Studied by 81 people
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
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