Political Organizations
Political systems comprise the laws, ideas, and procedures that address who should have authority to rule and what the governement’s influence on its people and economy should be.
State
Political organizations that combine a (permanent population) with governing institutions to exercise control over a (defined territory) with (international recognition).
Nation
A group of people with commonalities including race, language, religion, ethnicity, political identity, and aspirations.
All of the AP 6 are multination states.
Regime
Democratic or authoritarian based on how it sets up rules or makes decisions about how to exercise power.
Democratic regime
Demos = people.
The people give the government their power.
Authoritarian regime
System of government where power is invested in a small group of people who exercise power over the state without being constitutionally responsible to the public.
Regime change vs. government change
Regime change is a change in the fundamental pattern of rules. Demo to autho.
Government change is a change in political leadership of the executive branch. President or PM.
Government
Set of institutions or individuals legally empowered to make binding decisions for the state.
Power
ABILITY to control or direct others. NO RIGHT. Can exercise one’s will over others.
Authority
RIGHT to control or direct others. Accepted or legitimized power.
Sovereignty
State’s indepent legal authority over a population in a particular territory that is recognized by other international actors. Ultimate authority.
Factors that indicate degree of democracy. (4)
- Principle that a state should be governed by law and not arbitrary decisions made by gov officials. (Rule OF law rather than Rule BY law)
- Degree of state influence on or control of media.
- Degree of transparency of governmental decision making.
- Nature of citizen participation in gov.
Different types of authoritarian regimes
- Illiberal democracies / hybrid regimes
- One-party states
- Theocracy
- Totalitarian governments
- Military regimes
How a democratic regime may become authoritarian (6)
- Policy chanegs that make elections less fair or competitive.
- Coup or revolution.
- Cancellation of the media.
- Censorship of the media.
- Opposition groups rights are limited.
- A single group dominates the government.
Why do authoritarian regimes sometimes hold direct elections?
- Legitimacy
- Escape valve for discontent
- What policies people want
- Improve accountability to citizens
- Identify or intimidate opponents of the regime
- Response to international pressure
Democratization
A transition from an authoritarian regime to a democratic regime.
What does democratization lead to? (8)
- Democratic consolidation
- More competition, fairness, and transparency in elections.
- Increase citizen participation in policy making process
- Universal suffrage for adult citzens
- Greater gov transparency
- Protected civil rights and liberties
- Equal treatment of citizens
- Establishing rule OF law
Democratic consolidation
The process by which a demcoratic regime matures in terms of election rules, separation of powers, and protection of civil liberties, making it unlikely to revert to authoritarian without an external shock.
- Ex. UK, Mexico (maybe)
Factors that help democratization
- Electoral systems that accomondate ethnic diversity
- Increased multiparty competition through rule changes. PR FPTP
- Independent judiciaries
- Policies that protect civil liberties
- Separation of powers
- Agreement amongst competing political groups
Factors that hinder democratization
- Political corruption
- Election rules that restrict voting
- Policies that limit civil liberties
- Polarization between competing political groups.
Sources of power and authority
- Constitution
- Religion
- Military forces
- Political parties
- Legislatures
- Popular support
Causation
Is difficult to determine with certainty in comparative politics as one variable needs to be the direct cause of another variable.
Correlation
Exists when there is an association between two or more variables.
Quantitative data
Numerical
