Comparative Politics Midterm- Chapter 1-3

Comparative Politics

the primary focus on power an decision making within national boundaries

Political Science

the systematic study of politics and power

Politics

the process by which human communities make collective decisions

International Relations

concentrates on relations between countries, such as foreign policy, war, trade, and foreign aid.

What are Research Methods political scientists use?

-Single Case Study

-Comparative Method

-Process Training

-Similar Systems

-Different systems

-Quantitative Research

-Qualitative Research

Comparative Study

Scholars try to mimic laboratory conditions by a careful selection of cases (isn't always effective)

Single Case Study

research method that examines a particular political phenomenon in just one country or community and can generate ideas for theories or test theories developed from different cases

Qualitative Research

uses non-numerical data like interviews, texts, and observations to explain political processes, meanings, and causal mechanisms (small scale)

Quntitative research

large scale studies that reduces evidence to sets of numbers so that analysts can compare a huge number of cases

Most Similar Systems Design

a common approach of the comparative method that selects cases that are alike in a number of ways but differ on a key question under examination (The Arab Spring)

Most Different Systems Design

a common approach of the comparative method that looks at countries that differ in many ways but that are similar in terms of the particular political process or outcome in which the research is interested (Revolutions in France, China, Russia)

Theory

An abstract argument explaining a phenomenon

Hypothesis

A claim that certain things cause other things to happen or change

Dependent Variable

the outcome that the researcher is trying to explain

Independent Variable

The thing that explains the dependent variable

State

An administrative institution that generates laws and politics (must have borders and a territory)

Nation

a group of people with a common culture living in a territory and having a strong sense of unity

Nation-State

A state whose territory corresponds to that occupied by a particular ethnicity that has been transformed into a nationality (one nation, one state)

Multi-national State

a state with two or more nations or ethnic groups (includes most states)

e.g. Germany, France, Mexico, China, U.S., Russia

Governement

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies

Territory

An area with clearly defined boarders to which a state lays claim

Population

A group of individuals that live in the same area

Territorial Integrity

the right of a state to defend sovereign territory against incursion from other states

Sovereignty

Ability of a state to govern its territory free from control of its internal affairs by other states.

External Sovereignty

sovereignty relative to outside powers that is legally recognized in international law (Specifically the U.N.)

Internal Sovereignty

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

United Nations

An international organization formed after WWII to promote international peace, security, and cooperation.

Legitimacy

the recognized right to rule

Security

the state of being free from danger or threat

Bureacracy

A system of managing government through departments run by appointed officials

Taxation

Money raised to provide services for the common good of the community/country

Quazi State/ Defacto State

-state that has declared itself independent but has not been recognized by UN or most other nations

Colonialism

the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.

Decolonization

The acquisition, by colonized peoples, of control over their own territory.

Cold War

the power struggle between the Soviet Union and the United States after World War II

Autonomy

(n.) self-government, political control

Independence

self-reliance and freedom from outside control

Secession

Formal withdrawal of states or regions from a nation

Civil War

a war between citizens of the same country.

Sudan and South Sudan

Fragile state (civil war from December of 2013 to April of 2016 shortly after secession from Sudan)

United Kingdom

England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland

Kurdistan

traditional homeland of the Kurdish people southwest of the Caspian Sea (Stateless-nation)

Palestine

A territory in the Middle East on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Disputed with Israel.

Strong State

A state that is able to fulfill basic tasks, such as defending territory, making and enforcing rules, collecting taxes, and managing the economy

Weak State

A state that has difficulty fulfilling basic tasks, such as defending territory, making and enforcing rules, collecting taxes, and managing the economy

Failed State

A state so weak that its political structures collapse, leading to anarchy and violence

Fragile State Index

The list aims to assess states' vulnerability to conflict or collapse, 1-10 scale, measures social (demographic pressures, refugees and IDPs, group grievance, brain drain), economic (uneven development, poverty and economic decline) and political-military (state legitimacy, human rights/rule of law, factionalized elites, public services, internal and international security)

Public Goods and Services

Goods and services provided by a government for the use of all people.

Political Regime

System of rules and practices that determine who has political rights, how they can be exercised, and with what effects for control over the state

Democracy

A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

Authoritatianism

system of government by and for a small number of elites that does not include representation of ordinary citizens

Social Democracy

combines liberal democracy with much greater provision of social rights of citizenship and typically greater public control of the economy

Characteristics of Democracy

-Free, Fair, Competitive Elections

-Rights and Liberties

- Rule of Law

-Accountability

-Peaceful Transition of Power

Free, Fair, and Competitive Elections

Every citizen's vote has equal value. They choose between candidates and parties. They vote by secret ballot free from government interference.

Universal Suffrage

the right of all adults to vote for their representatives.

Majority rule with minority rights

the democratic principle that a government follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interests of the minority

Freedoms/Liberties

Fundamental rights and freedoms that individuals possess, such as freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and expression, which are often considered essential for personal autonomy and self-determination.

Rule of Law

No one is above the law

Political Accountability

the democratic principle that political leaders must answer to the public for their actions

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

Freedom House

organization that annually calculates a "freedom" score for every country in the world, then uses these scores to assign them to 3 categories: free, partly free, not free; focus on political rights and civil liberties

Peaceful Transition of Power

after elections, stability, no violence

Democratic Decline

Erosion of democratic institutions and practices.

Consolidated Democracy

Full democracy, no reversal to authoritarianism in sight

Illiberal Democracy

A procedural democracy, with elections, but without real competition, and lacking some civil rights and liberties.

Characteristics of a Modern State

-Territory

-Sovereignty

-Legitimacy

-Bureaucracy