AP Terms
Nation: a group of people with shared characters
States: a political entity with sovereignty: A COUNTRY
Nation-state: country under one main characteristic: Japan, Egypt
Ethnicity:
People who feel some sense of shared heritage no ¨blood” or genetic connection
Nationalism: a sense of pride towards one national group which can sometimes be towards the entire nation.
-often associated with demands for self-government or more say in government
Ex. France during the French Revolution
GDP/GNP
Gross Domestic Product: Is what Americans get with American money(Interal)
Gross National Product: is all over seas forms of money(external and is always larger)
PPP: Purchasing Power Parity(Even)
How far your money ¨goes¨
This is how we can compare money
Someone can buy milk for $10 and have a salary of 50000, another person might get milk for $2 but have a salary of 40000 so the smaller salary person is doing better off.
HDI:Human Development Index
GDP per capita, Mortality rates, and Education of the population
FDI(Foreign Direct Investment): How much investment outside nations put into a country. Ex. Russia
A Gini Coefficient:
A number between 0.0 and 1.0 that represents INCOME INEQUALITY from a given nation
Zero=Perfect equality or exactly equal income, 1.0 expresses maximal inequality(where only one person has all the income
(100th percentile)
Kuznet´s Curve:
As countries develop(industrialized) income inequality will grow at 1st then over time it will level out with time.
POST INDUSTRIAL ERA? Are we seeing a move away from this? If so, why might that be?
Developing countries:
A country that is not highly industrialized and usually relies heavily on agriculture, raw materials and simple manufacturers for export, while depending on foreign countries for many manufactured goods and other technologies.
Infrastructure:
Roads, bridges, tunnels
The Resource Curse:
Typically in developing countries(Nigeria)
Nigeria's main source of income is oil
Usual a good thing, yet can hold a nation back if that's the main source of money, since they can be attacked or fluctuating income
Presidential:
We vote for the candidates in the US for a presidential election.
We vote for different positions in each ballot and have separate elections from national vs state.
Parliamentary:
The people vote for the party itself and the party leader becomes the premier/prime minister
Also, one ballot is connected to the whole party election
premier/prime minister is both the executive and legislative
(UK) Fusion of Power(people work in multiple roles) vs (US)Separation of Powers
The UK political party has to get the majority to win the government
NAFTA:
Has turned into USA as mexico doesn't really work with them anymore
Rights vs Liberty:
Liberties: keep the government–don´t mess with my freedom of speech for ex. Thou shall not interfere with my freedom
Rights: free from unequal treatment ; allows free participation in a society; entails responsibility on other parties to ensure this.
Ex. If someone is handicapped a school must offer an elevator, and if they don't have that then the same programs must be offered there.
Centralization:
The central government has all the power–best example is the UK
– the opposite is Devolving
Often the executive branch
TINA= There Is No Alternative: Margaret Thatcher
Decentralization:
The central government giving out power to other governments
Ex. country giving power to the state
Ex. devolving power from the central to local
Why decentralize?
-Be more responsive by doing things ¨on the ground level¨ (locally)
-Take blame and responsibility of oneself
-Save money
Transparency: ¨open government¨
-When a governmentś meetings are open to the press
-Used as a means to hold accountability of public officials and fight corruption
Ex. Regime types: Authoritarian, Totalitarian, Hybrid regime
Revolution vs Coup
Overthrow government by citizens rather than an internal attack on the leader in power.
Policy:
Is an action by the government (doesn´t have to be law)
1.Policy Making: -the process of developing proposals, deciding on these, carefully construct/wording them and then putting them into effect— often involves actually legislating
2.Policy Implementation: turning the policy into a reality; carrying out and enforcing policy;setting up needed agencies/bureaus or giving certain tasks to pre-existing ones
3.Policy Adjudication: making judgements when a discrepancy or possible violation occurs - ruling on a controversy
Agenda Setting: People in power choose what ideas are discussed.
Political Culture:
Public attitudes toward politics and their role in the political norms that influence how people think about politics and government.
Political Socialization: How you learn/develop your own political culture
Socializing Agents: are the things that impact your beliefs
Agent of Socialization: The people and institutions that shape citizens political culture
Vested Interest: to have a stake in something so they have a reason to resist possible change unless it benefits them directly.
Rent Seeking Behavior: Self-interested reaping of govt benefits at the citizens expense. Not the creation of ¨New wealth¨ wanting to make your own money, selfish.
Civil Society:
A society allows groups to form and the government doesn't get in their way. Allows for protesting/criticizing a government.
-correlates to a liberal Democracy
Clientelism: is the exchange of goods and services for political support, often involving an implicit or explicit quid-pro-quo (you don't want this in a government)
Patronage: (in control) the person purchasing goods and services( example-us buying food in a restaurant) Patronizing: bossing around people.
The executive has the ability appointments to office
Patron Client Networks:
Mutual arrangement between a person that has authority, social status, wealth, or some other personal resource (Patron) and another who benefits from their support or influence(client)
History of UK government:
Parliamentary
-fused power
One election, voting for party and leader of the party becomes the prime minister
-unitary system of government
-consolidated government
-devolved power
Commonwealth made from former colonies
Rule of Law
No constitution
No judicial review,cant rule if law is unconstitutional
Legitimacy Democracy
Civil War resulted in parliament becoming supremacy over the king and queen
Led to making of English Bill of rights
-LImits on the KIng/Queen, Can’t put in a law without parliament agreement
1700-1900 British Empire
Largest navy in the world
-started industrial Revolution, with textiles and effects overall living
Kuznets Curve: Starts with extreme in equality in industrialization, but later levels out
-Birth place of labour rights
2 party system/dominant
Election at least once every 5 years
-Labour vs Conservative Party
Have regional parties
Third Parties: Nationalist Parties for ex Scottish Nationalist Party
Northern Ireland: Power sharing:
Dual executive
If they can’t work together then they give back its power to the UK making Recentrelization
Tony Blar was known as the King of Devolving Voted Regional Referendum
- 2010 David Cameron has less than ½ of the seats so gave the Lib Dems a few jobs to make a coalition
Snap election: An election that is done before the 5 year limit
Taresa May:
Confidence and Supply Deal
2017 w/ Unionist Party(Northern Ireland)
-They agreed that any vote on
Will support on a vote of confidence
A vote of no confidence will cause a snap Election
Welfare State: has to have a high percentage of money spent towards medicare and health insurance but also include protection of civil liberties. Ex. UK
Margaret Thatcher:
Prime Minister in 1980s
-Do it yourself type of person?
Believed in Centralization
TINA= There is no alternative
Thatcherism
Is a belief that society should be made off of the ideals of self-reliance/responsibility, spending money wisely as well as centralizing the national government. Doesn’t want the citizens to just use welfare to get by.
John Major:
Through the Maastricht Treaty the UK joined the EU
New Labour: Tony Blair made the party go more Right as they try to support the “middle class” – Business Owners
-Trying to include Women and Minorities in government and businesses
Devolution= Tony Balir
Laissez Faire:(thinks things are all to supply) Let it be: conservatives want people to not over regulate just let things go the way they are. Try not to interfere with things, they will fix things themselves.
No one is fully Laissez faire:
Ex. 2008 US crisis: Bush gave out bail outs
Keynesianism:
A reaction to the depression and Laissez Faire beliefs(enlightenment period)
Everything boils down to demand
- Demand when down mean relates to $ which is made through jobs
- In the US there was the New deal-FDR made new jobs and put people back into work.
-Belief is you must stay this way even if you go into debt
Most conservatives will still back Keynesian principles in crisis
The act of supremacy:
King Henry VII was able to make himself the leader of the church of England
Acts of Union
Continuity vs Gradualism Vs Insularity
Evolution vs Revolution
UK is an island away from europe and has been insulated from other countries
When Bush wanted to go into the middle east the UK allowed it to happen while other europes disagreed with them
All party coalition post war era: all party came to work together to help rebuild to government
Nationalization: taking stuff out of private hands (is a form of centralization)
-proves how the conservatives can be slightly keynesian
Post war baby boom
-economic growth and extreme amount of child
-blue collar jobs paid better back then
1960s: IMF:International Monetary Fund they lend out money to anyone yet are more conservative, so have very specific requirements you must agree to.
The UK asked the IMF for a loan.
Must make Austerity policies= usually cutting welfare, social services, unemployment help.
Raise Taxes (not typically conservative)
Shrink government
Increased standard of living
Post war boom ended in the 1970s, causing economic crises and the UK started moving more right.
1970s: Stagflation: increasing prices yet wages are not moving or going down and extreme unemployment rates
1980s: More conservative with Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan
Chancellor of the Exchequer: George Brown
House of Common everyone gets voted into and then the House of Lords where people are given this honor.
Communism(college board):
-Elimination of all private property
-Government runs the economy
-Goal is complete equality: no one is poor or starving, no one is wealthy, everyone is taken care of
Communist manifesto was written during reconstruction era 1870s
Marx saw lack of labour rights and protection of workers
Command Economy:
An economy where supply and price are regulated by the government rather than market forces(Capitalism). Government planners decide which goods and services are produced and how they are produced and how they are distributed. Also called a centrally planned economy.
Everywhere their is the same price
Soviet: a council someone is voted democratically yet overtime this power had led to taking advantage of the people
Socialism(College Board):
Governments redistribute wealth to the less (through taxes) to get rid of drastic income disparity often through social welfare programs
Often in these systems governments control major industries, but not the entire economy.
Marxism(Theory):
He predicts thats overtime once governments fully industrialized in late 1800s there would be distinct classes with the middle class being entrepreneurs( rich like Henry Ford)
Aristocats are those of Old money yet might be poorer than the Middle class
1. The Bourgeoisie: “ the Owners” of the means of production– the industrial era middle class( New money)
The Proletariat: Lower class industrial workers
Marxism fears that the industrial revolution will lead to inequality and result in revolts which will make the Workers control the government
According to Marx the capitalist system is inherently unfair as it rests upon the exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie so that the “owners” can make bigger profits
Capitalism is meant to make fairness for opportunities rather than equality
-capitalist believes that the workers will not put as much effort into their work because of lack of interest.
Arguments against capitalism is business owners are selfish and keep prices low to rip people off
People will revolt against the higher class and will remove them from power
Workers of the world UNITE: Comministic theory
Result of Revolution, Before a completely classless society can emerge there will be an interim whereby the workers will rule through a vanguard party. While Marx and Engels discussed the idea, the term was coined by Lenin.
Vanguard party: knows what's best
There are other working class parties, but the communist party is the one who will lead them all because they know best.
Lines of march: marching soldiers falling into line
According to Lenin , the purpose of the Vanguard party is to establish a dictatorship of the proletariat; supported by the working class
THEN IN THE END IT WILL LEAD THE SOCIALISM
Both chinese(peasants: people who worked land) and russian revolution(forced rapid industrialization) were not fully industrialized which doesn’t follow Marxist theory
LENINISM:
When first in power he allowed for small scale markets
Democratic Centralism:
Used by Leninist Parties
The party will allow debate and collaboration but once a party makes a decision the citizens have no say.
MAOISM;
Take on peasants sees peasants as the driving force
Fine with violence
China is an Authoritarian government with a one party system and an extremely strong economy resulting in them being one of the most influential nations in the world. Also, I know they are led by The Chinese Communist Party which was established by Mao Zedong. Which was created in response to the Chinese people losing confidence in the nationalist economy. After the Chinese Communist revolution led by Zedong, the nationalist party lost their power and fled from the Nationalist Party who today live in present day Taiwan.
Nationalist power controlled urban powers, war lord ruled other areas
Japanese were in imperial era and attempt to take over part of China
Communists were better fighters and gained popularity with the people
Peasants revolution
Not a communist economy
Satellite Parties: supposed to be “Democratic” it means nothing as they have no power
Land is technically private property but really land is leased, can be taken when the governments wants
The new CCP and the constitution was edited so they can allow for entrepreneurs and businesses
The Mass Line:
“From the masses to the masses” Take the ideas from the mass make it in action through revolution
Democratic centralism: the people working in the politburo determine and vote for political decisions(those in the political party)
A cadre are people who are important and have authority in the Soviet Union and Communist China
China:
National, Provinces, Prefectures, counties, towns, villages
POST-MAO ERA: DENG XIAOPING
They have provincial congress and “pick” the people that will be voted(really picked by Xi Jinping)
The Towns and Counties have “democracy” but this is highly regulated
Villages: All people serve as legislature and the people choice the executive
Fiscal Federalism:
Provinces are allowed to experiment with different policies that have to do with money
Special Economic Zones: Larger cities in China have more capitalistic policies, less regulation.
Mao believed that the people should be taught farming and maoist/leninist ideologies, rather than history or science
Those in charge of the party is the General Secretary/President
Only person to be called Chairman of the CCP is Mao Zedong
Deng Xiaopeng was more moderate yet still followed the communistic ideas and was not the General Secretary while President
People’s Democratic Dictatorship: The party most start with dictatorship until the nation is on the right path, then become democratic
Socialist Market Economy
The china’s government like to keep the value of money down to keep export prices down
Lean to 1 side Campaign: When Mao leaned heavily on the Soviet Union
Great Leap Forward: Giant communal Farms were being made, creation of full Communists and wanted the people to follow blindly
-go to new bold sentence
Ancient Chinese History:
China has most the Gradualism of a country history and has the longest lasting empire in history
Most people are Han
Han-Yuan(1200s)-Ming(1300s) overthrew with guns and defeat the mongols, Qing Dynasty(1500s),(basically same borders as today’s china)
this dynasty stays till 1911(mostly isolationist till this time and misses the scientific revolution, industrialization, and the enlightenment period
US bosses China around
Spheres of influence: places in countries where other nation takes part an area
Emperors believed in Confucianism so the voyages of discovery were stopped because they thought they would be taking advantage of other places and people.
They were so embarrassed by it that they burned all the records.
-liked trade yet didn't want to be selfish
Nationalists: Sun Yat-sen and Cheng Kai-Sheck
-wanting of a democratic state
Sun Yat-Sen:
His support system was small because his ideas were more towards the middle class
Worked with Mao to fight the Japanese
Most of the nation is peasantry so the poor follow Mao
The long march:
Mao supported forced to western china than Mao and 3000 supporters he brought back and made them the most supportive communists possible
Communists were better fighters against the Japanese rather than the nationalists
Even though he didn't support the aristocrats he asked for their help to get money and power
(1957)100 Flowers campaign: briefly allowed for some criticism and wanted to hear from people in the party and what people thought about Maoism and the nation. The criticism he hears from people shocks him so he silences the people
Anti-Rightist: people he doesn’t like he called rightist, attempting to remove ideas of intellectualism.
Cadres all over China would have to meet a quota and would treat the people poorly or would lie about how much they made to make Mao impressed
Made Beging think that there was lots of production and increased need for exporting but the nation was not as ready as they thought.
Mao steps back and tries to take a back seat in control of the government
Deng takes over, and he believes in science, technology, and education. Mao getting angry thinks that the education system is getting to powerful so made a cultural revolution where these (red guards) teenagers take over the country and later Mao make the PLA attack these Teenager military
Deng believes in laws and criminal code eventual take back over and introduce an educational system and lets the US and world into to china and joins the WLO
Deng’s goals for China. (Legitimize the party and Economic growth)
(Ending mass justice and mass campaign)
(-Stage 1 70s/80s de-collectivizing and turning to private ownership, opening with foreign investments)
( -Stage 2 80s/90s Privatizing most industries, selling state assets, if a farm selling horses and tractors)
SOEs: State-Owned Enterprises
China is not fully capitalistic still keeping parts of socialism
Policies of Deng wanted to make a great education system, making of legal codes, pro-engineering
-reinstated procuratorates
-no mass justice
-no mass campaigns
- no compulsory
- Allowed lawsuits of the government
No Critizing the party
TVE’s: Township and Villages Enterprises
The people can make their own decisions of what to do, make, and sell it at. The townships owns it yet the government doesn't have control over what and how the products are sold
Privatized most enterprises
Lots of state own businesses to this day
The party now represents the middle class: (owners and entrepreneurs)
Less state control of the economy and the market is determined by the seller rather than the government.
Parlimentary Systems:
Fewer Checks due to fusion of powers
One election
Censure members(rebuke/scold)
Through majority vote
Refuse to pass legislation
Question ministers and PM
Place time deadlines on calling new elections
*Legislature can remove a cabinet member
PM Powers: Cabinet and parliament
Presidential System:
More checks on the separation of powers
This starts with separate popular election
Have cabinets responsible to the elected executives: pres can pressure them to step down
Have a legislative branch
Presidental: Governments have executive institutions such as cabinets
Semi-Presidental:
President and Prime minister
PM is chosen by the PRES, but the legislative branch must approve of them
Cabinet members are held accountable by both the legislative and president
Votes of confidence
Presidential Parliamentary Semi-Presidential?
III. Who (the position title - not the current human or cyborg) is
A. Head of Government
B. Head of state
for...
Nigeria? Presidential and president
UK? Parliamentary: King/ Queen and Prime Minister
Iran? Neither the Supreme leader(Really has the max power and if the the president doesn’t do what he like he can override the President)
China? Neither: The president(Also General Secretary or party leader) and the premier
Mexico? Presidential and president
Russia? Semi-Presidential: President and Prime minister
III. How many houses in the legislature of each of our countries? Can you name the houses?
Nigeria? 2: house of reps and senate
UK? 2: House of Commons(elected) and House of Lords(appointed)
Iran? 1. Majies(Elected)
China? 1. NPC( national people’s congress)
Mexico? 2. Senate and chambers of deputies(both elected
Russia? 2. Dumatar elected and Federation Council not elected only selected
China: President
1. Commander in chief
Chair of Military Commission
Nominates the Premier of NPC(Head of Gov’t)
Head of state
Serves as General Secretary of the party
Gov’t:
Premier+ Cabinet= council
Party:
Politburo
Every level of gov’t has the party structure
IRAN: Supreme Leader
Majles
Elected popularly (C of G’s vets)
Unicameral
Powers:
Oversees budget
Confirms presidential nominees to cabinet
Guardian Council oversees it to be sure it passes laws compatible with Islam (Sharia Law) and the constitution
Expediency(Quick) Council:
Might make decisions that are don´t follow Sharia law but will make decisions that are necessary in the moment
Selected by Supreme Leader
Acts as advisory committee (has broad powers to supervise all 3 branches)
Main job is to resolve disputes between Majles and Council of Guardians
Formed by Khomeini before his death (feared no one would defer so easily to the next Leader as they did to him = necessary to get the job of running a state done sometimes)
Assembly of experts, Majiles, and President are all voted by the the public
Exec Term Limits:
Pros:
Check executive powers
Inhibit dictators and personality rule
Focus on governing vs winning elections
Create opportunities for new leaders with new ideas, policies, and goals
Cons:
Good executives must leave office
Limit time to achieve goals
Impede policy continuity
Weaken accountability
Lame duck period
Prevmnete experience building
Can result in poorly designed policies due to all of this
Iranian Leader.
Sets the political agenda, is commander in chief, and is in charge of the IRGC(Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp), Appoints top ministers; Examples: defense, science, and foreign ministers, Appoints ½ C of G’s(the religious law experts council of guardians), Apoints Head of the judiciary(Chief Justice), Appoints Expediency council, Appoints Head of media- the IRIB(the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting)
What does the Iranian president oversee that the leader does not?
Civil service:all workers in executive
What do both the Iranian Leader and president get to do?
Select the cabinet
Iranian President:
Can serve 2 x 4yr terms (can then serve again after sitting out for a term)
Oversees civil service
Conducts foreign policy
Selects cabinet (not all - Leader).
NOT COMMANDER IN CHIEF!!!!!
MEXICAN PRESIDENT:
Head of state and head of government
Commander in Chief
Leads bureaucracy (executive branch: cabinet and its agencies)
Can approve domestic and foreign policy
1 term with no re-election possible: sexenio
Mexico: Bicameral
Chamber of Deputies: lower house
Powers:
Approves legislation (particularly powerful in all budgetary
and finance matters… these must be approved by the
Chamber 1st)
Levies taxes
Verifies Elections
Senate: upper house
Powers
Confirms presidential appointments to Supreme Court
Approves treaties
Approves federal intervention in state matters (example: can remove governors)
NIGERIAN PRESIDENT:
Head of state and head of government
Chief Executive
Commander in Chief
Leads bureaucracy/civil service
Approves domestic legislation
Conducts foreign policy
NIgeria:
Bicameral
House of Reps: Lower House
Power
1. Approves legislation
Senate (Upper House/Federal House)
Power
Approves legislation
Confirms Presidential appointees
Can impeach cabinet members and president
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT:
Head of State
Commander in Chief
Appoints top ministers
Conducts foreign policy
Can step in and preside over Duma
RUSSIAN Prime Minister:
Head of government
Runs civil service
Does not appoint top ministers!
Bicameral
Duma (lower house): has more power
Passes legislation
Confirms PM
Can vote no confidence in “government”; if this carries 2x a new cabinet must be formed or new Duma elections held; in reality = rubber stamp since 2003
Federation Council (upper house): appointed not elected
*Governors of regions select 1 member; Regional legislatures choose the 2nd member = Allows Putin a lot of sway with selection especially with his 9 Federal Districts overseen by “super-governors” he appoints
Approves all budgetary legislation
Approves treaties w foreign governments
Approves judicial nominees
Approves troop deployments
UK MONARCH:
Head of State
Formally appoints leader of winningest party as PM
Ceremonial powers and influence; no real governing authority
House of Commons: popular elections (SMDP); “lower house”
Approves all legislation
PM is a member
He/she is “appointed” ceremonially by the monarch
House of Lords: appointed (honorarily by PM; no longer inherited)
Powers:
Reviews and amends (slightly) bills
Can effectively delay passage and implementation of Commons’ laws = this is its real power to “check” the lower house
*Members = Peers
Judciary :
-China
Rule by Law… not rule of law
Judicial system is subservient to CPC, which controls most judicial appointments
*3 Parts:
People’s Courts: at every level
Procuracy
People’s Security Agencies
IRAN:
Judiciary’s main function is to be sure the legal system is based on religious law = all judicial appointees must be trained in Sharia law
Head of Judiciary
Appointed by the Supreme Leader
Serves as chief justice of the Supreme Court
Nominates the lay members (non-clerical legal scholars) to the Council of Guardians
Supreme Court
Supervises implementation of law by all courts
To ensure uniformity of judicial procedure
Mexico:
System is currently in transition
Many recent amendments have been instituted to strengthen it and make it more independent and effective. Example:
Supreme Court (used to be 6 year terms… hmmm), now 15
Justices are nominated by president and approved by senate
Supreme Court has powers of judicial review!
REFORMING COURTS:
Calderon: By 2016 all 31 states will have oral trials in front of 3 judges where victims and perpetrators can confront one another before the public = move from inquisitorial to an adversarial system; defendants will be presumed innocent; plea bargains and probation will be available as well – goal is to speed up proceedings, increase public confidence in the system, and limit organized crime’s ability to manipulate the courts*
Zedillo: 8/11 must concur to overturn a law/act; 2/3 senate must approve appointments as well; real teeth for judicial review
Common law:
Common Law: based on judicial decisions (precedents) and long standing or institutionalized customs/traditions - they have statutes/laws, but courts interpret them through ADVERSARIAL proceedings with jurors
Adversarial = prosecution and defense are equals who battle it out
vs
Inquisitorial = judges lead the way and inquire when they want or need to
Generally, authoritarian courts use inquisitorial
NIGERIA:
Supreme Court has powers of judicial review
Efforts have been made to increase its independence and legitimacy by reducing corruption
Federalism: allows states to maintain their state-level court systems including Sharia law (12 Northern states have adopted it)
Justices to Supreme Court:
Appointed by President
Recommended to the president by a judicial council
Senate must confirm
Uses a mixed court system with common law, customary law, and Sharia law
⅓ of the Nigeria states use sharia law
Sharia law: rules of Islam
Customary law:
Russia: President nominates federal judges (includes Constitutional Court, which has powers of judicial review technically)
Federation Council approves them
They have a Supreme Court - it is the highest appeals court in Russia
UNITED KINGDOM:
Uses “common law” to enforce the rule of law
It has a Supreme Court
Highest/final appeals court (superseded House of Lords who had this power).
Rules on devolution disputes
Protects human/civil rights
No powers of judicial review (UK has no written constitution)
Independent Judicaires:
Depends on their authority to overrule executive and legislative actions
Depends on how they are selected (influence of those “in charge”)
Term length
Professional backgrounds
Process for removal (can an executive remove them arbitrarily?)
Can strengthen democracy by…
Maintaining checks and balances
Protecting rights and liberties
Establishing the rule of law
Maintaining separation of powers
Civil Society: Civil societies are defined as groups free of governmental interference to form and compete for your support
Local religious associations
Local neighborhood associations
News media
Business associations
Professional Associations
NGO’s
Non-governmental Organizations:
any non-profit, voluntary citizens' group which is organized on a local, national or international level
driven by people with a common interest
perform a variety of service and humanitarian functions
bring citizen concerns to Governments, advocate and monitor policies and encourage political participation through provision of information.
Some are organized around specific issues, such as human rights, environment or health.
Often they perform roles that government does not have the funding or ability to do.
China: allows for only one peak group on the national level to maintain control.
o become established, social organisations must be approved by the authorised department [zhuguan danwei] and follow the registration procedure set out in these regulations.
Social organizations must have the status of a legal entity [faren tiaojian].
Social organizations must observe the constitution, state laws, regulations and state policy; must not oppose the basic principles of the constitution, harm the unity, security or ethnic harmony of the state, or interests of the state and society, or the lawful interests of other organisations or citizens, or offend social morality.
Social organisations may not undertake profit seeking activities.
Iran:Act more as ways for state to manage them than as vehicles for articulating
Examples.: House of Labor and Iranian Chamber of Commerce
Recent elections though, some professional orgs have endorsed candidates = maybe more of a role for these corporate groups in political competition
Robust Civil Society acts as an agent of democratization: What can they do?
Monitor gov’t
Lobby gov’t
Expose governmental malfeasance (wrongdoing)
Represents interests of members (to government often)
Provides members with organizational experience
Restrictions of NGO´s:
These restrictions highlight violations of civil liberties protected under “foundational” documents (constitutions and written laws)
Rights: free from unequal treatment; allows free participation in a society; entails responsibility on other parties to ensure this. This involves passing laws to keep citizens’ treatment equal. (Handy cap parking spots)
Liberties: guaranteed freedoms/natural rights; entails no responsibility on other parties (directly). These can be considered a list of “Thous Shalt Nots” for governments. Things the government CANNOT do to interfere with citizens. (Freedom of religion)
Our Bill of “Rights” is actually a list of liberties…
It is composed of a plethora of things our government CANNOT do to interfere with us
Liberties = freedom from government interference
“Thou shalt nots” for government
Political Culture:
Collective attitudes, values, and beliefs of citizenry toward politics and government
Includes norms of behavior in the political system
Forms a population’s values and beliefs about…
Role of government
Rights of the individual
Role citizens play in policymaking
Sets expectations about the exercise of power to establish a balance between
Social Order
Individual Liberty
*Remember the “freedom vs. order paradox”?
Our nation´s political culture
influenced by…
Geography
Religious traditions
History
So for us…
Natural resources we have and our beliefs on trading them
Judeo-Christian heritage; Protestant founders and impact on choice and ethics and government interference with religious belief/practice
Enlightenment ideas; European heritage; founding fathers; treatment of natives
Political socialization:
The processes and influencing factors through which political culture is transmitted to citizens
Is a lifelong process of acquiring values, beliefs, attitudes, and orientations toward the political system
Political Ideology:
A set of values and beliefs about the goals of government, policy, or politics = views on WHAT GOVERNMENTS SHOULD DO
As represented by the following specific ideologies…
Individualism:
Belief in individual civil liberties and freedom above governmental restrictions
Ex UK
Neo-Liberalism: Ex: the UK and Mexico
Belief in limited government intervention in the economy and society
Pro-privatization
Pro-free trade
Pro-deregulation (anti-regulation)
Pro-elimination of state subsidies (anti-subsidy)
Best example: Thatcher and Reagan
Communism:
Belief in the abolition of private property
Includes near total governmental control of the economy
Planned Economy
Ex: Soviet Russia
Socialism: Government trying to eliminate income diversity and make sure that the government has more control over the economy don't want private property
Belief in reduction of income disparity through government intervention (redistribution of wealth)
Often includes nationalization of major private industries
Ex: China
Fascism:
extreme nationalism
Favors authoritarian rule
Favors ethnic majority rights
Minority groups and opposition groups are secondary (often completely shut out and oppressed)
Populism:
Supports interests and rights of common people over elites
However, elites often use this to get themselves elected or gain more broad support
Welfare state: The state of doing well, especially in respect to good fortune, happiness, well-being, or prosperity must look out for your own welfare.
-aid in the form of money or necessities for those in need.
- Usually is re-distributed through Taxes: those with more money
System whereby the government undertakes to protect the health and well-being of its citizens, especially those in financial or social need, by means of grants, pensions, and other benefits.
The foundations for the modern welfare state in the US were laid by the New Deal programs of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Of our 6 the main welfare states: UK
Welfare protections:efforts to protect the health and security of people who are vulnerable or in need.
Mexico:the program provides cash transfers to households, but the families must engage in certain health and nutrition activities to receive the money. They must ensure that everyone in the family gets preventive medical care, young children and breastfeeding mothers attend nutrition clinics for growth checks and education, and pregnant women visit clinics for prenatal care and nutrition support. The cash transfer is substantial, averaging about one-third of the family's income, and is specifically given to the mother.
China: Hukou system is an internal migration system that allows people to move and tell the government what type of healthcare they qualify for based on their ID. There has been increased spending to help those in rural areas who are trying to move east towards urban areas like Beijing and Shanghai
-Post-materialism:
Refers to societal valuing of self-expression and quality of life
Leads to citizens pressuring government on issues such as…
Environment
Social equality & Economic equality
Examples: women’s rights, sexual orientation acceptance/LGBTQ rights, minority rights, rights of challenged/disabled persons, animal welfare, etc.
Post-material values become more prominent as societies develop and become more advanced
For example China and the environment
For decades China barely focused on environmental responsibility and protections
They focused on economic performance first and foremost