ap gov unit 1 vocab

area studies

a regional focus when studying political science rather than studying parts of the world where similar variables are clustered

Behavioral revolution

a movement within poli sci during the 50s/60s to develop general theories about individual political behavior that could be applied across all countries

Causal Relationship

cause and effect relationship

Comparative Method

the means by which social scientists make comparisons across cases

Comparative Politics

the study and comparison of domestic policies across countries

Correlation

an apparent relation between two or more variables

Deductive reasoning

research that works from a hypothesis that is then tested against data

general ideas to specific conclusions

Endogeneity

the issue that cause and effect are not often clear, in that variables may be both cause and effect in relationship to one another

Equality

a shared material standard of individuals within a community/society/country

Formal Institutions

Institutions usually based on officially sanctioned rules that are relatively clear (ex: government bureaucracies, educational systems, legal systems)

Freedom

ability of an individual to act independently, without fear of restriction or punishment by the state or other individuals/groups in society

Game theory

an approach that emphasizes how actors/organizations behave in their goal to influence others; built upon the assumption of rational choice

Inductive Reasoning

research that works from case studies in order to generate hypotheses

Informal Institution

institutions with unwritten and unofficial rules (ex: rules of social etiquette, traditions and customs, and family norms and values)

Institution

an organization or activity that is self-perpetuating and valued for its own sake

International Relations

a field of political science that concentrates on relations between countries, such as foreign policy, war, trade, and foreign aid

Modernization Theory

a theory asserting that as societies developed, they would take on a set of common characteristics, including democracy and capitalism

Multicausality

when variables are interconnected and interact together to produce particular outcomes

Politics

the struggle in any group for power that will give one or more persons the ability to make decisions for the group

Power

the ability to influence others or impose one’s will on them

Quantitative Method

study through statistical data from many cases

Qualitative Method

study through an in-depth investigation of a limited number of cases (often with the use of interviews, ethnography, surveys, and archival works)

Rational Choice

approach that assumes individuals weigh the costs and benefits and make choices to maximize their benefits

Selection Bias

a focus on effects rather than causes, which can lead to inaccurate conclusions about correlation or causation

Theory

an integrated set of hypotheses, assumptions, and facts

Asymmetric Federalism

when power is divided unevenly between regional bodies (ex:some regions are given greater power over taxation or language rights than others) a more likely outcome in a country with significant ethnic divisions

Autonomy

the ability of the state to wield its power independently of the public

Capacity

the ability of the state to wield power to carry out basic tasks (ex: defending territory, making and enforcing rules, collecting taxes, and managing the economy)

Charismatic Legitimacy

legitimacy built on the force of ideas embodied by an individual leader (ex: jesus, hitler)

country

refers to state, government, regime, and the people who live within that political system

Devolution

process in which political power is “sent down” to lover levels of state and government

Failed State

a state so weak that its political structure collapses, leading to anarchy and violence (ex: Somalia)

Federalism

system in which significant state powers, such as taxation, lawmaking, and security are devolved to regional or local bodies, and the devolution is constitutionally protected

Government

the leadership or elite in charge of running the state

Legitimacy

a value whereby an institution is accepted by the public as right and proper, thus giving it authority and power

Rational-legal legitimacy

legitimacy based on a system of laws and procedures that are highly institutionalized (ex: bureaucracy)

Regime

the fundamental rules and norms of politics, embodying long-term goals regarding individual freedom and collective equality, where power should reside, and the use of that power

Sovereignty

ability of a state to carry out actions or policies within a territory independently from external actors or internal rivals

State

the organization that maintains a monopoly of violence over a given territory OR a set of political institutions to generate and execute policy regarding freedom and equality

Strong State

a state that is able fulfill basic tasks (ex: defending territory, making and enforcing rules, collecting taxes, and managing the economy)

Traditional Legitimacy

legitimacy that accepts aspects of politics because they have been institutionalized over a long period of time

Unitary State

state where most political power exists at the national level in one geographical location, with limited local authority

Weak State

a state that has difficulty fulfilling basic tasks

Anarchism

political ideology that stresses the elimination of the state and private property as a way to achieve both freedom and equality for all

Citizenship

an individual’s relationship to the state, wherein citizens swear allegiance to the state and the state in return is obligated to provide rights to those citizens

Communism

political ideology that says state should control all economic resources and provide true equality which involves abolishing private property and letting the state curb individual freedoms for the whole

Conservatives

ppl with a political attitude that is skeptical of change and supports the current order

Culture

basic institutions that define a society

Ethnic Conflict

a conflict in which different ethnicities struggle to achieve certain political or economic goals at the others’ expense

Ethnic Identity/Ethnicity

specific attributes and societal institutions that make one group of people culturally different from others

Fascism

a political ideology that asserts the superiority and inferiority of different groups of people and stresses a low degree of freedom and equality to achieve a powerful state

Fundamentalism

a view of religion as absolute and inerrant that should be legally enforced by making faith the sovereign authority

Liberal democracy

political system that promotes participation, competition, and liberty and emphasizes individual freedom and civil rights

Liberalism (attitude)

political attitude that favors evolutionary change within the system and believe that current institutions can be instruments of positive change

liberalism (ideology)

ideology that favors a limited state role in society/economy and places a high priority on individual political and economic freedom

Liberals

those with a political attitude that favors evolutionary change and who believe that existing institutions can be an instrument of positive change

Nation

a group that desires self-government through an independent state

National conflict

a conflict in which one or more groups within a country develop clear aspirations for political independence, clashing with others as a result

National identity

a sense of belonging to a nation and a belief in its political aspirations

Nationalism

pride in one’s people and the belief that they have a unique political identity

Nation-state

a state encompassing one dominant nation that it claims to embody and represent

Patriotism

pride in one’s state

Political attitude

description of one’s views regarding the speed and scope/methods with which political changes should take place in a society

Political culture

the basic norms for political activity in a society

Political ideology

the basic values held by an individual about the fundamental goals of politics or the ideal balance of freedom and equality

Radicals

those with a political attitude that favors dramatic change, often revolution

Reactionary

those who seek to restore the institutions of a real or imagined earlier order

Social Democracy (Socialism)

political ideology that encourages freedom and equality to be balanced through the state‘s management of the economy and provision of social expenditures

Society

complex human organization; collection of people bound by shared institutions that define how human relations should be conducted