CH1: Understanding Politics

Question 1

power

Answer 1

ability to achieve an objective by influencing the behaviours of others , particularly when they would not have otherwise done

Question 2

coercion

Answer 2

using fear or threats of harmful consequence to achieve an outcome

Question 3

persuasion

Answer 3

using truthful information to encourage people to act according to their own values or using misleading information to manipulate

Question 4

leadership

Answer 4

setting a good example for others to follow

Question 5

political agenda

Answer 5

issues considered important and given priority in political deliberation

Question 6

first face of pwoer

Answer 6

ability to affect decisions

Question 7

second face of power

Answer 7

ability to ensure issues are not raised

Question 8

third face of power

Answer 8

ability to affect the dominant ideas of society

Question 9

free-rider problem

Answer 9

problem of voluntary collective action meaning that individuals can profit without contributing

Question 10

authority

Answer 10

right to exercise power

Question 11

legitimacy

Answer 11

acceptance by members of political community that those in positions of authority have the right to govern

Question 12

charismatic authority

Answer 12

based on perception of extraordinary or supernatural ability

Question 13

traditional authority

Answer 13

based on customs that establish the right to rule

Question 14

legal-rational authority

Answer 14

based on accepted legal rules and procedures

Question 15

legitimacy crisis

Answer 15

when citizen question the legitimacy of their democratic institutions

Question 16

what are factors of decreasing legitimacy?

Answer 16

• widespread poverty and discontentment
• perceived long term mistreatment from government
• government actions perceived as not consistent with the principles and values of the political community

Question 17

what is the significance of legitimate authority?

Answer 17

non-legitimized government must spend much of resources and energy to persuade or coerce population in believing it’s legitimate – legitimate governments rely more on authority

Question 18

common good

Answer 18

what is good for entire political community – idealistic to think that people will act on common good over individual good

Question 19

individualist perspective

Answer 19

individuals act primarily in accordance to their own interests - freedom to pursue own interests will lead to overall best result for entire community

Question 20

non-individualist perspective

Answer 20

humans are social and rely on community and harmony

Question 21

pluralist system

Answer 21

political system where large number of groups represent a wide variety of interests and influence government – government tries to satisfy as many as possible