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