UAP Comparative Government Unit 1

Vocabulary flashcards covering key political science terms from the video notes (Units 1 and related topics).

Power

The ability to influence or control the behavior of others. Example: A strong political leader influencing public opinion.

Authority

The legitimate or recognized right to exercise power and make decisions.

: A judge's right to sentence a criminal.

Legitimacy

The acceptance and recognition of authority or power as valid and rightful.

(ex: Citizens accepting the outcome of a democratic election.)

Political Stability

The state of a country or region where the government and political institutions are strong, and there is a general absence of major conflicts, social unrest, or changes in leadership.

(ex: Switzerland, known for its long-standing peaceful governance.)

Political System

The laws, ideas, and procedures that address who should have the authority to rule and what the government's influence on its people and economy should be.

(ex: A democratic republic or a communist system.)

Correlation

A statistical relationship between two or more variables where a change in one variable is associated with a change in another variable.

(ex: A correlation between ice cream sales and sunscreen usage (both increase in summer).)

Causation

A relationship between cause and effect, where one variable directly influences another.

(ex: Smoking causes lung cancer.)

Freedom

The absence of constraints or restrictions on individuals or groups to act or express themselves as they desire.

(ex: Freedom of speech allowing people to express their views publicly.)

Equality

The state of being equal in rights, opportunities, or status.

(ex: Equal voting rights for all adult citizens regardless of gender or race.)

Human Development Index (HDI)

A composite measure of a country's development, considering factors such as life expectancy, education, and income.

(ex: Norway consistently ranks high on the HDI due to its high life expectancy, excellent education, and high per capita income.)

Gini Index (coefficient)

A statistical measure of income inequality within a country, ranging from 0 (perfect equality) to 100 (maximum inequality).

(ex: A country with a Gini index of 25 has lower income inequality than a country with a Gini index of 50.)

Freedom House

An organization that assesses political rights and civil liberties worldwide, providing rankings and reports on the state of freedom in different countries.

(ex: Freedom House's annual report might classify a country as 'Not Free' due to severe restrictions on political participation.)

Transparency International

A non-governmental organization that publishes the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), ranking countries based on perceived levels of public sector corruption.

(ex: Transparency International's CPI might rank Denmark highly for low perceived corruption.)

Failed States Index

An index published by the Fund for Peace and Foreign Policy magazine that assesses the vulnerability and stability of countries based on social, economic, political, and military indicators.

(ex: The Failed States Index (now Fragile States Index) might list a country experiencing civil war and collapsing public services as highly fragile.)

GDP (Gross Domestic Product)

The total value of goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific period.

(ex: If the US produced 20 trillion worth of goods and services in a year, its GDP for that year would be 20 trillion.)

GDP per Capita

GDP per capita refers to the average economic output per person in a country.

(ex: If a country has a GDP of 1 trillion and a population of 100 million, its GDP per capita is 10,000.)

GDP Growth Rate

The percentage change in the country's total economic output over a specific period.

(ex: A 3\% GDP growth rate indicates the economy expanded by 3\% compared to the previous period.)

Nation

A group of people who share a common identity, such as language, culture, or history.

(ex: The Kurds, who share a common language and culture but do not have their own state.)

State

A political organization that combines a permanent population with governing institutions to exercise control over a defined territory with international recognition.

(ex: France, which has a defined territory, a permanent population, governing institutions, and international recognition.)

Regime

A set of formal/fundamental rules or institutions that run a country and endure through changes in government.

(ex: The democratic regime of the United States, which has endured for centuries despite changes in presidential administrations.)

Democracy/ Democratic Regime

A system in which citizens have the right to vote and participate in the political process; the United Kingdom operates under a democratic regime.

(ex: Countries like Canada and Germany operate under democratic regimes where regular elections determine leadership.)

Authoritarianism/ Authoritarian Regime

A government system characterized by strong centralized power and limited political freedoms.

(ex: North Korea, where the government exerts extensive control over all aspects of society.)

Government

The group of individuals and institutions responsible for making and implementing public policies and decisions.

(ex: The current administration of a country, including its president, cabinet, and state bureaucracy.)

Governmental Transparency

The extent to which government actions, decisions, and processes are open, accessible, and accountable to the public.

(ex: A government publishing all public spending records online for citizens to review.)

Governmental Corruption

The abuse of public office or position for personal gain.

(ex: A politician accepting bribes in exchange for favorable business deals.)

Illiberal Democracy (Hybrid Regimes)

A political system where elections take place, but there are significant restrictions on civil liberties, media freedom, and political opposition.

(ex: Russia, which holds elections but has limited political opposition and media freedom.)

Theocracy

A system of government where religious authorities hold the divine authority to govern and religious laws influence political decision-making.

(ex: Iran, where religious leaders play a dominant role in political and legal matters.)

Military Regime

A form of government where military officials have significant control over political and administrative decisions.

(ex: Myanmar after a military coup, where the military took control of the government.)

Transitional Democracy

A country that is in the process of transitioning from an authoritarian regime to a democratic system.

(ex: Many Eastern European countries after the fall of communism in the late 20th century.)

Consolidated Democracy/ Democratic Consolidation

A stable and well-functioning democratic system where democratic institutions are robust and accepted by society.

(ex: The United States, where democratic institutions have been stable for a long period, even during crises.)

Democratization

The process of transitioning from an authoritarian regime to a democratic system or strengthening democratic practices within an existing democracy.

(ex: South Africa's transition from apartheid to a multi-racial democracy in the early 1990s.)

Sovereignty

The supreme authority and power of a state to govern itself and make decisions within its territorial boundaries.

(ex: The United States exercising its sovereignty by enacting its own laws without external interference.)

Internal Actors

Individuals, groups, or institutions within a country that influence and participate in the political processes and decision-making.

(ex: Political parties, interest groups, and citizens voting in elections.)

External Actors

Individuals, organizations, or countries from outside a country's borders that influence or participate in its political affairs.

(ex: The United Nations, multinational corporations, or foreign governments providing aid or sanctions.)

Coup d'etat

The sudden overthrow of a government, often by the military or a faction within the existing power structure.

(ex: A military coup where the army takes control of the presidential palace and declares a new government.)

Separatist Movement

A political or social movement seeking to gain independence or autonomy for a specific region within a country.

(ex: The Basque separatist movement in Spain or the Catalan independence movement.)

Consensus

A general agreement or harmony among a group of people or within a society.

(ex: A parliamentary committee reaching a consensus on a new policy after extensive debate.)

Coercion

The use of force, threats, or intimidation to compel someone to act against their will.

(ex: A dictator using the secret police to suppress dissent.)

Failed State

A state that is unable to provide essential services to its citizens, maintain law and order, or exercise control over its territory.

(ex: Somalia for a period, where the central government had very limited control and public services were minimal due to ongoing conflict.)

Federal System/Federalism

A system of government where power is divided between a central government and regional or subnational governments.
(ex: The United States, where power is divided between the federal government and state governments.)

Unitary System

A system of government where power is concentrated in a central government, and regional or local governments derive authority from the central government.

(ex: France, where local authorities derive their powers from the central government in Paris.)

Asymmetric Federalism

A federal system where different regions or states within a country have varying degrees of autonomy and power.

(ex: Canada, where Quebec has distinct powers related to language and culture compared to other provinces.)

Devolution

The transfer of certain powers and responsibilities from a central government to regional or local governments.

(ex: The UK government granting Scotland and Wales their own parliaments with specific legislative powers.)

Ethnicity

A shared cultural, historical, or social identity based on common language, traditions, customs, and sometimes, ancestral heritage.

(ex: The Han Chinese, the Yoruba people of Nigeria, or the various indigenous groups in Latin America.)

Citizen

A legally recognized member of a nation or state, entitled to certain rights, privileges, and responsibilities.

(ex: A person born in the United States is a U.S. citizen and has the right to vote.)