Intro to comparative politics midterm Flashcards

Comparative Politics studies and compares political systems, institutions, and behaviors across different countries to understand how governments operate and why they differ

International Relations focuses on interactions between countries (war, diplomacy, trade), while Comparative Politics studies politics within countries.

• Correlation: Two variables move together.
• Causality: One variable directly causes a change in another.

• Independent variable: Factor that causes change.
• Dependent variable: Outcome affected by the independent variable.

Modernization Theory argues that as countries industrialize and become wealthier, they are more likely to develop democratic institutions.

State Sovereignty is the authority of a state to govern itself without outside interference.

• Centralization: Power concentrated in national government.
• Decentralization: Power distributed to regional or local governments.

• Federal state: Power shared between national and regional governments (e.g., United States).
• Unitary state: Power mainly held by central government (e.g., France).

• Integration: Strengthening national unity and central authority.
• Devolution: Transferring power from central government to regional governments.

• State autonomy: Ability of the state to act independently of social groups.
• State capacity: Ability of the state to implement policies effectively.

The United States and United Kingdom primarily rely on rational-legal legitimacy (authority based on laws and institutions).

• Patriotism: Pride and love for one's country.
• Nationalism: Strong identification with one's nation, sometimes prioritizing it over others.

A: Immigration can introduce new languages, cultures, and religions that challenge traditional ideas of national identity.

• Ideology: A coherent set of beliefs about politics and government.
• Political attitude: Individual opinions about political issues.

Example ideology: Liberalism – supports individual rights and limited government.

Example political attitude: Support for higher minimum wage.

• Liberalism emphasizes free markets and individual freedom.
• Social Democracy supports capitalism but with strong welfare programs and government regulation.

Populism refers to movements claiming to represent “the people” against political elites and institutions, often criticizing globalization and immigration.

• Athenian Democracy introduced citizen participation.
• Roman Republic contributed republican governance and representation.
• Magna Carta limited monarch power and promoted rule of law.

• residential: Separate executive and legislature (e.g., United States).
• Parliamentary: Executive comes from legislature (e.g., United Kingdom).

According to Duverger's Law, winner-take-all elections discourage small parties because voters avoided “wasting” votes.

• Civil liberties: Freedom from government interference (speech, religion).
• Civil rights: Protections against discrimination.

Free elections, rule of law, protection of rights, strong institutions, and high economic development.

Similarities:

• Democratic systems
• Rule of law
• Protection of civil rights

Differences:

• United States has a presidential system and written constitution.
• United Kingdom has a parliamentary system and unwritten constitution.

Federal Reserve-type institutions control interest rates, regulate banks, and manage inflation.

• For: economic growth, lower prices, efficiency.
• Against: job losses, inequality, dependency.

Free markets and limited government.

Capitalism with welfare protections.

State ownership of production

Government promotes exports and economic nationalism

Product measures total economic output

measures income inequality

measures quality of life

strong government planning

strategic industry support

• Presidential: one elected president leads the government, but the law-making branch is separate from them.
• Parliamentary: Executive comes from legislature (e.g., United Kingdom).

balance of markets

strong industrial base

high social spending costs

European imperialism imposed ethnic divisions and extractive economies that still affect political stability and development

Strong monarchy and religious influence before revolution

Colonial Spanish rule followed by revolutionary restructuring of the state

institutional explanations argue weak or unfair institutions increase political violence

mass uprising to overthrow government

violence by small groups to create fear and influence politics

communist ideology

peasant and worker support

revolutionary overthrow of old regimes

Russian revolution led by industrial workers and Bolsheviks

Chinese community revolution relied heavily on rural peasants guerrilla warfare