Everything
Created @October 4, 2024 10:28 AM
Updated @October 4, 2024 10:30 AM
Definitions
Comparative Politics: politics inside the country
Politics: competition for power to make decisions for a group
International Relations: politics and interactions between countries
Deductive Reasoning: starting with a theory and then seeing confirmation of it
Induction Reasoning: starting with an observation and ending with creating a
theory
Economic Liberation: when a state reduces its economic role and enhances the
free market
Economic Development: economic growth
Socio-political Development: social development
Development of Freedom: freedom of choice for citizens
Gini Coefficient: statistical method of modelling & graphing income and wealth gap
Regime Change: change in the fundamental rules and system of government
Change in Government: change in leaders without fundamental changes in the
system
Traditional Legitimacy: following traditional culture, religion, and history. (example:
the British monarchy)
Charismatic Legitimacy: based on the views of the leader, can also be because
the person is charming, persuasive, popular, endearing, likeable, etc
Rational-legal Legitimacy: based on a system of laws and processes that are
rational and open
Capacity: a state’s ability to wield power to carry out its functions
Autonomy: a state’s ability to wield power independent of interference from others
(including the public)
Unitary System: power is concentrated at the national level, power of sub-
governments not protected in the constitution
Everything 1
, Federal System: power is divided among different levels of government, with
some sub-government power protected by law
Devolution: a unitary national government delegates power to regional
government(s) but does not become enshrined in the constitution and can be
taken away again
Democracy: regime type that allows people to directly participate in government,
protects liberty, and allows for competitive elections for government petitions
Liberal democracy: free and fair elections, protection of civil liberties, and rule of
law
Factors that indicate the degree to which a state is democratic:
• is the state committed to the principle of rule of law?
• what is the degree of government influence over or control of the media
• to what extent are elections free and fair?
• is there a degree of transparency in government’s decision making?
• what is the nature of citizen participation in government?
Rule of Law: the law rules above everyone else
Rule by Law: people above the law use it to control others below the law
Democratic Consolidation: process by which a regime matures, making it unlikely
to revert to authoritarianism without external influence
• Election rules are solidified and honoured (competition and participation)
• Powers are separated into various independent branches, checks and
balances (rule of law)
• Civil liberties protected
Democratic Regimes
Parliamentary
head of state is chosen through the legislative branch (the parliament)
the head of state and the head of government are different officials
Presidential
president is chosen through the election process by the people
the president is the head of state and head of government
Everything 2
Created @October 4, 2024 10:28 AM
Updated @October 4, 2024 10:30 AM
Definitions
Comparative Politics: politics inside the country
Politics: competition for power to make decisions for a group
International Relations: politics and interactions between countries
Deductive Reasoning: starting with a theory and then seeing confirmation of it
Induction Reasoning: starting with an observation and ending with creating a
theory
Economic Liberation: when a state reduces its economic role and enhances the
free market
Economic Development: economic growth
Socio-political Development: social development
Development of Freedom: freedom of choice for citizens
Gini Coefficient: statistical method of modelling & graphing income and wealth gap
Regime Change: change in the fundamental rules and system of government
Change in Government: change in leaders without fundamental changes in the
system
Traditional Legitimacy: following traditional culture, religion, and history. (example:
the British monarchy)
Charismatic Legitimacy: based on the views of the leader, can also be because
the person is charming, persuasive, popular, endearing, likeable, etc
Rational-legal Legitimacy: based on a system of laws and processes that are
rational and open
Capacity: a state’s ability to wield power to carry out its functions
Autonomy: a state’s ability to wield power independent of interference from others
(including the public)
Unitary System: power is concentrated at the national level, power of sub-
governments not protected in the constitution
Everything 1
, Federal System: power is divided among different levels of government, with
some sub-government power protected by law
Devolution: a unitary national government delegates power to regional
government(s) but does not become enshrined in the constitution and can be
taken away again
Democracy: regime type that allows people to directly participate in government,
protects liberty, and allows for competitive elections for government petitions
Liberal democracy: free and fair elections, protection of civil liberties, and rule of
law
Factors that indicate the degree to which a state is democratic:
• is the state committed to the principle of rule of law?
• what is the degree of government influence over or control of the media
• to what extent are elections free and fair?
• is there a degree of transparency in government’s decision making?
• what is the nature of citizen participation in government?
Rule of Law: the law rules above everyone else
Rule by Law: people above the law use it to control others below the law
Democratic Consolidation: process by which a regime matures, making it unlikely
to revert to authoritarianism without external influence
• Election rules are solidified and honoured (competition and participation)
• Powers are separated into various independent branches, checks and
balances (rule of law)
• Civil liberties protected
Democratic Regimes
Parliamentary
head of state is chosen through the legislative branch (the parliament)
the head of state and the head of government are different officials
Presidential
president is chosen through the election process by the people
the president is the head of state and head of government
Everything 2
