CP - modern states

state

Ongoing administrative apparatus that develops and administers laws and generates and implements public policies in a specific territory 

regime

A set of formal and informal political institutions that defines a type of government (ex: democratic, authoritarian, hybrid)

government

Occupy and utilize the ongoing apparatus of the state temporarily from one election to the next

what are the 4 characteristics of a state?

territory, sovereingty (internal or external), bureaucracy, legitimacy

sovereignty

The family of states legally recognizes a territory as the sole legitimate governing authority within its territory and as the legal equivalent of other states 

internal sovereignty

The sole authority within a territory capable of making and enforcing laws and policies 

external sovereignty

1. Sovereignty relative to outside powers that is legally recognized by international law

what indicates if a state has strong external sovereignty?

if other states recognize and allow a state’s right to exercise power over its citizens + if there is no foreign intervention in the political affairs of that state

legitimacy

recognized right to rule; can stem from traditions like a country’s constitution or historical precedents

bureaucracy

needed to carry out the day-to-day tasks so that a state can be legitimate and sovereign

strong states can…

provide political goods for their citizens

weak states can…

partially provide political goods to their citizens

failed states…

fail to provide political goods for their citizens

state fragility index

scored from 0 to 120; used to measure the strength of states; has 3 factors: economic, social, political

economic factors of social fragility index

poverty or uneven economic growth

political indicators of social fragility index

legitimacy, rule of law, factionalized elites, quality of public service

social indicators of state fragility index

refugees, sustained human flight, demographic pressure, group grievances

the relationship between states and citizens is mitigated through what?

regime type

why is the relationship between states and citizens so important?

it influences a person’s identity and their political beliefs

citizen

a member of a political community or state with certain rights and duties; they have civil, social, and political rights

civil rights

individual freedom. and just, equal treatment by the state to the citizens

political rights

citizens have the right to participate in politics (the right to vote, run for office)

social rights

basic wellbeing and socioeconomic equality (healthcare, public education, pensions)

participation by citizens occurs in

organized groups of civil society

civil society

the sphere of organized, nongovernmental, nonviolent activity by groups larger than individual families or firms 

depending on regime type, civil society groups

can have some amount of influence on policymaking

ideas of citizenship are connected to regime claims to legiitmacy via the concept of

popular sovereignty

how are regimes categorized?

political ideologies which make claims about the appropriate relationship between a states and its citizens

liberal democracy

based on the social contract theory; has 7 guarantees to citizens

social contract theory

 legitimate governments are formed when free and independent citizens join in a contract to permit representatives to govern over them in their common interests 

what is the central doctrine of liberalism

a regime is only justified when it preserves and protects the core liberties of autonomous, free, and equal individuals 

8 guarantees to citizens

1. freedom of association

2. freedom of expression

3. right to vote

4. Broad citizen eligibility for public office

5. Right of political leaders to compete for support

6. Alternative sources of information

7. Free and fair elections

8. Institutions that make government policies depend on votes and other forms of citizen preferences (accountability)