Political Science 6 Multiple Choice Questions pt.2

Question 1

Causes of state development

Answer 1

War
Groups of people that are frequently at war, or under threat of war, develop string states as a defensive mechanism or else they are defeated and absorbed by groups

Colonialism
Most modern states were once european colonies
The kind/strength if the state you have depends on what kind of administrative structure you inherited

Economic development
Economic development contributes to the state’s capacity to fulfill its functions.
A financially stable government can better provide essential services, enforce laws, and maintain public order

Question 2

World Bank Governance measures

Answer 2

Political stability and the absence of violence

Government effectiveness

Regulatory quality

Rule of law

Control of corruption

Voice and accountability

Question 3

Liberal democracy definition

Answer 3

Protection of individual liberties, especially the rights and liberties of minorities/weak and responsiveness to citizen preferences

Question 4

Electoral authoritarianism definition, examples

Answer 4

allow little real competition for power but leaves enough political space for political parties and organizations of civil society to form, for an independent press to function to some extent, and for some political debate to take place

Examples:
Mexico under the PRI
Russia and Putin

Question 5

Regime definition

Answer 5

A set of rules that govern political activity, especially the relationship between states and citizens (members of the political community) and determine how power is exercised

Question 6

Corporatism definition

Answer 6

where the state forces everyone to join one of a limited number of corporations

Question 7

Pluralism definition

Answer 7

Multiple, competing, non-hierarchical interest group arrangements

Question 8

Consociationalism definition

Answer 8

Explicit power sharing between specific ethnic groups which provides each with some amount of power in the central government

Question 9

Primordialism

Answer 9

Sees identity groups as “natural” to human psychology

Question 10

Instrumentalism

Answer 10

Elites manipulate symbols and feelings of identity to mobilize a following in order to achieve rational goals

Question 11

Security Dilemma

Answer 11

belief that another group poses an imminent threat and institutional constraints not sufficient to protect us: we have to act

Question 12

Constructivism

Answer 12

method for producing and defending principles of justice and legitimacy

Question 13

Presidentialism definition, examples

Answer 13

by the separation of the executive branch from other aspects of government

Examples:
The United States
Brazil

Question 14

Parliamentarism definition, examples

Answer 14

power is concentrated in one place, creating very few institutional veto players

Examples:
Great Britain
Japan

Question 15

Semi-presidentialism definition, examples

Answer 15

splits executive power between an elected president and a prime minister

Examples:
Russia
France

Question 16

Westminster model of parliamentarism

Answer 16

type of parliamentary government that incorporates a series of procedures for operating a legislature, first developed in England

Question 17

Absolute majority versus plurality

Answer 17

Absolute majority is where only 2 candidates are in the running, meaning the winner must have over 50% of votes

Plurality system can have more than two candidates running, so although the winner must have the majority % of votes, it can be less than 50%

Question 18

Downs

Answer 18

Voters will choose the party closest to them ideologically, so parties will change their ideological positions in order to capture more votes
The median voter

Question 19

Duverger’s Law

Answer 19

Institutionalist argument that SMD electoral systems will produce two major parties, eliminating smaller parties

Question 20

PR—open list

Answer 20

allow voters to cast votes for individual candidates on one party’s list

Question 21

PR—closed list

Answer 21

candidates are elected according to their pre-stated position on this list – if a party wins six seats, the first six candidates on that list take the seat

Question 22

SMD

Answer 22

Each geographic district elects a single representative to the legislature

Question 23

Mixed electoral systems

Answer 23

Combines single member district representation with a parallel system of proportional representation districts

Question 24

POS

Answer 24

Political opportunity structure

A regime open to influence from social movements and other extra-institutional groups—to mobilize successfully

Question 25

Bolivia’s Water War

Answer 25

Triggered by the sale of the municipal water concession to a private company, which raised rates

Question 26

Political versus Social Revolution

Answer 26

A political revolution is the fundamental transformation of an existing regime, instigated and primarily carried out by a social movement or armed group A social revolution is a fundamental transformation of a regime and social structure, instigated and primarily carried out by a social movement or armed group of citizens

Question 27

Types of authoritarian rule, examples

Answer 27

Military South Korea Dominant party Russia Personalist China

Question 28

Modernization theory

Answer 28

Argues that democracy is most likely to be present where countries have a reasonably wealthy economy and a large middle class

Question 29

Impact of oil on democracy

Answer 29

Can lead to economic development, with oil significantly contributing to the economy However, can also lead to corruption as those in power may use the wealth and power for personal gain Example: Nigeria

Question 30

Impact of religion on democracy

Answer 30

Countries with compatible (non-authoritarian) religious traditions are more likely to sustain democracy. HOWEVER: in particular, Muslim majority countries are especially hostile to stable democracy.

Question 31

Backsliding versus authoritarianization

Answer 31

Democratic backsliding: changing from democracy to authoritarian Can occur when the ruler slowly takes away power from the checks and balances Weakening democratic institutions process by which a political system, government, or society becomes more authoritarian in nature. It involves the strengthening or consolidation of power in the hands of a centralized authority or leader, often at the expense of democratic principles, individual freedoms, and political pluralism

Question 32

Characteristics of negotiated transitions

Answer 32

Mechanism to transition to democracy The first dynamic social mobilization, the consequence of increased education, vocational mobility, exposure to the media, and resulting public awareness The second dynamic sustained and significant shift of resources from states to civil societies

Question 33

Liberal welfare state —definition, examples

Answer 33

a governing regime that ensures that citizens are taken care of socially and economically Examples: The U.S. The U.K.

Question 34

Christian Democratic welfare state

Answer 34

aims at supporting families and often relies on intermediary institutions to deliver social services and social insurance, often with the support of the state Example: Germany

Question 35

Social Democratic Welfare State

Answer 35

described as being universalist, supportive of collective bargaining, and more supportive of public provision of welfare Example: Sweden

Question 36

LME versus CME

Answer 36

Liberal Market Economy: rely more heavily on market relationships, meaning that firms interact with other firms and secure sources of finance through purely market-based transactions Know less about the inner workings of other firms Coordinated Market Economy: involve more conscious coordination among firms, financiers, unions, and government Know about the inner workings of other firms

Question 37

Fiscal policy—Keynes

Answer 37

governments could stabilize the business cycle and regulate economic output through government revenue collection and expenditure rather than let markets right themselves alone

Question 38

Monetarism—Friedman

Answer 38

states should influence the economy by managing the amount of money in circulation, often through interest rates

Question 39

Tax rates in different welfare states

Answer 39

Highest rate: Social Free public health care funded by taxes Around 57% tax rate Second highest: Christian Around 45% tax rate lowest : Liberal Around 10-39%

Question 40

Poverty/inequality in different welfare states

Answer 40

Liberal welfare states more concerned with preserving individual autonomy and promoting economic efficiency than with reducing poverty or inequality Social Democratic Welfare States have the lowest unemployment rate as well as the highest % of women in labor forces Christian Democratic Welfare States have the highest unemployment rate and lowest % of women in labor forces

Question 41

Single-payer system (health care)

Answer 41

a streamlined financing mechanism where one entity administers the health care funding and payments

Question 42

National Insurance System (health care)

Answer 42

an umbrella term for universal health care, the public pension program, and unemployment benefits

Question 43

Means-tested welfare

Answer 43

a determination of whether an individual or family is eligible for government assistance or welfare, based upon whether the individual or family possesses the means to do without that help

Question 44

Rose Revolution

Answer 44

helping to move Georgia from what had become an electoral authoritarian regime to a flawed but nonetheless democratic one, including making significant constitutional changes

Question 45

Tianenmen Square protests

Answer 45

1989 protests and massacre that ended with a military crackdown due to international media coverage, internet and global connectivity, its political implications, and other factors

Question 46

Threat literature (contentious action)

Answer 46

an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage

Question 47

Relative Deprivation

Answer 47

A group of individuals that believe that they are not getting their share of something relative to what they should have

Question 48

Fascism versus Communism

Answer 48

Fascism: a mass political movement that emphasizes extreme nationalism, militarism, and the supremacy of both the nation and the single, powerful leader over the individual citizen Communism: a political and economic ideology that supports the dissolution of social classes and the shared ownership of the means of production

Question 49

Populism

Answer 49

a political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups

Question 50

Impact of inequality on democracy

Answer 50

Economic inequalities drives down support for democracy at the individual level

Question 51

WUNC

Answer 51

worthiness Unity Numbers commitment