Russia Comp Gov

State

The institutions and people who exercise authority in a defined territory

Command economy

An economic system in which the government makes all economic decisions

Semi-presidential system

An legislative-executive system that features a prime minister approved by the legislature and a directly elected president

Asymmetrical federalism

A form of federalism in which some subnational units in the federal system have greater or lesser powers than others

Mixed electoral system

An electoral system that uses a combination of single-member districts and proportional representation

Resource curse

Occurs when a state relies on a key resource for almost all of its revenue, allowing it to ignore its citizens and resulting in authoritarianism

Nationalize

To change from private ownership to government or public ownership

Shock therapy economics

A dramatic economic shift, implemented in 1990s Russia, from a government-dominated economy to a market economy

Pro-natalist policies

The policy or practice of encouraging the bearing of children, especially government support of a higher birthrate

National champion/state capitalism

An economic and political system in which companies are privately owned but a select few cooperate closely with the government

Legitimacy

The acceptance by the people of the political regime

Single-payer system

Government run healthcare system

Political efficacy

The belief that one’s political participation really matters, that one’s vote can actually make a difference

Reactionary

Ideological view that favors a return to a previous state of affairs

Rentier state

A country that obtains much of its revenue from exports of oil or other natural resources

Democratization

A process of transition as a country attempts to move from an authoritarian form of government to a democratic one

Neoliberalism

A strategy for economic development that calls for free markets, balanced budgets, privatization, free trade, and minimal government intervention in the economy

Rational-legal legitimacy

The right to rule based on a widely accepted system of laws and procedures or strong delivery of government programs

Charismatic legitimacy

The right to rule based on the personality of an individual

Traditional legitimacy

The right to rule based on a society’s long-standing patterns and practices