intro comp gov vocab

Vocab Intro 25

Corporatism :: The organization of society based on corporate groups, who would theoretically control the state/organization within the state and act as representative bodies.

Clientelism (patron-client relationship) :: A method of political or social organization where the standard ‘unit’ of political society falls to the relationship between a client and their patron, where the client offers some service in exchange for benefits – Patronage in Ancient Rome.

Pluralism :: used in discussions of politics to refer to a society in which many different groups with many different opinions and viewpoints all have to coexist and work with each other in the political sphere.

Authoritarianism :: A form of government which reduces or eliminates the individual rights, diversity, and powers of the people. Power is in the hands of a centralized government with little meaningful opposition - should it fail to meet public interests, it will prove difficult or impossible to displace leadership.

authority :: (n.) single figure or entity with power over a group; power or right to make decisions

Legitimacy :: Public acceptance of an authority, usually a regime or system of government. A government is considered legitimate if its people accept and condone its rule because they see its use of power as appropriate and justified.

Democratization :: A transition process where a country changes from an autocratic or semi-autocratic political system to a more democratic one. Democratization may result in a transitional or consolidated democracy.

Globalization :: The process whereby businesses and industries spread across national borders, increasing their international influence.

Supranational Organization :: A supranational organization is a multinational entity whose authority extends across several states. The World Bank is one example of a supranational organization.

Totalitarianism :: the most extreme form of authoritarianism; a political system which completely outlaws any opposition, ruled by one person or select group who has complete authority. Totalitarianism aims to control all aspects of life, from art to public ideologies to the economy.

Transparency :: Government transparency is defined by how open, honest, and accountable a government is. The more open a government is, the more transparent it is deemed to be.

Import Substitution :: An economic methodology that aims to reduce a country’s dependence on foreign goods to increase reliance on domestic manufacturers. Often executed via tariffs.

Economic Structural Adjustment :: Requirements a country must meet to get a loan from the World Bank or IMF. Structural adjustment aims to eliminate the cycle of dependency that would otherwise result from financially destitute countries asking for loans they cannot pay off - it means introducing free-market reform to reduce state debt, e.g. privatizing state-owned industries or cutting down on economic regulations.

Capitalism :: An economic system where control of the economy is kept in the private sector, with minimal or no state intervention.

Command Economy :: An umbrella term to describe an economic system heavily controlled by the state, and a major component of communism.

Communism :: A political theory that advocates for ownership of the means of production by the people - meaning the making and distribution of products according to every person’s need.

Rentier state :: A rentier state receives most of its income from foreign governments or states. This is because they provide an extremely valuable good or service, like oil. Rentier states tend not to tax their citizens much because so little of their income is domestic, which can weaken political participation.

Social cleavages :: A cleavage refers to a division between groups of people within one country regarding values, political beliefs, etc. Social cleavages are based on differences in a variety of factors including race, ethnicity, class, and religion - they can become political cleavages if these disagreements become politicized.

Civil society :: Civil society includes all organizations and groups that operate outside of government influence. Groups in civil society range from interest groups to bowling leagues. Civil society is thought to be very important in the participatory theory of democracy.

Privatization of enterprises v. State owned enterprises (SOE’s) :: A state-owned enterprise is created and operated by the government, and is usually reserved for services considered necessary for the public good, like food inspection or waste management. These enterprises aim to provide essential services, not necessarily to make a profit. Private enterprises, meanwhile, are privately owned by corporate entities whose only motivation is to make and maximize profit.

Fragmentation v. Globalization :: Fragmentation generally refers to the breaking up of a larger entity or process into smaller parts. In economics, this could mean having processes in a supply chain take place in different locations, under different manufacturers. In politics, this could mean redistributing power or functions of government. Economically, globalization has made fragmentation possible.

common law :: a system based on local customs and precedent rather than formal legal codes

civil law :: A comprehensive system of rules and principles usually arranged in codes and easily accessible to citizens and jurists; an adaptable system, with civil codes avoiding excessive detail and containing general clauses that permit adaptation to change.

Coalition government :: Formed when different parties come together to govern. A coalition government may form if an election ends with no clear majority winner.

coalition :: an often temporary alliance of political parties or states

Rule of law :: The rule of law states that no one, regardless of their place in social or economic hierarchy, is above the law. Laws must be clear and accessible, equally enforced, and not violate human rights in any way.

Liberal v. illiberal democracy (Procedural v. substantive vocabulary) :: A liberal democracy has the following characteristics, as defined by Robert Dahl: effective participation, voting equality, enlightened understanding, and citizen’s ability to control the agenda. A liberal democracy is a genuine democracy. An illiberal democracy may have a democratic constitution or certain democratic institutions, but it does not have all the characteristics of a liberal democracy. Russia is an example of an illiberal democracy.

Reform v. Revolution :: Reform means to make changes in something to improve it; in politics, reform might involve passing new laws and/or regulations. Reform is usually made within an existing system. Revolution overturns the entire system or government in favor of a new one.

Neo-liberalism v. Statism :: Neoliberalism generally defines a political and economic ideology that promotes free-market ideals (e.g. deregulation of the private sector, reduction or elimination of government spending, etc.). Statism is the inverse—it is a system that favors heavy state influence in the economic and social sectors.

Parastatals :: A parastatal organization is separate from the government, but has political influence/power and serves the government in some way.