Unit 1

Question 1

Modernization Theory

Answer 1

The theory used to explain the process of modernizing in society (generally has to do with industrialization, democracy, etc.)

Question 2

Capacity

Answer 2

A state’s ability to wield power in order to carry out the basic tasks of providing security and reconciling freedom and equality.

Question 3

autonomy

Answer 3

the ability of a state to wield its power independently of the public or international actors

Question 4

legitmacy

Answer 4

A value whereby something or someone is recognized and accepted as right and proper

widely accepted, agreed upon to rule

Question 5

traditional legitmacy

Answer 5

legitimacy that is based on the value that something is right because it has “always been that way”

strongly institutionalized

Question 6

charismatic legitimacy

Answer 6

built on force of ideas and the presence of a charismatic leader who makes it seem right

weakly institutionalized

Question 7

rational-legal legitimacy

Answer 7

built on rules and procedures and the offices that create and enforce those rules. (those who are in power know how to rule because they are in those leadership positions)

strongly institutionalized

Question 8

state

Answer 8

a self governing political entity, can be used interchangeably with country

Question 9

nation

Answer 9

tight knit group of people with a shared culture

Question 10

nation-state

Answer 10

a sovereign state with citizens of a common background

Question 11

sovereignty

Answer 11

the authority to govern as one pleases within their territory

Question 12

regime

Answer 12

form of government or set of rules (institutional system)

Question 13

government

Answer 13

body of people that carry out the regime

Question 14

normative statement

Answer 14

judgement based statements (often contain words like should be, shouldn’t be, better, worse, etc.)

Question 15

empirical statement

Answer 15

fact based statements, can be backed up with facts

Question 16

HDI

Answer 16

Human Development Index: a summary of the average achievement in key dimensions of human development

Question 17

Gini

Answer 17

a summary of the measure of income inequality in a nation

Question 18

GDP

Answer 18

Gross Domestic Product: measures the final value of goods and services produced in a country, can be used to show overall wealth of a country

Question 19

PPP

Answer 19

Purchasing Power Parities: price relatives that show the ratio of the prices in national currencies of the same good or service in different countries.

Question 20

GDP per capita

Answer 20

GPD divided by the total number of citizens in a country

Question 21

authoritarian regime qualities

Answer 21

• highly centralized power
• political repression
• armed forces taking down potential threats
• control of the press

Question 22

democratic regime qualities

Answer 22

• power to the people
• separation of powers
• voting
• freedom and liberty

Question 23

political efficacy

Answer 23

the citizens’ trust in their ability to change the government and belief that they can understand and influence political affairs

Question 24

Head of State

Answer 24

personify the unity of a nation, figurehead

Question 25

head of government

Answer 25

manage conflict

Question 26

FPTP

Answer 26

first past the post voting: wherein voters cast a vote for a single candidate, and the candidate with the most votes wins the election

Question 27

proportional representation

Answer 27

subgroups of an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body