UNIT 1 AP Notes

Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments

• Quantitative vs. Qualitative Data:

  • Quantitative data: Measurable in numbers, represented in graphs, charts, infographics; objective.

  • Qualitative data: Descriptive, found in speeches, foundational documents; subjective.

• Empirical vs. Normative Statements:

  • Empirical statements: Factual and objective, based on data (used more in Comparative Government - COGO).

  • Normative statements: Value statements, interpretations or opinions based on data analysis (used in thesis writing).

• Correlation vs. Causation:

  • Correlation (relationship between variables) does not prove causation (cause-effect relationship).

  • Difficult to establish causation in COGO due to many variables and inability to isolate causes.

Data Sources for COGO

• Human Development Index (HDI): Indicator of development per country (UN), based on income, literacy, education, and life expectancy.

• Gross Domestic Product (GDP): The sum total of the value of all goods and services produced in a nation.

• GDP per capita: GDP divided by the number of people.

• GDP growth rate: $\frac{\text{Current year's GDP - Last year's GDP}}{\text{Last year's GDP}} \times 100$. Percentage change in a nation's real output between years.

• Gini Index (Coefficient): Measures inequality in a society; scale from 0 to 1 (0 = perfect equality, 1 = perfect inequality).

• Freedom House Index: Measures political rights and civil liberties (internet freedom, press freedom, etc.).

• Transparency International: Private organization compiling corruption statistics.

• Failed States Index: Created by US think tank & Foreign Policy magazine; measures state weakness/fragility.

Political Organizations

• Political System: Laws, ideas & procedures addressing authority and government influence on people and economy.

• State: Political organization with a population, government, territory & sovereignty.

• Regime: Fundamental rules controlling access and exercise of political power that endure across governments (democratic v. authoritarian); Ex: 1993 Constitution in Russia; 1999 Nigeria changing from military government to more democratic government.

• Government: Institutions or individuals legally empowered to make binding decisions for a state. Changes with institutions, leaders, etc.

• Nation: Group of people with commonalities including race, language, religion, ethnicity, political identity, and aspirations.

• Nation-State: When a nation also meets the characteristics of a state (ex: Japan).

Democracy vs. Authoritarianism

• Factors:

  • Adherence to rule of law.

  • State influence/control of media.

  • Free & fair elections.

  • Transparency of government decision making.

  • Citizen participation in government.

  • Independence of executive, legislative & judicial branches.

• Democratization: Transition from authoritarian to democratic regime.

  • Inhibited by corruption.

  • Can be stalled or reversed (changing election rules and restrictions on civil liberties).

• Democratic Consolidation: Maturing democracy unlikely to revert to authoritarianism.

Unitary vs. Federal Systems

• Federal System: Powers divided between national and regional/state/provincial governments; Ex: Mexico, Nigeria, Russia.

• Unitary System: Power vested in central government (regional governments have powers given by the central government); EX: United Kingdom, China, Iran.

• Devolution: Central government delegates powers to regional areas; can be taken back; NOT federalism.

  • Ex: UK - Scotland, Wales & NI.

Political Legitimacy

• Legitimacy: Citizens' belief in the government's right to exercise power.

• Sources of Legitimacy:

  • Tradition (ex: UK).

  • Charismatic (personality cult) (Khomeini in Iran).

  • Rational-legal (constitutions; rules and laws).

  • Popular election results.

  • Economic growth (ex: China).

  • Religion (ex: Iran).

  • Revolution (China, Iran).

• Bad economy, corruption, questioning election integrity, social conflict undermine legitimacy. Devolution can sustain and/or undermine legitimacy.

Political Stability Affected By

• Combatting (not combatting) corruption.

• State responses to separatist groups, violence, protests, drug trafficking, religious differences.

• State response to mass protest movements.

• State response to internal reform movements.

• Reducing violence/corruption attracts foreign investment.

Random Terms

• Sovereignty: Independent legal authority over a population in a particular territory (freedom from interference).

• Capacity: Extent to which a state can effectively execute a policy decision.

• Linkage Institution: Organizations and systems connecting citizens to policymaking (ex: political parties, interest groups, media).