POLS 2301 Final Exam Review Sheet Flashcards

Germany Basic Law

  • Definition: Germany’s post-WWII constitution, established in 1949. It aimed to ensure democracy, fundamental rights, and government stability.
  • Importance:
    • Created a strong legal framework preventing authoritarian rule.
    • Reinforced democratic principles.
    • Guaranteed human rights protections.

Bundestag & Bundesrat

  • Definition:
    • Bundestag: The primary legislative chamber where representatives draft and debate laws.
    • Bundesrat: Represents state governments and reviews legislation.
  • Importance: This dual-house system ensures balanced representation, allowing both national and regional interests to shape Germany’s legal and political landscape.

Chancellor

  • Definition: The elected head of Germany’s government, leading policy decisions and overseeing executive functions.
  • Importance:
    • Plays a crucial role in setting national priorities.
    • Represents Germany internationally.
    • Maintains governmental stability.

Constructive Vote of No Confidence

  • Definition: A parliamentary mechanism requiring a viable successor before removing the current Chancellor.
  • Importance: Prevents political instability by ensuring leadership transitions are orderly and prevents sudden governmental collapses.

Codetermination

  • Definition: A corporate governance system allowing employees to participate in decision-making through works councils and board representation.
  • Importance:
    • Strengthens labor rights.
    • Encourages cooperation between workers and employers.
    • Contributes to economic stability.

Russia "What is to be done?"

  • Definition: A political pamphlet by Lenin advocating for a professional revolutionary party to guide Russia’s socialist movement.
  • Importance:
    • Shaped Bolshevik strategies.
    • Emphasized centralized leadership and disciplined revolutionary action.

Vladimir Lenin & Bolsheviks

  • Definition:
    • Lenin: The leader of the Bolsheviks, a radical socialist faction that led the 1917 Revolution.
    • Bolsheviks: Radical socialist faction that led the 1917 Revolution, overthrowing the monarchy.
  • Importance: Their victory transformed Russia into a communist state, reshaping global politics and ideologies in the 20th century.

Alexei Romanov & Rasputin

  • Definition:
    • Alexei: The last Tsarevich of Russia, suffering from hemophilia.
    • Rasputin: A mystical advisor to the royal family.
  • Importance: Rasputin’s controversial influence weakened trust in the monarchy, accelerating the Russian Revolution.

Tsar Nicholas II

  • Definition: Russia’s last emperor, overthrown in the February Revolution due to his inability to address economic and social crises.
  • Importance: His failure to reform led to the fall of the Russian Empire, paving the way for Bolshevik rule.

February & October Revolutions

  • Definition:
    • February Revolution: Deposed the Tsar.
    • October Revolution: Installed Bolshevik control under Lenin.
  • Importance: These uprisings radically transformed Russia’s political system, replacing monarchy with communism.

New Economic Policy (NEP)

  • Definition: Lenin’s temporary policy allowing limited capitalism within a socialist framework to recover the economy.
  • Importance: NEP stabilized Russia’s economy but was later abandoned for full state control under Stalin.

Leon Trotsky & Joseph Stalin

  • Definition:
    • Trotsky: A revolutionary thinker and military leader.
    • Stalin: Consolidated power after Lenin’s death, ruling with authoritarian force.
  • Importance: Their rivalry shaped Soviet policies, with Stalin’s purges eliminating opposition and centralizing control.

Cult of Personality

  • Definition: The glorification of Soviet leaders, especially Stalin, through propaganda, public works, and media manipulation.
  • Importance: This fostered loyalty and suppressed dissent, reinforcing authoritarian rule.

Nikita Khrushchev & Secret Speech

  • Definition: Khrushchev’s 1956 speech denounced Stalin’s brutal tactics and initiated reforms.
  • Importance: It marked a shift toward de-Stalinization, easing repression and opening dialogue on governance.

Mikhail Gorbachev – Perestroika & Glasnost

  • Definition:
    • Perestroika: Aimed to restructure the Soviet economy.
    • Glasnost: Promoted transparency and free speech.
  • Importance: These reforms unintentionally weakened the USSR’s authority, leading to its collapse.

Boris Yeltsin & Oligarchs

  • Definition:
    • Yeltsin: Led post-Soviet Russia, implementing rapid privatization.
    • Oligarchs: Wealthy elites controlling major industries.
  • Importance: His policies shifted Russia toward capitalism but led to economic instability and political corruption.

Shock Therapy

  • Definition: A drastic economic shift to capitalism, implemented through rapid deregulation and privatization.
  • Importance: It triggered severe inflation, social inequality, and economic hardship for ordinary Russians.

The Tandem

  • Definition: The power-sharing arrangement between Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, alternating leadership roles.
  • Importance: It demonstrated strategic political maneuvering, ensuring consistent control over Russia’s government.

State Duma & United Russia

  • Definition:
    • State Duma: Russia’s lower house of parliament.
    • United Russia: The dominant party supporting Putin’s policies.
  • Importance: These institutions shape Russian legislation and maintain government control through party loyalty.

Whataboutism

  • Definition: A rhetorical tactic deflecting criticism by pointing out flaws in opponents rather than addressing concerns directly.
  • Importance: It is frequently used in Russian political discourse to avoid accountability and shift debates.

Alexei Navalny

  • Definition: A prominent opposition figure and anti-corruption activist who has openly criticized Russian leadership.
  • Importance: His work highlights systemic corruption, but his imprisonment reflects Russia’s suppression of dissent.

Russkiy Mir

  • Definition: A concept promoting Russian cultural and political influence abroad, often tied to nationalism.
  • Importance: It is used to justify foreign policies and expand Russia’s ideological reach.

Yevgeny Prigozhin & Wagner Group

  • Definition:
    • Prigozhin: Led the Wagner Group, a private military force conducting Russian-backed operations globally.
    • Wagner Group: A private military force conducting Russian-backed operations globally.
  • Importance: Wagner plays a key role in Russia’s geopolitical influence through covert and military interventions.

Information Confrontation

  • Definition: A strategy involving media manipulation and disinformation to control narratives and influence public perception.
  • Importance: It shapes domestic and international views of Russian policies and leadership through propaganda.