political science

Chapter 5 – Economic Policy of the State

Key Terms:

  • Economic Policy: Government actions to influence the economy (monetary, fiscal, trade, budget, job creation).

  • Monetary Policy: Control of money supply & interest rates (Federal Reserve).

  • Fiscal Policy: Taxes, government spending, public deficit.

  • Trade Policy: Tariffs, trade agreements.

  • GDP / GDP per Capita: Measure of economic performance.

  • Rent & Rent-Seeking: Gaining wealth without producing value.

  • Import-Substitution Industrialization: Policy for developing new industries.

  • Progressive Tax: Higher income → higher tax %.

  • Regressive Tax: Same tax $ regardless of income.

  • Corruption: Misuse of public resources for private gain.

  • Baumol’s Cost Disease: Wages rise in low-productivity sectors due to higher wages elsewhere.

Major Concepts:

  • Economy determines quality of life, social stability, job creation, and government capacity.

  • Governments manage economy through policy and central banks.

  • Rational Choice models: citizens act in self-interest, weigh costs/benefits.

  • Structural & historical factors affect economic performance (resources, human capital, corruption).

  • Government policy challenges: inflation vs unemployment, income inequality, externalities.

High-Yield Examples:

  • South Korea: Investment in education, R&D, job mobility → growth.

  • Germany: Codetermination, Ordnungspolitik, globalization challenges.

  • Indonesia: Corruption & infrastructure slowed growth.

Chapter 6 – Policy, Justice & Effectiveness

Key Terms:

  • Justice: Treating people as they deserve (Plato, Aristotle, Socrates).

  • Substantive/Distributive Justice: Allocation based on need & merit.

  • Procedural Justice: Fairness in how decisions are made.

  • Due Process: Standardized procedures to ensure fairness.

  • Externality: Costs/benefits of actions not accounted for in private decisions (e.g., pollution).

Major Concepts:

  • Justice is complex: balance merit, need, and equity.

  • Policy effectiveness: producing greatest good at least cost.

  • Government vs Market-based policymaking: authority vs individual choice.

  • Real-world policymaking is complex, risky, and iterative.

High-Yield Examples:

  • Need-based scholarships, water pollution regulation, gender-based pension payments.

Chapter 7 – Democracies and Authoritarian Systems

Key Terms:

  • Democracy: Government by the people, free/fair elections, human rights, pluralism.

  • Authoritarianism: Concentration of power, limits on freedoms, no political plurality.

  • Autocracy: One person with absolute power.

  • Military Government: Coup-led, fragile, short-lived.

  • One-Party State: Single party dominates (China, Cuba, USSR).

  • Monarchy: Power inherited (UK, Japan – symbolic; Middle East – real).

  • Theocracy: Religious leaders hold power (Iran).

  • Arab Spring: 2010 protests in Middle East & North Africa.

  • Color Revolutions: Non-violent uprisings in post-Soviet states.

Major Concepts:

  • Democracy is contestable, evolves over time (Dahl: direct → representative → economic/workplace democracy).

  • Fragile: both democracy and authoritarianism can fail.

  • U.S. = Representative Democracy + Federalism (division of power between federal & state).

  • Democratic values: Tolerance, Voice, Obligation, Constraint, Transparency, Legitimacy.

  • Worldwide democracy waves: 1st (WWI), 2nd (WWII), 3rd (1970s–1990s).

  • Authoritarian regimes maintain order but limit freedoms & participation.

High-Yield Examples:

  • U.S. evolution: Bill of Rights, civil rights movement.

  • South America: military regimes, struggles with democratization.

  • Arab Spring & Color Revolutions: illustrate democratization struggles.

Chapter 8 – Political Culture & Socialization

Key Terms:

  • Political Culture (PC): Shared attitudes/beliefs about politics in a society.

  • Political Socialization (PS): How individuals learn and internalize political norms.

  • Authority: Institutionalized power to make policies.

  • Legitimacy: Citizens’ belief government has rightful authority.

  • Social Capital: Networks & trust enabling society to function.

  • Civic Culture: Citizens’ view of role in politics (participant vs subject).

Major Concepts:

  • PC shaped by: language, religion, history, traditions, ethnic composition, values.

  • Religion plays a key role in political culture (e.g., political Islam, secular vs traditional societies).

  • PS agents: family, school, peers, leaders, media. Must be credible & relevant.

  • Democratic citizen requirements: tolerance, active participation, knowledge, civic interest.

  • Political participation types (Verba & Nie): inactives, voting specialists, parochial, communalist, campaigners, complete activists.

  • Rational choice: participation depends on weighing costs/benefits; voting often “irrational,” protest more “effective.”

High-Yield Examples:

  • Germany: growing democratic support post-WWII.

  • U.S.: decline in trust & voter turnout since 1960s.

  • Civic Culture studies: Almond & Verba, World Values Survey.