Term
| Democratic Theory - Origins - Greece |
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Definition
-Rule by the people/demos
-Only citizens can participate. AKA no women, aliens, etc.
-Plato: extremely hostile to democracy
-Romans claim to take on the democracy but it mostly disappears
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Term
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Definition
| Very hostile. Saw it as becoming mobocracy. |
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Term
| Reemergence of Democracy after Greece |
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Definition
| Reemerged in Britain in 17th century with Cromwell. There were sophisticated discussions of who should vote but they never materialized as the monarchy was restored in 1660. |
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Term
| John Locke's contribution |
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Definition
| 2nd treatise on governnment - theory of democracy. Wanted property qualifications. Rights of the state of man. |
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Term
| J.J Rousseau on Democracy |
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Definition
| Begins with society. Less focus on the inidivudual. Purpose of the government is to express EXACTLY what is right for the society regardless of what the people think. Obvious problems = corruption. |
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Term
| Locke had the most influence in which areas? |
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Definition
| Individualistic - minority rights - United States |
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Term
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Definition
| Communal - majority rule - France |
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Term
| Logical Justification of Democracy - 3 points |
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Definition
1) Locke - Questioning the existence of natural rights. 2) Rousseau - General will is hard to prove through reason. Who is the guardian of truth? Which majority SHOULD rule?
3) Pragmatic - Assumption that no one has the complete truth - open politics is the best with compromise. Democracy assumes that no has the monopoly on truth. |
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Term
| 4 Areas of Performance in Rating Democracies |
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Definition
1) Stability - Westernized countries are the models for stability. Newer democracies have trouble. Military often required - Nigeria. Countries such as Soviet Union undermine security.
2) Security - Much less political violence than in any other system of government. Does Democracy create security or is security created by Democracy?
3) Wealth - Democracies tend to be wealthier. It's not the only route to wealth however.
4) Rights - opposition to the ruling group is generally allowed. |
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Term
| Definition of democracy (know exactly) |
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Definition
1) Near universal suffrage. 2) Actually choose government. 3) Genuine competition for office. 4) Opposition groups must have legal protection.
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Term
| Oldest political analysis we know: |
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Definition
| Aristotle's - Politics. Comparing constitutions of Greek city-states. |
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Term
| Why have governing systems become less unique as of late? |
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Definition
1) Relaxation and collapse of Soviet Union. Both US and USSR fought to keep stability in other nations even if their governments were shit.
2) Interdependence economically |
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Term
| System approach to politics - David Easton |
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Definition
| Inputs: Diffuse interests, public opinion, economic groups -> Interest groups and parties -> Government -> Policy |
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Term
| Problems with Easton's systems model |
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Definition
1) Universal definition applied more to the US
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Term
| Problems when comparing governing systems |
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Definition
1) No ability to control and solve for any variables.
2) Terms often do not mean the same thing in different countries. IE: Political parties in different states. |
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Term
| Cultural and Rational Approaches |
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Definition
Cultural: Accounts for differences between countries in terms of basic differences in values and assumptions about politics.
Rational/institutional: Less emphasis on values. Focuses on the situations political decision makers find themselves in and how those situations influence decisions. |
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Term
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Definition
| "A geographical unit whose government has the supreme power to make laws within its boundaries and has the supreme legal right to use force to guarente the observance of these laws." |
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Term
| Example of a state that doesn't coincide with a nation |
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Definition
| Scottish Nationalist Party within Britain. |
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Term
| Example of nation that doesn't coincide with a state |
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Definition
| Palestines spread across the Middleast |
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Term
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Definition
| Organized and active but not controlled by the government. Religious organizations, lobby groups, etc |
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Term
| Two elements of a state's strength |
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Definition
1) Capacity - Can they actually effectively implement policy?
2) Autonomy - Autonomy from society. Ability to avoid influence from special interests. |
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Term
| What sort of developments made the state possible? |
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Definition
-Explosion of growth and commerce and in the technology of manufacturing that needed standard laws.
-Kings and rulers need more and more ways of acquiring money.
-New tools such as the postal service were needed. |
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Term
| 4 Ways a State Maintains Legitimacy |
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Definition
1) Legitimacy by Results - Various types of security. Economic, etc.
2) Legitimacy by Habit - People become to accustomed to a gov after a while.
3) Legitimacy by Historical, Religious, or Ethnic Identity
3) Legitimacy by Historical, Religious, or Ethnic Identity - Aka George Washington
4) Legitimacy by Procedures - Confidence in the procedures of the state. Aka a democracy, elected. |
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Term
| Political culture definition |
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Definition
| The set of all basic values and assumptions about politics shared by a population. |
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Term
| 4 Agents of Political Socialization |
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Definition
| Family, friends, media, schools. |
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Term
| Two most important challenges to the existence of states |
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Definition
1) Ethnic conflicts
2) Regional conflicts
Have actually flourished as states become more modern. |
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Term
| 3 Reasons for Regional Conflict in modern states |
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Definition
1) The nature of modern economies - Part of state might have more in common with outside world than rest of state.
2)Trend towards cultural homogenization
Regions are being destroyed and they want to fight back.
3) End of the Cold War - Dissent discouraged. Flourishes now. :D |
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Term
| Reasons for ethnic conflict in the modern state? |
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Definition
Ranked system (disappears. Aka Apartheid). However, unranked system on the rise.
Dispersed populations.
New states not ethnically homogenous. |
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Term
| Reasons for renewed religious conflict: |
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Definition
1) Modern technology - spread of ideas.
2) Sexualization of women.
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Term
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Definition
| Social class = the basis of politics. He is wrong though it is very important. |
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Term
| How to measure class voting? |
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Definition
| Alford Index of Class Voting |
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Term
| Where does class voting seem to be most prevalent? |
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Definition
| In homogenous societies with few other social issues. |
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Term
| What did Lijphart do? How has this changed? |
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Definition
Tried to measure social variable on voting. Also added in the concept of religious voting.
The higher the religious voting percentage, lower the class voting.
Aka religion will beat class.
However, class voting has changed dramatically since these old surveys. |
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Term
| What does Russel Dalton say? |
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Definition
The division of white and blue collar workers is no longer applicable.
The new middle class is the service sector. |
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Term
| Explanations for the decline in class voting |
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Definition
1) Nationalism
2) Immigration as a major issue that splits the classes
3) Ecology movement.
4) Difficulty in unionizing people. |
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Term
| 4 Reasons why patterns of conflict vary from one country to another: |
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Definition
1) Historical Timing of the Advent of Mass Political Participation. LIKE Germany, which had democracy during Industrial Revolution and BRITAIN which is marked by stability.
2) Variations in Political Culture - Individualism v Communal. Older v Younger generations.
3) Compatibility of Interests and Formation of Alliances - Analyzed in terms of which group's interests are compatible.
4) Varying difficulties in organizing interests - Some interests are easier to organize than others. Like the elderly. |
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Term
| 4 Uses for Political Parties |
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Definition
1) Adaptability: useful conduit for control and communication.
2) Mobilization of citizens
3) Recruitment and Socialization of Leaders
4) A Channel of Control within the Government |
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Term
| One-party systems definition and examples |
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Definition
Systems in which only one party is legally entitled to operate.
IE: Libya, China. |
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Term
| Two-parties Systems and Examples |
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Definition
Open, democratic systems in which any variety of parties may compete, but in which there are only two parties in serious contention for power.
I.E: US |
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Term
| Multi-party systems and Examples |
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Definition
| Any open, democratic systems with more than two political parties. AKA Norway, France. |
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Term
| Dominant Party Systems Definition and Example |
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Definition
Variant falling somewhere between one-party systems and the rest. Unlike a one-party system is open to all but for various reasons, no other party has a chance to attain power.
IE Mexico |
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Term
| Single-member district plurality |
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Definition
| State is divided into districts. Each district allowed one seat in governing body. Candidate with plurality of votes wins. |
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Term
| Proportional Representation |
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Definition
| An electoral comission using some sort of formula allots to each other parties a number of seats in the parli roughly proportional to its share of votes in the electoral commission. |
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Term
| What provides one of the BEST rationals for a strong state? |
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Definition
| The issue of collective goods and providing for them. |
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Term
| Four types of important groups in politics |
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Definition
1) Parties
2) Interest Groups
3) Social Movements
4) Clientelism |
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Term
| Basic Principles of a Parliamentary System |
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Definition
1) A parliament is elected by citizens. Parliament is the ONLY elected gov. Bills passed by Parli are law and cannot be overruled.
2) The executive branch is lodged with a cabinet selected by Parliament.
3) Cabinet only remains in exec power as long as it has party confidence.
4) Leader of the Cabinet usually have the right to disband the parliament. |
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Term
| Advantages of the Parliamentary System |
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Definition
1. Government can respond quickly to changed circumstances.
2) Responsibility for policy is relatively clear. Once elected, there isn't anything stopping politicians from doing what they said they would.
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Term
| Disadvantages of the Parliamentary System |
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Definition
1) Few protections for a minority that feels wronged
2) May produce an unstable government
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Term
| Consensus Parliamentarism Definition |
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Definition
"Pure case" parliamentarism. Found in Germany, Austria, Netherlands. Neocorporatist interest representation. Emphasize CONSENSUS in policymaking rather than having them laid down in an adversarial process.
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Term
| Differences between Parliamentary and Presidential Government |
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Definition
1) Policy Leadership - Presidential (leadership is more individually identified. Concentrates power on one individual rather than many.)
2) Responsibility - Presidential (Harder to assign responsibility for one person or party. Thus, overspending and not knowing who caused what problems).
3) Recruitment - Parliamentary (Leaders emerged from careers in politics and parliament). President - (usually do not start in politics)
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Term
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Definition
| Monarchy holds most of the real governmental powers. Saudi Arabia. |
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Term
| What is a military government? |
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Definition
| Military rules. Looks like they would be super stable but they aren't because they lack legitmacy. Myanmar. Also, leaders don't usually know much about politics. |
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Term
| What is a one-party state? |
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Definition
| This is the most common on nondemocratic states. Government is based on and supports a part but this is the only part in the state. Libya. |
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Term
| How do government control and coordinate the activities of higher civil service? |
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Definition
1) Professionalism - Usually develop self-control and self-regulation as a group. Like the Bar and shit.
2) Sunshine Laws - Make sure all info is publicly available.
3) Ombudsman - Seek out citizens' claims of abuse by public admin.
4) Political Controls
ENFORCE coordination, like Saddam. Use political appointees. |
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Term
| Two main areas where bureaucratic independence should be achieved: |
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Definition
1) The Judiciary
2) The Central Banks |
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Term
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Definition
| System in which high civil servants, leaders of interest groups, and the politically responsible leaders merge into a common arrangement of decision making. |
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Term
| Different types of neocorporatism |
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Definition
| 1) Societal neocorporatism - Interest groups are brought into various parts of the governing process. Bureaucracy is important. |
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Term
| How do parties come about? |
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Definition
1) Rigid splits of interests represented by large segments of society.
2) Strong leadership leading to the creation of a part (de Gaul)
3) Institutions affect and encourage a bipolar or MORE coalition. Presidents, etc. |
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Term
| What are the two types of single-member districts? |
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Definition
SMD - Plurality rule - Nothing for the people that come in second and third.
SMD - Runoff - If no candidate wins majority, there's another election. (FRANCE) |
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Term
| What are Duverger's arguments regarding political parties? |
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Definition
Argues that SMD - plurality - tends to create a two party system.
SMD - Runoff - Multiple parties, flexible with tendency towards bipolarism.
Can't predict the outcome on a SMD-Runoff unless you know how the coalitions will form.
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Term
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Definition
| Several parties coordinate. Scandonavia. |
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Term
| Characteristics of UK Prime Minister: Strengths and Weaknesses |
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Definition
Strengths: Must apprentice for 20 years. More tested than US President. Appoints the cabinet and can also dismiss them. Controls cabinet agenda and meeting order. Foreign relations.
Limitations: Prime minister must persuade cabinet. Especially in a minority party. PM is VERY weak without a majority. |
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Term
| How is it possible to lose a PM? |
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Definition
1) Lose election
2) Vote of no confidence
3) Party changes leaders |
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Term
| What were the terms to which the Liberal Democrat and Conservative party created a coalition? |
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Definition
1) Attempted to pass an alternative vote. It was not passed.
2) Decentralization of central government
-More choices in schools, competition in unis
3) Economy
Bring budget deficit down
Increase in tax, cut government spending
Coalition has held but under stress. |
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Term
| What were the three parts of the solution de Gaulle created to combat a weak Presidency? |
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Definition
1) Stronger President - Direct election of the President. Run-off is no one wins. Prime Minister that President has the power to elect but NOT to fire. Has the power to dissolve national assembly. Can declare state of emergency and rule.
2) Limit parliamentary power
Blocked vote - Government can ask for a FORCED vote on the original
Government can ask Parliament to approve skeleton law.
Article 49.3: Allows the government to say they'll pass the law unless parli votes 'no confidence'
3) New Constitutional council with power of judicial review. Any group of 60 senators can force the constitutionality of legislature. |
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Term
| What happens to the PM during cohabitation? |
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Definition
| Generally, the PM acquires more power. |
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Term
| What are the new limits on the President in france since 2007 |
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Definition
Revise Emergency Clause – Judicial council overseer of President in time of crisis.
8 Councils now.
Referendum – Petition for Parliament. Cool.
Serious limits of 49.3. Used only on finance measures and on one other nonfinance measure. Government can’t do that shit.
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Term
| What are the three factors that contributed to the decision to integrate Europe? |
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Definition
1) The failing of extreme nationalism
2) The disappearence of empires
3) And the conditions of the Marshall plan that called for cooperation |
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Term
| What are the three factors that contributed to the decision to integrate Europe? |
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Definition
1) The failing of extreme nationalism
2) The disappearence of empires
3) And the conditions of the Marshall plan that called for cooperation |
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Term
| What was the strategy of integration that didn't work? |
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Definition
| The European Defense Committee: Wanted to create a common European army mostly headed by Germany. National sentiments were too strong for this to work. |
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Term
| How did the EU get its start? |
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Definition
| The creation of the Cold Steel Community which was founded by technocrats and economists to integrate industry. Founded by the original six in the Treaty of Rome. Eventually became the EU. |
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Term
| What is the spillover theory? |
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Definition
| The idea that fair trade and cooperation will need to greater integration overall. |
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Term
| What is the European Council? |
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Definition
| It has a permenant President and sets broad EU policies. Power to tell commission what to do. Does NOT lay out legislation in detail. Usually composed of PMs. |
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Term
| What is the European Commission? |
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Definition
| The institute of the EU that drafts legislation. It directs national bureaucracy to carry things out. |
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Term
| What is the Council of Minsters? |
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Definition
| Representatives of the governments of states. They advise on legislation but do not draft it. Votes. |
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Term
| What is the European Parliament? |
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Definition
| The place where amendments to bills occurs. These are the only members to directly be chosen by European voters. Localized along PARTY, not national lines. |
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Term
| What is the Court of Justice? |
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Definition
| The EU system of enforcing regulations and representing interests of the EU. |
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Term
| What was the single Europe Act of 1987? |
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Definition
| EU act that reduced many tariff barriers to trade. |
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Term
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Definition
| A treat that created the single currency in Eurozone. |
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Term
| What did the Treaty of Lisbon entail? |
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Definition
| It legislated a more permanent President. Councl of Ministers is also going to give states more voting right based on population. |
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Term
| What are two of the most serious problems of the EU |
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Definition
1) How do you discipline those who are violating deficit standards? AKA Greece.
2) Weakness of public support for EU. |
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