Vocabulary- the key to Vocabulary- the key to understanding this stuffunderstanding this stuff
CorrelationCorrelation
An apparent association between certain An apparent association between certain factors or variablesfactors or variables
For example, there is a positive correlation For example, there is a positive correlation between medical care and life expectancybetween medical care and life expectancy
CausationCausation
When a change in one variable causes a When a change in one variable causes a change in another variablechange in another variable
For example, when the temperature drops For example, when the temperature drops below 32 degrees, water freezesbelow 32 degrees, water freezes
PoliticsPolitics
A struggle for powerA struggle for power That gives the winners the ability to make That gives the winners the ability to make
decisions affecting othersdecisions affecting others Who gets what, when, and howWho gets what, when, and how
NationNation A group of peopleA group of people Psychological sense of identityPsychological sense of identity Based on cultural, geographic, or linguistic Based on cultural, geographic, or linguistic
tiesties
The StateThe State
Institutions, people, and groupsInstitutions, people, and groups Have the power to effect Have the power to effect
changechange Has monopoly of forceHas monopoly of force
Over territoryOver territory
RegimeRegime
Fundamental Fundamental norms and rulesnorms and rules
Established by Established by administrations administrations over timeover time
Sovereignty•A state’s ability to carry out actions independently
Legitimacy•Generally accepted view that the government has the right to rule
•Traditional--the right to rule, because “it has always been that way.”
•Charismatic--rule based on personality
•Rational-legal--based on a widely accepted system of laws and procedures
DemocracyDemocracy
A system of government where people A system of government where people choose policymakers in free, regular, choose policymakers in free, regular, competitive electionscompetitive elections
Illiberal--procedural (holds elections) but Illiberal--procedural (holds elections) but without civil rights and libertieswithout civil rights and liberties
Liberal--political competition, Liberal--political competition, accountability, civil rights and libertiesaccountability, civil rights and liberties
Institutions Institutions
Structures, how they are set up and how Structures, how they are set up and how they shape the political decision making they shape the political decision making processprocess– ExecutiveExecutive– LegislativeLegislative– JudicialJudicial– BureaucracyBureaucracy
FPTP/SMDFPTP/SMD First past the post, single member districtFirst past the post, single member district
– Winner-take-allWinner-take-all– The winner gets the one seat available in an The winner gets the one seat available in an
election (one person is elected to represent each election (one person is elected to represent each district)district)
– Plurality –the highest number of votes among Plurality –the highest number of votes among competing candidates competing candidates
– House of Commons, US CongressHouse of Commons, US Congress
Proportional RepresentationProportional Representation
Votes for parties, rather than candidatesVotes for parties, rather than candidates Parties are represented in legislature Parties are represented in legislature
according to percentage of votes receivedaccording to percentage of votes received Parties select office holders based on Parties select office holders based on
candidate listscandidate lists
CorporatismCorporatism A system of formal interest-group A system of formal interest-group
participation in the states’ decision-making participation in the states’ decision-making processesprocesses
Key groups in society-especially business and Key groups in society-especially business and labor- should negotiate directly with labor- should negotiate directly with government officials to work out the government officials to work out the country’s principal economic and social country’s principal economic and social welfare policieswelfare policies– When business, labor, and the government When business, labor, and the government
work closely in policymakingwork closely in policymaking This limits the influence ofThis limits the influence of smaller groups smaller groups
CooptationCooptation
Granting favors in exchange for a benefitGranting favors in exchange for a benefit ““Buying off” criticsBuying off” critics
CleavagesCleavages Factors that separate Factors that separate
groupsgroups Cross-cutting--a division Cross-cutting--a division
that includes people with that includes people with differences, strengthening differences, strengthening societysociety
Coinciding--a division that Coinciding--a division that strengthens feelings of strengthens feelings of difference and difference and discrepancy, weakening discrepancy, weakening societysociety
Political CulturePolitical Culture
HistoryHistory ValuesValues BeliefsBeliefs TraditionsTraditions InfluencingInfluencing
political behaviorpolitical behavior
Political SocializationPolitical Socialization
The means by which citizens learn about The means by which citizens learn about government and the political processgovernment and the political process
How people get their ideas about How people get their ideas about government and acquire their values about government and acquire their values about the political processthe political process
Neo liberal EconomicsNeo liberal Economics
Classical liberal economics- Focus on the free Classical liberal economics- Focus on the free market-state should strictly be limitedmarket-state should strictly be limited– Few restrictions on business … property Few restrictions on business … property
rights strictly guaranteedrights strictly guaranteed Neo liberal economicsNeo liberal economics
– Mixed economy that combines private Mixed economy that combines private enterprise and a large economic role for the enterprise and a large economic role for the statestate