Review for final exam Flashcards
(26 cards)
How does Harold Lasswell define politics?
Politics is the authoritative allocation of scarce values.
What is Robert Dahl’s distinction between power, influence, and authority?
Power is the ability to get others to do what they wouldn’t otherwise do; influence is persuasion without coercion; authority is legitimate power recognized by those subjected to it.
What is Joseph Nye’s concept of soft power?
Soft power is the ability to shape preferences through appeal and attraction rather than coercion (hard power).
What is smart power?
A combination of hard and soft power.
What is sharp power?
Manipulative diplomatic policies used by authoritarian regimes, often including cyberwarfare.
What are the three levels of analysis of power?
Micro (individual), Middle-range (institutions), and Macro (international system).
What is pluralism?
A theory that power is distributed among many groups in a democracy.
What is elite analysis?
A theory that a small, cohesive elite holds the most power, often overriding pluralist influences.
What is sovereignty?
A state’s exclusive authority to make, enforce, and interpret laws within a recognized territory.
What violates the concept of sovereignty?
Actions like annexing Crimea or suggesting foreign takeovers (e.g., Canada as a 51st state).
What are the components of state sovereignty?
Internal control, external autonomy, monopoly on the use of force, and UN recognition.
What are inputs in Easton’s model?
Demands and supports from the public.
What are outputs in Easton’s model?
Public policies—extractive, distributive, regulatory, symbolic/evaluative.
What are the internal elements of the political system?
Executive, legislative, judicial branches, and bureaucracy.
What are the five functions shared by interest groups and political parties?
Interest aggregation, interest articulation, political communication, political socialization, and political recruitment.
What can unresolved system stress lead to?
System breakdown (e.g., collapse of the Soviet Union).
What is neoliberalism?
An ideology promoting austerity, privatization, and deregulation in favor of market logic over public goods.
What are examples of neoliberal policies?
Budget cuts to public services, privatization of education, and deregulated corporate practices.
What role should public opinion play in a democracy?
It should guide policies in a government “of the people, by the people, for the people.”
What is a major concern about public opinion polling?
It may shape or “create” public opinion rather than merely measure it.
What is conservatism’s main goal?
To retain traditional institutions like monarchy.
What is classical liberalism?
A reformist ideology advocating individual liberties and democratic governance.
What is neo-classical liberalism associated with?
New Deal policies and economic regulation.
What is neo-conservatism associated with?
Privatization, deregulation, and reduced government intervention.
