COMP

VOCAB - 

Democratic consolidation

  • The process where a democracy matures, becoming stable and deeply rooted in society 

  • MEXICO - transitioned from a one-party system ( PRI dominance ) to a competitive democracy in the 2000s 

  • NIGERIA - Still consolidating democracy, with challenges like election violence and corruption 

UK - a fully consolidated democracy with deep-rooted democratic institutions 


Power 

  • The ability to influence or control the behavior of people or the course of events 

  • CHINA - power is concentrated in the communist party and its leader, Xi Jinping 

  • Russia - power is centralized in Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin 

Authority

  • The recognized right to exercise power, often tied to legitimacy 

  • Iran - Authority is derived from the Supreme leader's religious legitimacy 

  • UK - Authority comes from constitutional monarchy and parliamentary sovereignty

Sources of power and authority

  • The origins of political power (ex: constitutions, religion, ideology )

  • Mexico - Constitution and democratic elections

  • Nigeria - Constitution and electoral process, though legitimacy is sometimes contested 

  • Iran - Religious legitimacy ( Islamic law )

  • China - The communist Party ideology and control over the military 

  • Russia - concentration of power in the presidency and control over media 

Federal states

  • A political system where power is shared between a central government and regional entities ( ex: U.S., Nigeria )

  • Mexico - A federal system with power shared between the central government 

  • Nigeria - A federal system with 36 states, plagued by ethnic and regional tensions 


Unitary states

  • A system where all political power resides in a central government (China)

  • UK - A unitary state with devolution to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland 

  • China - A highly centralized unitary state controlled by the Communist Party


Devolution

  • The transfer of powers from a central government to subnational entities without constitutional guarantees 

  • UK - Scotland and Wales have developed parliaments with legislative powers 

  • Nigeria - Limited devolution as state governments  rely heavily on the federal government 

Multi-ethnic state

  • A state with multiple ethnic groups coexisting. Often influencing politics ( Nigeria )

  • Nigeria - Diverse ethnic groups 

  • UK - England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland 

  • Russia - over 100 ethnic groups; tensions exist in regions like Chechnya 

Pluralist system

  • A political system where multiple groups compete for influence and power is divided 

  • Mexico - is increasingly pluralist with an active civil society and multiple political parties 

  • UK - A pluralist democracy with competitive political parties and interest groups 

Corporatist system

  • A system where the government controls or heavily influences interest groups and integrates them into policymaking 

  • Mexico - Historically corporatist under PRI, with government-controlled unions and interest groups 

  • China - The state dominates and controls interest groups through the communist party 

  • Russia - Managed corporatism where the state allows some groups but controls others 

Liberal Democracy

  • A democracy emphasizing individual rights, rule of law, free elections, and political freedom 

  • UK - a liberal democracy with strong protections for rights and freedoms 

  • Mexico - is becoming more liberal but faces challenges like corruption and media freedom 

Illiberal Democracy (hybrid regime, managed democracy, competitive authoritarian)

  • A regime with elections but limited political freedom and rule of law ( Russia) 

  • Russia - Elections occur, but opposition is restricted, and freedoms are limited 

  • Nigeria - Irregularities sometimes mar elections and violence 

One-party state

  • A political system where only one party is allowed to govern ( China )

  • China - The Communist Party is the sole political authority 


Totalitarian government

  • A regime that seeks total control over all aspects of public and private life 

  • China - Totalitarian tendencies in controlling dissent and surveillance 

  • Russia - Elements of totalitarianism in media control and suppression of opposition 

Democratization

  • The process of transitioning from an authoritarian system to a democratic one 

  • Mexico - Transitioned from PRI dominance to a multiparty democracy 

  • Nigeria - process in democratization but struggles with election fairness 

Political Systems

  • Structures for organizing and governing a society, such as democracies, authoritarian regimes, or monarchies

  • UK - Parliamentary system 

  • Russia - Semi-presidential system 

Regime

  • A Government, especially an authoritarian one 

  • Iran - Theocratic regime 

  • China - AUthoritarian, one-party regime 

Government 

  • The individuals and institutions authorized to make and enforce laws in a state 

  • UK - Parliamentary government led by Prime minister 

  • Russia - Presidential system dominated by Putin 

State

  • A political organization with sovereignty over a defined territory and  population 

  • Nigeria - Sovereign state facing challenges like ethnic divisions 

  • China - a sovereign state with a unitary system 

Nation

  • A group of people united by shared identity, culture, language, or history, often within a state

  • UK - a multinational state including England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 

Sovereignty

  • The ability of a state to govern itself without external interference 

  • UK - Parliamentary sovereignty 

  • Iran - Religious sovereignty under Islamic law 

Democracy

  • A system where power is vested in the people, typically through free and fair elections 

  • UK - A stable liberal democracy 

  • Mexico - Emerging democracy with challenges 

Authoritarianism

  • A system where power is concentrated in the hands of a leader or small elite, with limited political freedom 

  • Russia - centralized authoritarian regime under Putin 

  • China - Authoritarian one-party state 

Rule of law

  • The principle that everyone including leaders is subject to the law 

  •  UK - strong adherence to the rule of law

  • Mexico - faces corruption and impunity, undermining the rule of law 

Rule by law

  • The use of laws to maintain control, often arbitrarily or unfairly under authoritarian regimes

  •  China - Laws used as tools to maintain the communist parties' control 

  • Russia - Laws often serve to suppress dissent 

Governmental Transparency

  • Openness in government actions and decision-making, allowing public observation

  • UK - high transparency, though challenges exist 

Russia - Low transparency, with state secrecy and media control 

Theocracy

  • A government system where religious leaders rule based on divine guidance or 

religious laws 

  • Iran - a theocratic state governed by Islamic law and the Supreme Leader 




Quantitative Information

  • Data that is measurable and expressed in numerical form 

Ex : Mexicos GDP, Nigerias unemployment rate, UK voter turn out 

Qualitative Information

  • Non Numerical date that captures descriptive/subjective aspects such as opinions and narratives

EX - The role of Island in Irans political culture 

Empirical Data

  • Information based on observations, edicidence or measurable outcomes rather than theory or opinion

EX - election results in Mexico 

Normative Statements

  • Statements that express opinions or values about what should be rather than what is 

EX - Russia should ensure media freedom 

Human Development Index (HDI)

  • A composite measure of a countries average achievements in health, education, and income 

Mexico - medium - high HDI due to moderate income, education, health indicators 

Nigeria - Low HDI due to challenges in life expectancy and education

UK - High HDI with strong health, education, and economic performance 

Correlation

  • A relationship between two variables, where changes in one are associated with changes in the other 

EX - Iran , high voter turnout often correlates with support for reformist candidates 

Causation

  • A relationship where one event directly leads to another 

EX - Economic reforms in China caused significant GDP growth 

GINI 

  • A measure of income inequality within a country ranging from 0 (Equal) to 1 (maximum inequality) 

Mexico - High GINI coefficient reflects significant income inequality 

Nigeria - High GINI coefficient due to wealth concentration in oil elites 

China - Rising GINI coefficient reflects growing disparities between urban and rural populations 

GDP per capita

  • A measure of a countries economic output divided by its population, indicating average income 

Freedom House

  • An organization that rates countries on political rights and civil libeties, categorizing them as free, partly free or not free 

Fragile States Index

  • A ranking of countries based on their vulnerability to conflict or collapse 

Nigeria - high fragility due to terrorism, corruption and ethnic divisions 

Russia - moderate fragility with regional instability and governance concerns 

UK - Low fragility due to stable governance and institutions 

Control of media

  • The degree to which governments regulate or influence media outlets 

Russia - State controls major media, limiting press freedom

China - Strict censorship and government - controlled propaganda

Iran - media is heavily regulated and state-controlled 

Free and fair elections

  • Elections conducted with transparency, equality, and without coercion 

Independence of government branches

  • The degree to which the executive, legislative, and judicial branches operate without undue influence from each other 

Mexico - Judicial independence is improving but remains susceptible to political influence

Russia - Limited judicial independence, as courts often align with the executive

UK - strong independence between government branches 

Degree of political participation

  • The level of citizen involvement in political activities, such as voting, protesting, or joining political organizations

Iran - high participation in presidential elections but limited opportunities for dissent 

UK - consistently high voter turnout and civic engagement 

Nigeria - Participation is hindered by insecurity and voter apathy 

 

Independent Election Commission

  • A body responsible for overseeing the integrity and fairness of elections

Mexico - The national electoral institute ensures electoral transparency 

Nigeria - The independent National Eletoral Commission faces challenges in credibility 


Suffrage

  • The right to vote in political elections 

Gender quotas

  • Politices mandating a certain percentage of women in political organizational positions 

Mexico - requires political parties to nominate at least 50% female candidate 

Nigeria - No formal Quotas, Female representations remain low

UK - Voluntary gender quotas 

Political legitimacy

  • The general belif that a government has the right to rule and exercise authority 

UK - high legitimacy due to democratic traditions and strong institutions

Iran - Legitimacy is rooted in religious authority and islamic law 

China - Legitimacy stems from economic performance and Communist party control 

Sources of political legitimacy

  • The foundations ipton which governments claim authority and justify their rule 

Mexico - Elections and constitutional governance

Nigeria - Constitution, though legitimacy is often challenged by corruption

Russia - Nationalistic appeals and Putin leadership

China - Communist ideology and economic success

Iran - religious principles and the Supreme Leaders authority 

Political efficacy

  • The belif that individuals can influence political decisions and that the govrnemnt is responsive 

Political stability 

  • The endurance and consistency of a political system and its institituons overtime