Vocab 1 Column 1 Flashcards
(33 cards)
Comparative Politics
The systematic way to find answers to questions and political problems in different countries
ex) United Nations
Comparative Method
A method to compare and contrast cases and problems that are similar but have different outcomes or vise vera (problems that have a variety of attributes but have the same outcome
ex) El Salvador’s and Nicaragua’s civil wars: same characteristics but different outcome
Collective Action Problem
A situation wherein each individual has reasons not to participate in an action that benefits all members of the group
ex) when two neighbors may agree to drain a common meadow out, the collective action problem comes when you have a thousand neighbors to agree on the project
State
Political organization that has power over a certain land area and the population that lives there
ex) The state of Wisconsin
Sovereignty
Supreme legal authority over people within a certain territory
ex) The government of a country is an example, because it has supreme authority over a country
Government
Organization that has control over a state(s) and make decisions on behalf of everyone in the state and that effects everyone
ex) Every country has a government
Society
The many people living in a more or less ordered community
ex) The people of El Salvador
Nation
A group of people that have their own culture and are held together by a political identity
ex) The Scottish have their own culture, and the Welsh have their own culture, but they are still a part of the UK
Early-Forming State
A state that gained the power to govern themselves a long time ago without the interference of others
ex) The Shang Dynasty in China: 1800 BC
Late-Forming State
A state that gained the power to govern themselves recently ago without the interference of others
ex) The US is a late-forming state because it became independent in 1776
Failed State
A government of a state that lost all power and control over its people because the government wasn’t established properly
ex) Somalia
Globalization
When different nations interact among them and adapt other cultures to their own
ex) Food: You can see Mexicans eating sushi and Germans eating burritos
Foreign Direct Investment
When a company invests in another company that is operating in another country
ex) China investing in America’s Deere & Company because it wants to improve it’s agricultural sector
Multinational Corporation (MNC’s)
Firms that are headquartered in one country, but have operations and employees in many other countries.
ex) Apple, McDonalds
Electorate
Citizens eligible to participate in electing government leaders
ex) Everyone in the US has to be 18 in order to vote
Selectorate
A small group within the national population that has the power to choose and remove leaders
ex) In ancient Rome, only wealthy landowners had a say in government
Totalitarian Regime
A non-democratic regime that attempts to shape the interests and identities of its citizens through mobilization, coercion, and violence (citizen focused)
ex) North Korea. One party exists and everyone is stripped of freedom
Authoritarian Regime
A non-democratic regime that focuses on controlling the government and politics through coercion
Ex) Francisco Franco and his dictatorship
Fascism
A totalitarian ideology based on racist principles that glorify militarism, violence, and nationalism and the state over individuals; and that emphasized individual leaders
ex) Nazi Germany
Communism
The government is in control of the economy so everything belongs to the state. There is one party in control. Usually under this government, the rich are super wealthy and the poor have nothing.
ex) Venezuela
Monarchy
Rulers assume power via birthright and are not removed from office until they die. (Kings and Queens)
ex) England’s history
Constitutional Monarchy
A monarch that operates under a written constitution
ex) William and Mary were King and Queen of England, but had to operate under a constitution and legislature
Majority Rule
A voting procedure for resolving disagreements within a deliberate assembly, a binary decision rule that has fairness.
ex) The House of Representatives in the US use this
Proportional Representation
System in which the number of seats held by members of a political party in legislature is determined but the number of votes its candidate receive in an election
ex) Israel
