Studied by 0 peopleadvanced democracies
the countries have well-established democratic governments and a high level of economic development (Great Britain and the USA)
Alternative Vote (AV)
``a candidate-centered preference voting system used in single-member districts where voters rank order the candidates. A candidate who receives an absolute majority is elected. If no candidate wins an absolute majority, then the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and her votes are reallocated until one candidate has an absolute majority of the valid votes remaining
austerity measures
government policies meant to save money
authoritarian regime
A government in which one leader or group of people holds absolute power.
autonomy
self-government, political control without influence from outside agents
asymmetric federalism
A system where power is devolved unequally across the country and its constituent regions, often the result of specific laws negotiated between the region and the central government
bicameral legislature
a lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts
Conservative Party (Tories)
One of the UK's two largest parties, currently the majority party. Value free market and traditional values.
Labour Party
British working-class political party established in the 1890s and dedicated to reforms and a peaceful transition to socialism, in time providing a viable alternative to the revolutionary emphasis of Marxism.
Liberal Democratic Party
Centrist third party in the United Kingdom and junior member of a coalition government from 2010 to 2015
Scottish National Party (SNP)
Nationalist political party promoting Scottish independence, and currently in control of the Scottish regional government
Sinn Fein
An Irish political party that has long combatted Britains' influence in Ireland
Plaid Cymru
the nationalist party in Wales that advocates more rights for the Welsh people, including use of the Welsh language
UK Independence Party (UKIP)
a Eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom
capacity
ability for government to accomplish goals
Civil Liberties
Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens
civil rights
the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.
civil society
Organizations outside of the state that help people define and advance their own interests
coinciding cleavages
A division that strengthens feelings of difference and discrepancy, weakening society
crosscutting cleavages
When a group contains many different points of conflict, thus allowing people to find many points of agreement and conflict within the group.
Collectivist Consensus
Cross-party British support for the welfare state that lasted until the late 1970s.
command economy
An economic system in which the government controls a country's economy.
Constitutional Monarchy
A King or Queen is the official head of state but power is limited by a constitution.
Corporatism
A method of co-optation whereby authoritarian systems create or sanction a limited number of organizations to represent the interests of the public and restrict those not set up or approved by the state.
comparative method
The means by which social scientists make comparisons across cases
Democratization
A process of transition as a country attempts to move from an authoritarian form of government to a democratic one.
Devolution
the transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to the states
single-member district
An electoral district in which voters choose one representative or official.
proportional representation
An election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.
Ranked Choice Voting
Voters put their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices on a ballot. The last-place candidates are gradually eliminated. If your 1st choice is eliminated your vote switches to your second choice. The winner must receive a majority of the vote.
economic liberalization
the process of limiting the power of the state over private property and market forces
European union
An international organization of European countries formed after World War II to reduce trade barriers and increase cooperation among its members.
Executive term limits
institutional constraints on the length of time a head of state or head of government can serve in office. The United Kingdom is the only AP Comparative country with no formal executive term limit on its head of state and head of government. Russia: "2" 6yr terms
failed state
A state so weak that its political structures collapse, leading to anarchy and violence
federal system
A government that divides the powers of government between the national government and state or provincial governments
fedralism
the division of powers between the states and the federal government
first past the post
Electoral system based on single-member districts in which the candidate who receives the most votes wins.
government
The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies
GINI Index/Coefficient
a coefficient (index) that measures the ratio of the area between a Lorenz curve and the line of absolute equality to the total area under the line of equality. The higher the figure, the more unequal is the distribution.
Human Development Index (HDI)
Indicator of level of development for each country, constructed by United Nations, combining income, literacy, education, and life expectancy
head of government
The executive role that deals with the everyday tasks of running the state, such as formulating and executing policy
head of state
The executive role that symbolizes and represents the people both nationally and internationally.
hybrid regimes
term used to describe regimes that combine elements of liberal democracy and authoritarianism in post-communist and other countries
ethnicity
Identity with a group of people that share distinct physical and mental traits as a product of common heredity and cultural traditions.
nationality
Identity with a group of people that share legal attachment and personal allegiance to a particular place as a result of being born there.
Illiberal Democracy
A procedural democracy, with elections, but without real competition, and lacking some civil rights and liberties.
institutions
stable, long lasting organizations that help to turn political ideas into policy
Independent Judiciaries
the concept that the judiciary needs to be kept away from the other branches of government.
Judicial Review
Allows the court to determine the constitutionality of laws
The State Duma of Russia
The State Duma was first introduced in 1906 and was Russia's first elected parliament. (Rubber Stamp)
Federation Council
The largely powerless upper house of the Russian parliament
Parliament
Britain's law-making assembly
House of Commons (UK)
Lower house of the UK legislature, more powerful house of parliament
Prime Minister (PM)
The head of government in parliamentary and semipresidential systems
house of lords
the upper house of the British parliament, largely ceremonial
market economy
Economic decisions are made by individuals or the open market.
multi-party system
political party system that recognizes 3 or more major political parties
nation-state
a sovereign state whose citizens or subjects are relatively homogeneous in factors such as language or common descent.
noblesse oblige
the inferred responsibility of privileged people to act with generosity and nobility toward those less privileged
Nomenklatura
Politically sensitive or influential jobs in the state, society, or economy that were staffed by people chosen or approved by the Communist Party
coercion
use of force to get someone to obey
co-optation
The process by which individuals are brought into a beneficial relationship with the state, making them dependent on the state for certain rewards
personality cult
Promotion of the image of an authoritarian leader not merely as a political figure but as someone who embodies the spirit of the nation and possesses endowments of wisdom and strength far beyond those of the average individual and is thus portrayed in a quasi-religious manner.
surviellance
close watch over a person, group, or area; supervision
Clientalism
an exchange system in which clients offer support and loyalty to patrons who offer material and intangible benefits
normative statement
claims that attempt to prescribe how the world should be
empirical statement
a statement based on observation, experiment, or experience
party systems
Systems characterized by competition among political parties
radicals
People who wanted to make extreme changes
liberals
Are open to change in government through reform
conservatives
Like to stick to the traditional ways of government and tend to oppose change
Reactionaries
Those who want to restore political, social, and economic institutions that existed in the past
political culture
an overall set of values widely shared within a society
liberalism
A political ideology that emphasizes the civil rights of citizens, representative government, and the protection of private property. This ideology, derived from the Enlightenment, was especially popular among the property-owning middle classes.
communism
A theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state.
socialism
a political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
fascism
A political system headed by a dictator that calls for extreme nationalism and racism and no tolerance of opposition
anarchism
A political theory favoring the abolition of governments
political socialization
the process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions
agents of socialization
social institutions, including families and schools, that help to shape individuals' basic political beliefs and values
political violence
Violence outside of state control that is politically motivated
PPP (Purchasing Power Parity)
A statistical tool that estimates the buying power of income across different countries by using prices in the United States as a benchmark
Presidential systems
governments with strong presidents as both the head of state and the head of government
Privatization
To change from government or public ownership or control to private ownership or control.
Procedural Democracy
A form of democracy that is defined by whether or not particular procedures are followed, such as free and fair elections or following a set of laws or a constitution.
Referendum
a legislative act is referred for final approval to a popular vote by the electorate
regime
a government in power; a form or system of rule or management; a period of rule
revolution
a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system.
rule of law
principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern
United Russia
Main political party in Russia and supporter of Vladimir Putin
Communist Party of the Russian Federation
Successor party in Russia to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
A Just Russia
A small party in the Russian Duma with a social-democratic orientation. Puppet Party
Liberal Democratic Party of Russia
Political party in Russia with a nationalist and antidemocratic orientation
State
An area organized into a political unit and ruled by an established government with control over its internal and foreign affairs.
Sanctions
restrictions intended to enforce international law
semi-presidential system
An executive system that divides power between two strong executives, a president and a prime minister
Shock Therapy
Policies in formerly communist countries that envisage as rapid a shift to a market economy as possible.
sovereignty
Ability of a state to govern its territory free from control of its internal affairs by other states.
supranational organization
Organization of three or more states to promote shared objectives.
Transparency
the presentation of a company's facts and figures in a way that is clear and apparent to all stakeholders
Note
Flashcard