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Global Politics > Power and Governments > Flashcards

Power and Governments Flashcards

1
Q

What is the Stanford Experiment on authority?

A

This was an experiment to investigate the effects of perceived power using students.

Student volunteers were randomly assigned to be either guards or prisoners in a mock prison

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2
Q

What did the Stanford prison experiment show?

A

The students quickly embrace their assigned roles

Some guards used authoritarian measures and tortured the prisoners

Many prisoners passively accepted the abuse

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3
Q

What are the three types of power in international relations?

A
  1. Hard Power - realists
  2. Soft Power – liberals
  3. Smart Power – constructivists
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4
Q

What is Hard Power?

A

Realists think states are rational and will act in their national interest
It is a world of winners and losers

Aggressive states will hold others in check
e.g. Balance of power like the Cold War between USSR - USA

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5
Q

What is Soft Power?

A

Developed after World War II with multiple multilateral actions and alliances

e.g. Aggressive states are held in check by the overwhelming action of many other states (economic sanctions, trade for resources rather than fight for them)

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6
Q

What is Smart Power?

A

This developed in the 1990s, mixture of soft and hard power
It argues for a graduated approach
-use of Hard power in extreme need
-use of Soft power to change behaviours of antagonistic states
e.g. Nuclear deal with Iran, sanctions on Iraq

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7
Q

What are the two styles of government?

A
  1. Democratic
  2. Authoritarian

The extent that one is democratic or authoritarian is influenced by culture and conflict

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8
Q

How does a democratic government work and where do you find one?

A

Decisions are made by a group with an elected leader

India and the United States are the largest democracies

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9
Q

How does an authoritarian government work and where do you find them?

A

The government has absolute power over its citizens

They rule without limitations (dictator)
Often created in times of emergency

North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Vatican City

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10
Q

What is a National Government?

A

A national government controls a nation.

It is a single level of government with varying degrees of decentralization (they may give some powers to states or provinces)

Canada, France, Japan, United Kingdom

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11
Q

What is a Federation?

A

Political authority is divided between two autonomous sets of government

  1. national
  2. subnational (state or province)

The subnational surrenders their sovereignty to a central government but retain some limited powers

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12
Q

What is a Supranational Government?

A

A union of multi national countries/organizations where negotiating power is given to the union

European Union is an example

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13
Q

What are the strengths and weaknesses of a Supranational government?

A

Strength – inclusive

Weakness – indecisive

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14
Q

What are types of Supranational governments?

A

Empire
League
Confederation
Federation

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15
Q

What is an Empire?

A

A major political unit having authority over a number of territories or people

British Empire, Roman Empire, Ottoman Empire

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16
Q

What is a League?

A

An association of nations for a common purpose

Arab league of Nations, United Nations

17
Q

What is the United Nations?

A

A voluntary association of most of the worlds nation states.

It is not a world government as it does not make laws and does not have its own police force

18
Q

What is a Confederation?

A

A larger state composed of many self governing regions

Characterized by a weak central government with limited influence over the actions or policy of the member units

E. G. European Union

19
Q

What is Hereditary succession?

A

When the first born son, then his firstborn son become the leader

E. G. Western European monarchs, some Arab nations

20
Q

What are the three types of authority? (As defined by Max Weber)

A
  1. Traditional authority
  2. Rational – legal authority
  3. Charismatic authority
21
Q

What is traditional authority?

A

Authority is based on the desire to maintain tradition.

For example the Queen of England has a position she inherited based on tradition

22
Q

What is rational – legal authority?

A

Authority is based more on the office or position a person occupies and less on the individual. Open “bureaucratic authority“

A teacher may ask you to complete an assignment by Wednesday - you have to obey. If they ask you to get them a coffee you do not have to obey.

23
Q

What is charismatic authority?

A

Authority is based on the willingness of people to obey because of the personal qualities of the leader.

Charismatic leaders included Jesus Christ and Hitler

Global Politics (9 decks)

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