Concept An idea, term or category
Political science The study of the theory and practice of government and politics, focusing on
the structure and dynamics of institutions, political processes, and political
behaviour
Social science The study of human society and of the structured interactions among people
within society
Government The institutions and structures through which societies are governed
Institution A formal organization or practice with a political purpose or effect, marked by
durability and internal complexity
Political system The interactions and organizations through which a society reaches and
successfully enforces collective decisions
Governance The process by which decisions, laws, and policies are made, with or without
the input of formal institutions
Politics The process by which people negotiate and compete in the process of making
and executing shared or collective decisions
Power The capacity to bring about intended effects
Authority The right to rule. Authority creates its own power, so long as people accept
that the person in authority has the right to make decisions
Legitimacy The condition of being legitimate. A legitimate system of government is one
based on authority, and those subject to its rule recognize its right to make
decisions
Ideology A system of connected beliefs, a shared view of the world, or a blueprint for
how politics, economics, and society should be structured
Ideology typical features
Anarchism All forms of governmental authority are unnecessary, and society is best structured
around voluntary cooperation and free association
Marxism Elimination of the state system and private property will lead to the creation of a
classless, non-exploitive, and self-governing society.
Liberalism Individuals are the best judges of their own interests. Advocates a tolerant society
which maximizes personal freedom, and favours a government which is limited but freely elected.
Conservatism Traditional institutions and practices work best, the free market is the most
efficient at meeting societal needs, and government should be as decentralized as possible.
Fascism Supports the achievement of national unity through an authoritarian state, strong
leadership, mass mobilization, and an emphasis on nationalism and militarism
Comparative politics The systematic study of government and politics in different countries
designed to better understand them by drawing out their contrasts and
similarities
Sub-field Subject matter
Comparative politics The comparative study of politics and government in different
settings
International relations The study of relations between and among states, including
diplomacy, foreign policy, international organizations, war and
, peace.
National politics The study of politics and government in the setting of individual
states, including institutions and political processes
Political philosophy The study of political philosophy, addressing issues such as
authority, ethics, and freedom.
Political theory The study of abstract or generalized approaches to understanding
political phenomena.
Public policy The study of the positions taken or avoided by governments in
response to public needs.
Typology A system of classification by which states, institutions, processes, political
cultures, and so on are divided into groups or types with common sets of
attributes
Three worlds A political typology that divided the world along ideological lines, with states
system labelled according to the side they took in the Cold War
Cross domestic The core measure of the size of economies, calculated by giving a monetary
product value to all goods and services produced within a country in a given year,
regardless of who owns the different means of production
Chapter 2
Theory An abstract or generalized approach to explaining or understanding a
phenomenon or a set of phenomena, supported by a significant body of
hard evidence
Behaviouralism An approach to the study of politics that emphasizes people, over
institutions, focusing on the systematic study of the behaviour of individuals
Grand theory A broad and abstract form of theorizing that incorporates many other
theories and tries to explain broad areas of a discipline rather than more
focused matters
Institutionalism An approach to the study of politics and government that focuses on the
structure and dynamics of governing institutions.
New A revival of institutionalism that goes beyond formal rules and looks at how
institutionalism institutions shape decisions and defi ne interests
Institutionalization The process by which organizations build history, memory, stability, and
permanence.
Rational choice An approach to the study of politics and government based on the idea that
individuals work to maximize their benefits and minimize their costs.
Collective action Arises when rational behaviour by individuals produces a negative overall
problem outcome.
Structuralism An approach to the study of politics and government that emphasizes the
relationships among groups and networks within larger systems.
Cultural approach An approach to the study of politics and government based on
understanding the influence of culture and cultural norms.
culture The values, beliefs, habits, attitudes, and/or norms to which a society
subscribes and responds, often unconsciously and even in the face of
individual differences.
Multiculturalism A belief in a society made up of multiple cultures and ethnicities, and in the
recognition of minority groups within the wider culture.
Orientalism The habit by many in the West of defining the Orient (the East) in terms of
stereotypical and often patronizing views about its peoples, cultures, and
political systems.
Political science The study of the theory and practice of government and politics, focusing on
the structure and dynamics of institutions, political processes, and political
behaviour
Social science The study of human society and of the structured interactions among people
within society
Government The institutions and structures through which societies are governed
Institution A formal organization or practice with a political purpose or effect, marked by
durability and internal complexity
Political system The interactions and organizations through which a society reaches and
successfully enforces collective decisions
Governance The process by which decisions, laws, and policies are made, with or without
the input of formal institutions
Politics The process by which people negotiate and compete in the process of making
and executing shared or collective decisions
Power The capacity to bring about intended effects
Authority The right to rule. Authority creates its own power, so long as people accept
that the person in authority has the right to make decisions
Legitimacy The condition of being legitimate. A legitimate system of government is one
based on authority, and those subject to its rule recognize its right to make
decisions
Ideology A system of connected beliefs, a shared view of the world, or a blueprint for
how politics, economics, and society should be structured
Ideology typical features
Anarchism All forms of governmental authority are unnecessary, and society is best structured
around voluntary cooperation and free association
Marxism Elimination of the state system and private property will lead to the creation of a
classless, non-exploitive, and self-governing society.
Liberalism Individuals are the best judges of their own interests. Advocates a tolerant society
which maximizes personal freedom, and favours a government which is limited but freely elected.
Conservatism Traditional institutions and practices work best, the free market is the most
efficient at meeting societal needs, and government should be as decentralized as possible.
Fascism Supports the achievement of national unity through an authoritarian state, strong
leadership, mass mobilization, and an emphasis on nationalism and militarism
Comparative politics The systematic study of government and politics in different countries
designed to better understand them by drawing out their contrasts and
similarities
Sub-field Subject matter
Comparative politics The comparative study of politics and government in different
settings
International relations The study of relations between and among states, including
diplomacy, foreign policy, international organizations, war and
, peace.
National politics The study of politics and government in the setting of individual
states, including institutions and political processes
Political philosophy The study of political philosophy, addressing issues such as
authority, ethics, and freedom.
Political theory The study of abstract or generalized approaches to understanding
political phenomena.
Public policy The study of the positions taken or avoided by governments in
response to public needs.
Typology A system of classification by which states, institutions, processes, political
cultures, and so on are divided into groups or types with common sets of
attributes
Three worlds A political typology that divided the world along ideological lines, with states
system labelled according to the side they took in the Cold War
Cross domestic The core measure of the size of economies, calculated by giving a monetary
product value to all goods and services produced within a country in a given year,
regardless of who owns the different means of production
Chapter 2
Theory An abstract or generalized approach to explaining or understanding a
phenomenon or a set of phenomena, supported by a significant body of
hard evidence
Behaviouralism An approach to the study of politics that emphasizes people, over
institutions, focusing on the systematic study of the behaviour of individuals
Grand theory A broad and abstract form of theorizing that incorporates many other
theories and tries to explain broad areas of a discipline rather than more
focused matters
Institutionalism An approach to the study of politics and government that focuses on the
structure and dynamics of governing institutions.
New A revival of institutionalism that goes beyond formal rules and looks at how
institutionalism institutions shape decisions and defi ne interests
Institutionalization The process by which organizations build history, memory, stability, and
permanence.
Rational choice An approach to the study of politics and government based on the idea that
individuals work to maximize their benefits and minimize their costs.
Collective action Arises when rational behaviour by individuals produces a negative overall
problem outcome.
Structuralism An approach to the study of politics and government that emphasizes the
relationships among groups and networks within larger systems.
Cultural approach An approach to the study of politics and government based on
understanding the influence of culture and cultural norms.
culture The values, beliefs, habits, attitudes, and/or norms to which a society
subscribes and responds, often unconsciously and even in the face of
individual differences.
Multiculturalism A belief in a society made up of multiple cultures and ethnicities, and in the
recognition of minority groups within the wider culture.
Orientalism The habit by many in the West of defining the Orient (the East) in terms of
stereotypical and often patronizing views about its peoples, cultures, and
political systems.
