Authoritarianism & Political Institutions Possibly More ID TERMS

These flashcards cover key concepts surrounding authoritarian regimes, political institutions, electoral systems, and party systems for exam preparation.

Authoritarian Regime

A system where power is concentrated in one ruler or a small elite who rule without free, fair elections or civil liberties. In comparative politics, this concept is central to classifying political systems and understanding variations in governance, stability, and human rights across countries. Examples include Saudi Arabia and pre-2011 Egypt.

Totalitarian Regime

An authoritarian regime characterized by all-encompassing ideological control, aiming to control all aspects of public and private life. In comparative politics, it represents an extreme form of authoritarianism, allowing for detailed study of state control mechanisms, propaganda, and mass mobilization. A key historical example is Stalin’s USSR, and North Korea today.

Competitive Authoritarianism

A hybrid regime where formal democratic institutions (like elections) exist and are contested, but incumbents manipulate the rules so extensively that they rarely lose power. In comparative politics, this concept helps analyze states that blur the lines between democracy and authoritarianism, focusing on institutional manipulation and opposition strategies. Examples include Russia under Putin and contemporary Turkey.

Resource Curse

The paradox where countries rich in natural resources (like oil or minerals) tend to have less economic growth, less democracy, and worse development outcomes than countries with fewer natural resources. In comparative politics, it explains why resource-rich states often become authoritarian due to rentier effects (governments don't need taxes, weakening citizen accountability), increased repression, and limited economic diversification. Examples include Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Nigeria.

Political Institution

Regularized rules, norms, and organizations that structure political behavior, interactions, and outcomes in a society, either formal or informal. In comparative politics, institutions are critical for understanding how power is distributed, exercised, and constrained across different political systems, and for analyzing political stability and change. Examples include constitutions, electoral systems, and political parties.

Constitution

The supreme law of a country that defines the fundamental political principles, establishes the structure of government, outlines its powers and duties, and guarantees citizens' rights; can be codified or uncodified. In comparative politics, constitutions are key to examining state formation, the distribution of power, and the protection of civil liberties in different countries. Examples include the U.S. Constitution (codified) and the UK's uncodified constitution.

Federalism

A system of governance where power is constitutionally divided between a central national government and regional (subnational) governments, each having distinct spheres of authority. In comparative politics, federalism is studied for its impact on decentralization, regional autonomy, conflict management in diverse societies, and different policy outcomes. Examples include the United States, Canada, and Germany.

Separation of Powers

The division of governmental functions into distinct branches—typically executive, legislative, and judicial—each with its own powers and responsibilities, designed to prevent the concentration of power and promote accountability. In comparative politics, it's a fundamental principle for analyzing governmental checks and balances, and the design of democratic institutions across different systems, notably in presidential democracies. Examples include the U.S. system with its president, Congress, and Supreme Court.

Executive Branch

The branch of government responsible for implementing laws, administering the bureaucracy, setting policy agendas, and typically representing the nation on the international stage. In comparative politics, the executive is studied to understand leadership styles, policy formulation, and the balance of power within different governmental structures (e.g., presidential vs. parliamentary systems). Examples include the President of the United States or the Prime Minister and Cabinet in the UK.

Presidential System

A system of government where the president is both head of state and head of government, chosen by direct popular election or by an electoral college, and serves a fixed term, separate from the legislature. In comparative politics, this system is contrasted with parliamentary systems to analyze governmental stability, accountability, and the potential for gridlock due to separation of powers. Examples include the United States, Brazil, and Mexico.

Parliamentary System

A system of government where the executive branch (Prime Minister and cabinet) is drawn from and directly accountable to the legislative branch (parliament), demonstrating a fusion of powers rather than strict separation. In comparative politics, it's analyzed for its efficiency in policymaking, party discipline, and different forms of government formation (e.g., coalition governments). Examples include the United Kingdom, Germany, and India.

Legislature

A representative assembly that has the primary responsibility for making laws, approving budgets, and overseeing the executive branch of government. In comparative politics, legislatures are studied for their institutional design (e.g., unicameral vs. bicameral), varying degrees of power relative to the executive, and representation of diverse interests. Examples include the U.S. Congress, the UK Parliament, and the German Bundestag.

Electoral Systems

The rules and methods by which votes are translated into elected offices or seats in a legislature. In comparative politics, electoral systems are crucial for determining party systems (e.g., two-party vs. multi-party), voter turnout, representation of minorities, and government stability. Examples include First-Past-the-Post (plurality system) used in the UK and USA, and Proportional Representation common in many European countries like Germany and Spain.

Political Party

An organization that seeks to achieve and maintain political power by electing its members to public office, typically by articulating specific ideologies or policy platforms. In comparative politics, parties are fundamental actors for understanding voter behavior, government formation, policy continuity, and ideological competition across diverse political systems. Examples include the Democratic and Republican parties in the U.S., or the Conservative and Labour parties in the UK.

Fragmentation

In the context of party systems, fragmentation refers to the extent to which political support and legislative seats are dispersed among a large number of political parties, often indicating a multi-party system. In comparative politics, it's a key metric for analyzing party system structure, government stability (e.g., higher fragmentation can lead to more unstable coalition governments), and the distinctiveness of political ideologies. Examples include highly fragmented multi-party systems in countries like the Netherlands or Finland.

Coalitions

Alliances formed by two or more political parties that agree to cooperate, often to form a government or to pursue common policy objectives, especially when no single party wins an outright majority. In comparative politics, studying coalitions helps understand government formation, policy compromises, and political stability, particularly in parliamentary systems with proportional representation. Examples include coalition governments frequently formed in Germany or Israel.

Unitary System

A system of government where the central, national government holds virtually all governmental power, and any subnational administrative divisions (e.g., provinces or states) derive their authority from the central government. In comparative politics, unitary systems are compared with federal systems to analyze the centralization of power, policy uniformity, and local autonomy. Examples include France, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

Checks and Balances

A system of overlapping powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, allowing each branch to limit the actions of the others, thereby preventing any single branch from becoming too powerful or tyrannical. In comparative politics, it's a crucial design feature of many democracies, essential for maintaining governmental accountability and protecting civil liberties, especially prevalent in presidential systems. Examples include the U.S. President vetoing legislation passed by Congress, or the Supreme Court declaring a law unconstitutional.

Judicial Branch

The branch of government responsible for interpreting laws, administering justice, ruling on legal disputes, and upholding the rule of law. In comparative politics, the study of the judicial branch examines judicial independence, judicial review powers, and the role of courts in safeguarding rights and acting as checks on executive and legislative power across different legal traditions. Examples include the Supreme Court of the United States or the European Court of Justice.

Judicial Review

The power of a country's courts to assess the constitutionality of laws or government actions and to invalidate those found to be in violation of the constitution. In comparative politics, judicial review is a powerful mechanism for upholding the rule of law, protecting rights, and placing limits on legislative and executive power; its presence and scope vary significantly across different constitutional systems. A prominent example is the U.S. Supreme Court's power of judicial review established in Marbury v. Madison.

Civil Society

The arena outside the state and market where citizens organize and act collectively to pursue shared interests, often including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), interest groups, social movements, and voluntary associations. In comparative politics, civil society is crucial for understanding citizen participation, democratic accountability, advocacy for rights, and sometimes as a counterweight to state power or a force for social change. Examples include Amnesty International, environmental activist groups, or local community organizations.

Democracy

A system of government where supreme power is vested in the people and exercised either directly or indirectly through a system of representation, usually involving free and fair elections, protection of civil liberties, and the rule of law. In comparative politics, democracy is a central concept, with scholars comparing its various forms, conditions for its emergence and consolidation, and its challenges across different countries and regions. Examples include parliamentary democracies like Canada, or presidential democracies like the United States.

Rule of Law

The principle that all individuals and institutions, including the government itself, are subject to and accountable under law that is publicly promulgated, equally enforced, and independently adjudicated, consistent with international human rights principles. In comparative politics, adherence to the rule of law is a foundational indicator of democratic governance, constitutionalism, and the protection of civil liberties, allowing for comparisons of legal systems and judicial independence. Examples include robust legal systems in countries like Germany or New Zealand, where government actions are regularly challenged and held accountable by law.

Head of State

The individual who serves as the ceremonial representative of a country, performing symbolic functions, embodying national identity and unity, and often acting as a non-political figure. In comparative politics, it's important to distinguish the Head of State from the Head of Government, especially in parliamentary systems, to understand the distribution of symbolic versus executive power. Examples include monarchs like King Charles III in the UK, or presidents in parliamentary republics like India or Germany (who have largely ceremonial roles).

Head of Government

The political leader responsible for directing the executive branch of government, forming the cabinet, implementing policies, and managing the day-to-day administration of the state. In comparative politics, the role of the Head of Government is crucial for understanding policy leadership, executive power, and variations in governmental accountability, especially when contrasted with the Head of State. Examples include the Prime Minister in parliamentary systems (e.g., the UK Prime Minister) or the President in presidential systems (e.g., the U.S. President).

Referendum

A direct vote by the entire electorate on a particular proposal, law, or political issue, serving as a form of direct democracy. In comparative politics, referendums are analyzed for their impact on citizen participation, governmental legitimacy, the resolution of contentious policy issues, and sometimes their potential to bypass representative institutions. Examples include the 2016 Brexit referendum in the UK or various constitutional referendums held in Switzerland.