AP COGO CH1+2
area studies (p. 10): are a method of organizing the political research conducted, the mehtod being the focus on a specific geographical region rather than trying to compare countries across the world. Like study clusters.
ex/ Sweden to India is was dominated the postwar era but is not area studies
behavioral revolution (p. 15): the mid 20th cent movement that shifted the focus study from formal political institutions to actual individual political behavior
causal relationship (p. 8): the direct cause and effect. A change in one variable directly causes a change or makes one in another
comparative method (p. 7): an approach to studying countries by comparing their similarities and differences to achieve conclusions on them.
ex/ north korea is compared to other countries to draw conclusions about its authoritarianism/ why democracy failed
comparative politics (p. 5): study of diff countries’ gov systems, politico structures, and cultures
correlation (p. 8): an aooarent association. gov specific: association btw certain factors or variable btw countries
deductive reasoning (p. 7): starts from a question to then get to a theory to then test against diff cases (question → hypothesis → evidence to support or disprove hypothesis)
dependent variable (p. 10): the thing effected by the independent variable, the thing being changed as a result (always the y axis)
endogeneity (p. 11): the problem that arises because we don't know whether one variable is the cause or effect because the variables together influence each other.
ex/ democracy, literacy, womens rights may have all helped one another in their movements
equality (p. 23): a living standard that is shared by all members of a community, society, or country/province.
ex/ equality in terms of freedom can be measured in justice vs injustice btween individuals
formal institutions (p. 21): built on official rules and are mostly clear
freedom (p. 23): the ability of the individual to to act by their own choice without a fear of being restricted pr punished by the government or other individuals in their community/society →synonym: autonomy
game theory (p. 17): an approach that models how politians make decisions to max their goals based on what they think others will do/choices they will make
independent variable (p. 11): variable that has controlled changes/doesnt depend on something to change. Also the cause of the change in the dependent variable (x axis)
inductive reasoning (p. 7): takes evidence first and then creates a theory/hypothesis based on the evidence gathered
ex/ studying north korea may lead to hypothesis that the use of nationalism ideals has aided in the continuation of authoritarianism (study first conclude second)
informal institutions (p. 21): unwritten and unofficial rules but aren't any less powerful that a formal institution
institution (p. 6): a structure, organization, rule system, etc thoroughly established that influences political actions, exercises governing power and/or connects the public to the state
international relations (p. 5): the study that mainly focuses on the relationships between countries like foreign policy, war, trade, and foreign aid.
Can and does overlap with comp politics a lot like ethnic or religious conflic
modernization theory (p. 15): the idea that countries experience economic dev and industrialization as they shift toward becoming more stable, wealthy, and capitalist democ
multicausality (p. 9): idea that politic event is usually caused my multiple interacting causes, not dependent on just one
politics (p. 6): struggle of groups for the gain of power in order to make choices that will affect the greater society
power (p. 6): ones or a groups ability to influence people or alter their lives/communities or even force them to do things
qualitative method (p. 17): research that focuses on a study of smaller gases using evidence that isn't number based
ex/ could be smth like a political cartoon?
quantitative method (p. 17): numbers, use of numerical, statistical data from many cases to test ideas, identify patterns and compare systems
ex/ statistics or voting numbers
rational choice (p. 17): assumes voters, politicians, and political parties make decisions by considering the costs vs benefit to best serve their own interests
ex/ using or not using nuclear weapons → MAD
selection bias (p. 10): a problem that happens when researchers or the media choose cases and data that isn’t random therefore not accurately representing the results and instead skewing them toward an agenda
theory (p. 12): a collection of interwoven hypotheses and facts to make a conclusion
asymmetric federalism (p. 52): power is unequally divided btw the regions of a state, this is more likely to happen if there is division between the people in the territory ex/ethnic groups
autonomy (p. 53): the ability of a group to exercise power independently of the public or international politics. Related to sovereignty
Levels of gov effect this
capacity (p. 53): the ability of states to implement policy, collect taxes, enforce laws, provide safety, etc across its entire territory
charismatic legitimacy (p. 49): kind of the opp of traditional legitimacy, charismatic is the legitimacy people grant to the gov because they are charming/extremely persuasive
ex/ a hero figure to save the state from ruin
country (p. 39): a country is a sovereign state that combines government and regimes over a territory and also includes the various peoples that live in the territory
devolution (p. 52): the making of “layers” of government also transferring of power (responsibilities like taxation, spending → local level) Popular because it increases legitimacy or may solve problems like tensions btw groups
failed state (p. 53): government in state breaks down, occurs when the country is most fragile, they have basically lost the power to enforce laws, collect taxes, security, etc. does not mean anarchy though, ex/ cities could still have authority over rural areas
federalism (p. 51): a system that divides power btw central nation gov and regional gov
ex/ US, Canada, Brazil all separate entities of gov and all use devolution to task out things within their govs
government (p. 38): the person or groups of people that are legally in power to run that state
ex/ Iran theocracy gov, Supreme leader is main gov
legitimacy (p. 48): the public belief that their government has the right to govern them and exercise their power over their people.
ex/ one way to create legitimacy is to hold elections so the people feel that they gave the government the right to govern them.
rational-legal legitimacy (p. 49): based on laws rather than history or force, conducted through procedures that are under the assumption that they are neutral/rational
regime (p. 37): the fundamental set of rules, institutes, and norms that determine the acquiring, exercising, and maintenance of political power
ex/ UK is democratic regime
sovereignty (p. 35): an organization's ability to implement and enforce laws and policies within the territory of the state by themselves without external forces or internal opposition.
state (p. 35): an organized group that keeps control over a territory/land
Important element of states is: sovereignty
strong state (p. 52): a state able to defend their territory, enforce laws and rules, rights, collect taxes and handle the economy. Basically self sufficient
ex/ UK
traditional legitimacy (p. 48): the idea that someone or something is rightful because it has been that way for a long time → the “norm”
ex/ monarchy in UK
unitary state (p. 52): concentrated power at a national level and regional power is more limited, can control anything across territory at any time
ex/China centralized under CCP, controls everything
weak state (p. 52): weak states can’t really control their territory. Characterized by things like organized crime, rebellion, tax evasion, etc. Can’t keep order for their population
Lack authority and legitimacy