Midterm Exam Review - Tagged-2

Comparative Analyses & Approaches to Comparative Politics Week 2

Scientific Method Steps

  1. Identify an important research question(s)

  2. Articulate a theory

  3. Form hypotheses

  4. Test hypotheses

  5. Evaluate and critically think about results

Understanding Theories

What is a Theory?

  • A model of the world that consists of dependent variables (DV) and independent variables (IV)

  • Causal Theories:

    • Explain the relationship between IV (cause) and DV (effect)

    • Example: Effect of X on Y

Variables in Theories

  • Dependent Variables (DV):

    • The phenomenon to explain (e.g., voter turnout)

  • Independent Variables (IV):

    • The cause of the outcome (e.g., weather)

    • Example: Bad weather leads to lower voter turnout because people avoid waiting in the rain

The Modern State Week 3

Defining a State

  • Ongoing administrative apparatus that develops, administers laws, and implements public policies

  • Characteristics of a modern state:

    1. Territory

    2. External and internal sovereignty

    3. Legitimacy

    4. Bureaucracy

Key Characteristics Explained

  • Territory: Defined geographic boundaries

  • Sovereignty:

    • External Sovereignty: Recognition and legality of power by other states

    • Internal Sovereignty: Authority within a territory to enforce laws

  • Legitimacy: Recognized right to rule, enhanced by traditions and constitutional laws

  • Bureaucracy: A body of appointed officials whose role is to implement laws

State Fragility Index

  • Measures state strength through:

    • Economic indicators (growth, poverty)

    • Political indicators (legitimacy, rule of law)

    • Social indicators (refugees, demographic pressure)

  • Scoring ranges from 0 (strongest) to 120 (weakest)

Murtazashvili - Afghanistan's State Failure

Main Argument

  • Lack of legitimacy due to:

    1. 2004 Constitution limiting citizen participation

    2. Insurgency focus over democratic development

    3. Authoritarian behavior from President Ghani

    4. Pakistani support of Taliban

Identity, Citizens, and Regimes Week 4

Understanding Regimes

  • Formal and informal political institutions defining government types

  • Categorized by political ideologies defining the relationship with citizens

Defining Citizens

  • Members of a state with specific rights and duties

    • Civil Rights: Personal freedoms

    • Political Rights: Associated with voting and participation

    • Social Rights: Well-being and socioeconomic equality

Civil Society

  • Sphere of organized, nonviolent activity outside of family or business; influences policy based on regime type

Liberal Democracy & Citizenship

Liberalism

  • Based on social contract theory, emphasizing governance for the common interest

  • Preserves core liberties of individuals

Guarantees in Liberal Democracies

  1. Freedom of association

  2. Freedom of expression

  3. Right to vote

  4. Broad eligibility for public office

  5. Competitive political leadership

  6. Alternative information sources

  7. Free and fair elections

  8. Government accountability to citizen preferences

Changes in Citizenship Definitions

  • Historically limited to male property owners; rights struggles of the 19th and 20th centuries expanded participation

Identity and Citizenship

  • Political leaders exploit identity for legitimacy

  • States define national identity, which can create inclusivity or exclusion

Politics of Recognition

Main Concepts

  • Desire to be acknowledged as a distinct group by the state

  • Autonomy entails self-governing within larger states

Policy Debate Around Identity

  • Balancing recognition of identity group demands vs. collective rights of all citizens

Fukuyama and Coates – Main Arguments

Fukuyama

  • Politics defined by identity, leading to fragmentation and weakened democratic values

Coates

  • Argues for reparations due to historical discrimination affecting African Americans; addresses gaps in citizenship

Political Systems

Three Thematic Questions

  • Accountability dynamics

  • Power distribution between majority and minorities

  • Trade-offs between governance and representation

Question 1: Accountability

  • Political Accountability: Citizenry's control over leaders

  • Horizontal Accountability: Institutional accountability within the state

  • Vertical Accountability: Societal ability to hold institutions accountable

Question 2: Majority Rules

  • Democratic principle of majority rule vs. rights of minorities

Question 3: Representation vs. Governance

  • Representing diverse viewpoints may reduce policymaking efficiency

Majoritarian – Consensus Spectrum

  • Majoritarian: Concentrated power; single-party dominance

  • Consensus: Multiparty coalitions requiring broader consensus

Constitutional Structures Week 5

Types of Constitutional Structures

  1. Parliamentary systems

  2. Presidential systems

  3. Semi-presidential systems

Features of Parliamentary Democracies

  • Five Features:

    1. Parliament selects Prime Minister

    2. Centralized cabinet power

    3. Central role of political parties

    4. Government accountability to parliament

    5. Discretion over elections

Accountability in Parliamentary Democracies

  • Citizens elect legislature, which appoints the executive, fostering accountability through elections

Coalition Governments & Stability

  • Majority support required to form a government

  • Coalition dynamics may lead to instability

Presidential Democracies

Key Characteristics

  • Separation of powers: popularly elected executive with fixed terms

  • Chief executive has law-making authority

Comparing Constitutional Systems

  • Differences in election methods, accountability, and policy-making efficiencies between systems

National Crisis Implications

  • Trade-offs between response efficiency and citizen preferences during crises

Electoral Systems Week 6

Definitions

  • District Magnitude: Number of seats in electoral district

  • Proportionality: Alignment of seat distribution with vote distribution

Allocation in Majoritarian Electoral Systems

  • Single-member Plurality: Winner-takes-all voting based on plurality

  • Runoff Systems: Majority needed in successive rounds

Proportional Electoral Systems

  • List PR systems where vote distribution aligns with seat allocation

Seat Allocation Methods

  • List Types: Closed, flexible, open; impact voter influence and party leader power

Ballot Structures Effects

  • Importance of list types in party discipline and accountability

Effects of Electoral Systems on Diversity and Accountability

  • Trade-offs between proportionality and efficiency in governance

Political Parties Week 7a

Definition of Political Parties

  • Associations aiming for governmental control through elections

  • Overcoming collective action problems by uniting interests

Key Elements of Political Parties

  • Objectives: Power, representation, advancing issues

  • Methods: Organizing, mobilizing, contesting elections

Roles of Political Parties

  1. Mobilization of citizens

  2. Training political elites

  3. Clarifying voter choices

  4. Government organization

  5. Opposition formation

Types of Party Systems

  1. Dominant-party system

  2. Two-party system

  3. Multiparty system

Origins of Mainstream Parties

  • Traditional cleavages have led to the emergence of parties based on various societal divisions

Populism Week 7b

Defining Populism

  • Ideology separating society into 'pure people' vs. 'corrupt elite'; not inherently left or right

Core Features of Populism

  1. Shared identity among groups

  2. Distinction between populists and elite

  3. General will guiding community action

Right-Wing Ideologies

  • Social inequalities are natural and should not be remedied by the state

Populism’s Emergence

  • Dissatisfaction with traditional parties prompts support for populist alternatives

Contentious Politics - Social Movements Week 8

Defining Social Movements

  • Represent societal groups outside formal institutions seeking political change

Theories of Social Movements Emergence

  1. Relative deprivation theory

  2. Rational choice and resource mobilization theory

  3. Political process theory

Political Process Theory

  • Focuses on political opportunity structures, cultural frames, and networks for movement development

Key Points

  • Social movements leverage collective action to challenge political rights and social justice.