PLSC389I Midterm

Dependent Variable

Dependent Variable

the outcome or effect that researchers seek to explain in a cause-and-effect relationship. In comparative politics, this could be a political phenomenon like regime stability or economic growth. For example, in analyzing authoritarian stability in China or democratic consolidation in India, the dependent variable would be the regime’s longevity or democratic health.

Independent Variable

the cause or factor that influences the dependent variable. In the context of comparative politics, factors like economic development or ethnic diversity can serve as independent variables. For instance, one might analyze how economic inequality affects political unrest in Thailand and Malaysia.

Civilian Dictatorship

Include Dominant Party systems (e.g., China) where a single party dominates politics, and Personalistic regimes where power is centered on a single leader, as seen in North Korea under Kim Jong Un.

Military Dictatorship

In these regimes, the military controls the government, such as Myanmar under the Tatmadaw.

Monarchy Dictatorship

A dictatorship where a royal family holds power, like in Saudi Arabia, where leadership is passed down through hereditary succession.

Winning Coalition

refers to a subset of the selectorate whose support is crucial for a leader’s continued rule. In Asian politics, the size and composition of this group shape policy decisions. In China’s one-party system, the Communist Party elite form the winning coalition, while in Japan, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party maintains power through a coalition of business leaders and politicians.

Selectorate

The ____ consists of the group of people who have the power to influence or select leaders. In democracies like India, the ____ includes all eligible voters, while in authoritarian regimes like North Korea, the ___ may be restricted to military or party elites.

Political Science/Social Science

the study of governments, political processes, and political behavior, and is a subfield of social science, which broadly studies human societies. Comparative politics, a key branch, analyzes political systems in countries like South Korea and Indonesia to identify patterns and differences.

Scientific Method

involves systematic observation, hypothesis formation, experimentation, and conclusion drawing to explain political phenomena. In comparative politics, it is used to study trends such as electoral behavior in Japan or authoritarianism in Vietnam through a rigorous, data-driven approach.

Research Puzzle

arises when existing theories or data cannot fully explain a political phenomenon, prompting further investigation. In Asia, a ___ could be why democratic institutions persist in countries like Indonesia but falter in others like Myanmar.

Hypothesis

a testable statement predicting the relationship between variables. For example, one might hypothesize that economic inequality increases the likelihood of political protests in South Korea and Thailand.

Theory

a coherent set of ideas explaining a political phenomenon. In Asia, modernization ____ might explain how economic development leads to democratization in countries like South Korea but not in authoritarian regimes like China.

Public Goods

non-excludable and non-rivalrous, meaning they are available to all without depletion. Examples include national defense and public parks. In Asia, countries like Japan and Singapore provide robust _____ like health care and education, contributing to social stability and development.

Modernization Theory

posits that as countries become economically developed, they are more likely to democratize and maintain stable democracies. South Korea's shift to democracy following rapid industrialization supports this theory, though China’s continued authoritarianism despite high economic development poses a critique.

State

a political organization with a centralized government that holds the authority to make and enforce laws within a defined territory. In comparative politics, ____ vary in strength, authority, and capacity. For instance, China is considered a strong ____ with tight control, while Myanmar struggles with internal divisions and weaker state authority.

Nation

a group of people who share common cultural characteristics, such as language, religion, or ethnicity, and often seek self-determination. In Asia, Japan is often seen as a homogenous ___, while India is a multi-national state with diverse ethnic and linguistic groups.

Nation-State

a political entity in which the boundaries of a nation and state coincide, meaning that the nation governs itself within its own state. Examples in Asia include Japan, where there is a strong overlap between the Japanese nation and the state, while China manages multiple national identities within its borders.

Charles Tilly

a political sociologist known for his predatory theory of the state. He argued that states emerged historically through war-making and resource extraction, often simulating external threats to consolidate power. This theory is useful in understanding the development of states like China, where historical conflicts shaped strong state authority.

Thomas Hobbes

a political philosopher who introduced the idea of the "state of nature," where life without government was "nasty, brutish, and short." ____’ work is foundational for understanding the role of the state in maintaining order, particularly in states like Singapore, where strict laws are seen as preventing chaos.

Contractarian view

This perspective sees the state as a solution to the difficulties of decentralized cooperation among individuals. Citizens form a social contract with the state for mutual benefit. For example, the establishment of democratic institutions in South Korea can be seen as a contractarian outcome.

Predatory view

This perspective focuses on the state's exploitation of its citizens to maximize its own power. In this view, the state acts like a "protection racket." China's extensive surveillance and control mechanisms over its population reflect the ______ of the state.

Stages of state formation

typically follows stages, including war-making, state-building, and the development of institutions like bureaucracy and legal systems. In Asia, Japan's Meiji Restoration and South Korea's post-Korean War reconstruction reflect these stages, as both countries strengthened central institutions through industrialization and modernization.

Negative and positive relationship between DV and IV

A positive relationship means that as the independent variable (IV) increases, the dependent variable (DV) also increases, while a negative relationship implies that as the IV increases, the DV decreases. For example, higher economic development (IV) positively correlates with democracy (DV) in South Korea, but higher military influence (IV) negatively correlates with democracy (DV) in Myanmar.

Park Chung Hee

the authoritarian leader of South Korea (1961-1979) whose rule transformed the country’s economy but suppressed political freedoms. His focus on industrialization and export-driven growth laid the foundation for the “East Asian Miracle,” though his authoritarian methods, such as abolishing the constitution, stifled democratic progress.

East Asian Miracle

refers to the rapid economic growth from 1965-1990 in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and others. The economic policies of these countries—emphasizing export-driven growth, industrialization, and state intervention—resulted in unprecedented increases in GDP and living standards.

Electoral integrity

measures how well elections meet international norms for transparency, fairness, and inclusiveness. Countries like South Korea have maintained strong ___ since democratization, while countries like Myanmar have faced criticism for flawed electoral processes. It has to do with the conduct of elections at all stages of the electoral cycle, including the preelection period, the campaign, the polling day, and the election aftermath

Majoritarian representation

the party or candidate with the most votes wins, often leading to a “winner-take-all” outcome. For instance, Japan's SMDP system supports majoritarian representation, frequently favoring larger political parties.

PRoportional representation

allocate seats based on the proportion of votes each party receives, encouraging greater diversity in legislative bodies. Taiwan uses a mixed system with proportional representation, promoting broader representation of political parties.

SMDP

voters elect one candidate per district, and the candidate with the most votes wins, even without a majority. Japan and India use this system, which often results in majoritarian outcomes. Sometimes referred to as “first-past-the-post.”

SNTV

allows voters to cast a single vote in multi-member districts, with the top vote-getters winning seats. Taiwan and Japan have used this system before, promoting more proportional outcomes than SMDP, especially for smaller parties.

Electoral threshold

the minimum percentage of votes a party needs to gain representation. Countries like Indonesia have set ____ to prevent political fragmentation in their proportional representation systems.

Majoritarian vision of democracy

holds that democracy should reflect the will of the majority, often through winner-takes-all systems like those in India or Japan, where ruling parties often hold strong legislative power.

Consensus vision of democracy

emphasizes power-sharing, inclusivity, and broad coalition-building, often seen in proportional systems like in Taiwan, where multiple political groups share governance.

Mutual hostage

suggests that political actors with opposing interests are bound together, ensuring cooperation to avoid mutually harmful outcomes. This can be seen in Taiwan’s cross

Chaebol

powerful family-owned business conglomerates in South Korea, like Samsung or Hyundai, which have been instrumental in the country’s economic development. These conglomerates maintain close ties with the government, playing a key role in South Korea’s industrial growth.

New Village Movement

Initiated by South Korean President Park Chung Hee in the 1970s, this rural development program aimed to modernize the rural economy and close the gap between urban and rural areas. It involved selecting community leaders, providing seed money, holding meetings, and modernizing infrastructure. It is credited with improving rural living standards and has been recognized by the UN as a successful model of rural development.

Authoritarian REsponsiveness

refers to the practice where authoritarian regimes adapt to public demands and grievances without democratizing. In countries like China, the government responds to protests and social unrest through targeted policy adjustments or economic concessions, while maintaining political control.

CalTech Rules

a set of rigorous, empirical standards for evaluating political processes, often involving quantitative data analysis. The term is linked to the scientific study of elections and political outcomes, ensuring systematic accuracy in evaluating topics like electoral integrity or voter behavior.

Rodrigo Duterte

the former president of the Philippines (2016-2022), is known for his controversial "war on drugs," marked by extrajudicial killings and authoritarian measures. A populist and nationalist, his presidency saw strongman tactics that eroded democratic norms, while maintaining popular support, especially in urban areas. 

Electoral authoritarian regime

maintains the façade of democratic institutions—such as elections and legislatures—while systematically violating democratic norms. Such regimes, like in Cambodia under Hun Sen or Russia under Putin, use elections as tools for legitimizing authoritarian rule, while limiting real competition.

MITI

a key player in Japan’s post-war economic development, driving industrial policy, trade, and innovation. It was instrumental in Japan's rapid modernization and the East Asian economic miracle by promoting industrial growth and export-oriented strategies.

Democracy in “Fits an Starts”

describes the uneven and non-linear process of democratization in some countries, where periods of progress alternate with periods of regression. Examples include Thailand, where democracy has been interrupted by multiple military coups, and the Philippines, which has oscillated between democracy and authoritarianism.