Comparative Politics Study Guide Test 1

1. Comparative Politics

• Definition: Comparative politics is the study of political systems and behaviors across different countries.

• Why compare?: We compare to understand patterns, solve problems, and make political predictions.

• How we compare?: Use case studies, cross-national comparisons, or large-scale data analysis to identify similarities and differences in political systems, governance, or policies.

2. Politics and Power

• Politics: The process of making decisions that apply to members of a group, often involving governance, authority, and the allocation of resources.

• Power: The ability to influence or control behavior and outcomes.

  • Types of power:

    1. Coercive (force)

    2. Legitimate (recognized authority)

    3. Expert (based on knowledge)

    4. Referent (influence from personal traits)

3. State, Institutions, and Political System

• State: A political entity with a defined territory and government that has sovereignty.

• Institutions: Structures of a political system (e.g., legislature, judiciary) that manage society.

• Political System: The system of government in a state, such as democracy, autocracy, or oligarchy.

4. Inductive vs Deductive Reasoning

• Inductive reasoning: Drawing general conclusions from specific examples or evidence.

• Deductive reasoning: Applying a general theory to make conclusions about specific instances.

5. Empirical vs Normative Statements

• Empirical: Based on observable evidence (e.g., "The population of the UK is 66 million").

• Normative: Based on values, opinions, or what "should" be (e.g., "The UK should reduce its carbon footprint").

6. Causation vs Correlation

• Causation: One event directly causes another (e.g., smoking causes lung cancer).

• Correlation: Two events are related, but one does not necessarily cause the other (e.g., ice cream sales and drowning rates both increase in summer, but one doesn’t cause the other).

7. Key Economic Indicators

• GDP (Gross Domestic Product): The total value of goods and services produced within a country.

• GDP per capita: GDP divided by the population, giving an average economic output per person.

• Gini Index: Measures income inequality; 0 represents perfect equality, 100 represents maximal inequality.

• Human Development Index (HDI): Measures overall human well-being based on life expectancy, education, and income.

8. Regime Type

• Definition: The form of government in a state, such as democracy, authoritarianism, or totalitarianism.

9. Legitimacy and its Types

• Legitimacy: The right and acceptance of authority.

  • Traditional: Based on historical practices (e.g., monarchy).

  • Charismatic: Based on a leader’s personal qualities.

  • Legal-rational: Based on legal procedures and laws.

10. UK’s Geography and Key Terms

• British Isles: A group of islands including Great Britain, Ireland, and surrounding smaller islands.

• Great Britain: The island containing England, Scotland, and Wales.

• United Kingdom (UK): Comprises Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

11. Development of Democracy in the UK

• Historical context:

  • Magna Carta (1215): Limited the powers of the monarchy.

  • Glorious Revolution (1688): Strengthened parliamentary power.

  • Reform Acts (19th–20th century): Expanded voting rights.

  • Gradualism: Democracy in the UK evolved slowly over centuries rather than through revolution.

12. Liberal-Representative Democracy

• Definition: A system where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf, with individual freedoms and checks on government power.

13. Unitary vs Federal Systems

• Unitary: Power is centralized in the national government (e.g., UK).

  • Advantage: Easier to enforce uniform policies.

  • Disadvantage: May ignore regional needs.

• Federal: Power is shared between national and regional governments (e.g., USA).

  • Advantage: Local governments can tailor policies.

  • Disadvantage: Risk of inconsistent laws across regions.

14. Constitutional Monarchy

• Definition: A monarchy where the monarch’s powers are limited by law or a constitution, with governance primarily carried out by elected officials (e.g., UK).

15. UK’s Constitution

• Human Rights Act (1988): Incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law.

• Cabinet Manual (2011): A guide to the operations of the government, including key conventions, procedures, and laws.

16. Parliamentary vs Presidential Systems

• Parliamentary: The executive is drawn from the legislature and is accountable to it (e.g., UK).

• Presidential: The executive is separate from the legislature (e.g., USA).

• Key differences:

  • In a parliamentary system, the prime minister is often a member of the legislature, while in a presidential system, the president is independent of the legislature.

17. Fusion of Power

• Definition: The blending of executive and legislative powers, commonly seen in parliamentary systems where the executive is part of the legislature.