Russia - Country example

• The dominance of authoritarian political ideology under Vladimir Putin has significantly constrained political participation

• Laws like the "foreign agents" law (2012) label NGOs receiving foreign funding as threats, limiting their ability to operate and stifling political activism

  • This demonstrates how a dominant political ideology (authoritarianism) can suppress civil society and restrict pluralism in political participation

China - Country example

• China’s social credit system, implemented under the ruling Communist Party, is designed to enforce behavior aligned with state-approved political ideology

• It rewards "good" behavior (e.g., loyalty to the state) and punishes dissent (e.g., pro-democracy activism), shaping how citizens interact with the state

  • This system shows how political socialization in an authoritarian state fosters conformity to state ideology and limits independent participation in politics

Iran - Country example

• The 2009 Green Movement in Iran emerged after widespread claims of electoral fraud in the presidential election

  • Protesters, primarily reformist and liberal-leaning, called for greater political freedoms and transparency, clashing with Iran’s dominant conservative, theocratic ideology

• This example illustrates the tension between political ideologies (liberal reformists vs. conservative Islamists) and how citizens can challenge the state through political participation, even in authoritarian regimes

Mexico - Country example

• The creation of the Instituto Nacional Electoral (INE) in the 1990s was a significant step toward reducing corruption in elections and increasing political participation

  • This reflects the growing influence of liberal democratic ideology in contrast to decades of authoritarianism under the PRI

• Mexico’s democratization process demonstrates how changing political ideologies can foster electoral reforms, empowering citizens to participate in a fairer political system

Nigeria - Country example

• Nigeria’s political culture is deeply shaped by ethnic and religious divisions

  • Political ideologies differ significantly between the predominantly Muslim North (supporting Sharia law and more traditional governance) and the Christian South (favoring liberal democratic practices)

  • These cleavages often influence voter turnout and political mobilization, as seen in the contentious 2019 presidential election

• Nigeria highlights how political culture and cleavages influence participation and the role of competing ideologies in shaping the political landscape