PSPS 2700 Short Answer
"big issues" in the study of comparative politics
-Political Development -Regime Type and Change -Participation and Representation -Policymaking -Political Economy
What does "liberalism" mean in the context of our study?
-a regime is only justified if it preserves and protects the core liberties of autonomous, free, and equal individuals. -A state can only infringe on these liberties in very particular circumstances, such as when an action is essential for the well-being of all or when a particular citizen has denied others their rights.
What are three of Robert Dahl's eight democratic guarantees?
1.freedom of association 2. freedom of expression 3. the right to vote
Sovereignty
Ability of a state to govern its territory free from control of its internal affairs by other states.
What is Marxism? Who first articulated this philosophy, and how has it been realized or applied in the real world, especially in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries?
Karl Marx says that economic structures largely determine political behavior; the philosophical underpinning of communism
How has nationalism been used by recent Iranian regimes to build popular support? identity-based on one's inclusion in society; typically extreme; ex: Hitler, Spain, Manifest
Nationalism is linked to religious background
. What are the four characteristics of the modern state? List them and briefly define each. Territory
Territory External and Internal Sovereignty Legitimacy Bureaucracy
What are the three key questions posed by virtually all comparativists?
What Explains Political Behavior? Who Rules? Where and Why?
territory
clearly defined borders of a nation; whether natural borders or well-guarded borders; in order to break and become another state, borders have to be define
How might a state, especially a liberal democratic one, approach or practice or prioritize secularism?
is the idea of something being not religious or not connected to a church. An example of this is the government, which is independent of any religion in many states. The distinct separation of church and state.
Bureaucracy
large set of appointed officials whose function is to implement laws A central part of modern, rational-legal legitimacy; this is because of a bureaucracy carries out laws
External Sovereignty
sovereignty relative to outside powers that is legally recognized in international law
What is the "Mexican Miracle," at least as we've come to understand it in the comparative politics class?
the country's inward-looking development strategy that produced sustained economic growth. It is considered to be a golden age of capitalism in Mexican economics in which the Mexican economy grew 4% each year. Industrialization
Legitimacy
the recognized right to rule (Traditional, Charismatic)
Internal Sovereignty
the sole authority within a territory capable of making and enforcing laws and policies