developed democracies Flashcards
(19 cards)
what is a developed democracy
a country with institutionalized democracy and a high level of economic development (formerly referred to as first world)
what are developed democracies around the world?
predominantly europe and the americas, but increasingly diverse.
key characteristics of developed democracies
strong economic and political liberties. liberal democracy, private property, free markets. service-based industry. high or upper middle income ratings, high levels of human development, postindustrial societies, economic diversity, balancing freedom and equality
how do developed democracies reconcile freedom and equality differently?
liberal systems emphasize freedom. social-democratic systems emphasize equality. mercantilist systems focus on development rather than freedom or equality.
what are differences in liberty
different civil rights and liberties, differences in constitutional court strength and activism
differences in competition
electoral systems, campaign funding rules, executive power and type (separation of powers or not)
what are differences in participation
voter laws: eligibility, registration rules, and compulsory voting vs voluntary voting. referenda and initative use
what are the political differences of freedom and equality in developed democracies
differences in liberty, participation, and competition
what are the economic differences in freedom and equality for developed democracies
all promote economic freedom through capitalism - wealth redistribution, provision of public goods, job protection and/or unemployment insurance
modern vs post modern politics
modern: characterized as secular, rational, materialistic, technological and bureaucratic and places a greater emphasis on individual freedom.
postmodern: characterized by a set of values that center on “quality of life” considerations and give less attention to material gain
what are two modern trends challenging the state system?
international integration and devolution
what is international integration
process by which states pool their sovereignty, surrendering some individual powers in exchange for political, economic or societal benefits
increases power and authority of international and regional organization
what is devolution
process of devolving political power to lower levels of government
increases the power and authority of subnational governments
what are the origins of the european union
post WWII - goal to prevent another European war. 1950 schuman declaration.
1951 - european coal and steel community created with 6 countries. functional cooperation on coal and steel.
1950s-1960s increasing integration
1994-2016 expanded from 15 to 28 members.
2002: common currency
2004-2009: EU constitution fails, lisbon emerges
2016 - uk leaves EU in 2020
what are the major EU institutions
european council, european commission, the eu legislature, the european court of justice,
famous examples of devolution
spain 1978 - regional parliaments, budgets, taxes. autonomy for local minorities (catalan, basque). united kingdom since 1977 and canada since 1999 (nunavut, inuit people given self government and control)
arguments for devolution
improves trust in government, represents marginal communities, improves citizen engagement and ability to shape politics.
arguments against devolution
undermines state capacity and autonomy. may destabilize ethnic relations and empower separatists
