Chapter 2 - States

Question 1

State Definition:

Answer 1

-an organization that maintains a monopoly of force/control over a territory

-set of political institutions that generates & carries out policy

-driver of economic development & rise of democracy
-sovereign

Question 2

State Components:

Answer 2

-internal & external protection (police, army)

-taxation

-judiciary

-social welfare (housing, healthcare, other benefits available to citizens)

Question 3

Sovereignty Definition:

Answer 3

-the ability to carry out policies within a territory independently of external actors or internal rivals

Question 4

Regime Definition:

Answer 4

-norms and rules that regulate how a government operates (regarding individual freedom, collective equality, use of power, where it resides)

-institutionalized but can change because of dramatic social events( ie. a revolution)

-divided into two basic categories

-no two regimes (demo or non-demo)are the same

Question 5

Democratic Regime:

Answer 5

-public has a significant role in governance
-certain individual rights and liberties

Question 6

Non-Democratic Regime:

Answer 6

-limits public participation
-favors those in power
(think dictatorship)

Question 7

Government Definition:

Answer 7

-the leadership in charge of running the state

-limited by the existing regime (lawmakers must abide to the law)

-weakly institutionalized

Question 8

Government Components:

Answer 8

-elected officials (presidents, prime ministers)
-unelected official (monarch)

Question 9

Computer Analogy:

Answer 9

State = computer
Regime = software (can become outdated & unstable)
Government = operates the machinery (think user)

Question 10

Country Definition:

Answer 10

-shorthand for the political system that combines the state, regime, government, and residents of the system

Question 11

Institutionalization Hierarchy/graph

Answer 11

Least —–> Greatest

Government, Regime, State

Question 12

Modern State Origins:

Answer 12

-first took shape in Europe
-property rights
-technological innovation
-domestic stability

Question 13

Modern State Advantages:

Answer 13

-encourages technological innovations
-domestic stability (^ trade and commerce)

Question 14

Individual Rights:

Question 15

Individual Liberties:

Question 16

Paths of Political Organization:

Answer 16

-Democratic Rule
-Authoritarian Rule

Question 17

Consensus Definition:

Answer 17

-individuals band together to protect themselves

-create common rules

-leadership chosen among the people

-security through cooperation

Question 18

Coercion Definition:

Answer 18

-individuals brought together by a ruler

-ruler imposes authority and monopolizes power

-security through domination

Question 19

Legitimacy Definition:

Answer 19

-a value whereby an institution is accepted by the public as right and proper

• gives it it’s authority and power

Question 20

Legitimacy Forms:

Answer 20

-Traditional

-Charismatic

-Rational-legal

Question 21

Traditional Legitimacy Definition:

Answer 21

-legitimacy that accepts its validity because it has been established/institutionalized over a long period of time

-strongly institutionalized

-traditional ≠ outdated

-ex. monarchy

Question 22

Charismatic Legitimacy Definition:

Answer 22

• legitimacy built of force of ideas established by an individual leader

-weakly institutionalized

-move and persuade the public

-ex. Putin in Russia, Hitler

Question 23

Rational- Legal Legitimacy Definition:

Answer 23

-based on a system of highly institutionalized laws and procedures

-political leaders gain legitimacy through the rules by which they attain office

-once they leave office, much of their authority is lost

-strongly institutionalized

-what modern states are built off of

-ex. US, Britain, other EU countries…

Question 24

Federalism Definition:

Answer 24

-system in which significant state powers (taxation, lawmaking, security) are devolved to regional/local bodies

-federalism helps represent local interests & check the growth of central power

-ex. states in the US, provinces in Canada

Question 25

Asymmetric Federalism Definition:

Answer 25

-system in which power is divided unevenly among regional bodies
-ex. Russia, India

Question 26

Unitary State Definition:

Answer 26

-most political power exists at the national level

-limited local authority

-ex. China, Japan, France

Question 27

Devolution Definition:

Answer 27

-process of decentralization of power

-political power is sent down to lower levels of state and gov.

ex. Iraq in 2005 becoming a federal country for the first time; Nepal 2008, abolishing its monarchy and new fed constitution

Question 28

Strong & Weak States:

Answer 28

-states ability to fulfill basic tasks

-defend territory

• make and enforce rules

-collect taxes

• manage and enforce rules

Question 29

Failed State Definition:

Answer 29

• a state so weak it’s political structures collapse

-leads to anarchy and violence

ex. Afghanistan,

Question 30

Capacity Definition:

Answer 30

• the ability of the state to wield power in order to carry out basic tasks

Question 31

Autonomy Definition:

Answer 31

• the ability of the state to wield power independently of the public of international actors