Comparative Politics Exam 1 Nunes

Three factors contribute to the making of a welfare state

1. Culture 2. Industrial capitalism 3. Political mobilization.

A modern state

1. Decision-making authority is centralized in the hands of a few 2. Has the legitimate monopoly over the use of force 3. Relies on complex bureaucratic structures to enforce authority

Key function of modern states

1. Domestic policing 2. International security 3. Taxation

Distinguish between neoliberalism and state interventionism

1. Neoliberalism: An ideological tendency that favors liberal democracy and market led development. 2. State Interventionism: An approach to economic management in which the state plays a central role, not just through enforcing contracts and property rights but through active interventions such as coordinating investment, supplying credit, and, in many instances, through the establishment and running of state-owned enterprises.

Are either neoliberal or state interventionist models clearly "better" for development? Why or why not?

1. States that don't intervene (low scope): don't tax, don't provide public goods, can't avoid market failures, 2. States that are too intrusive (high scope): inefficient economic activities, lack of incentives for innovation 3. Wealthier countries: high tax, AND expenditures, but lower barriers to trade and investment, public goods and private property protection

Adam Smith's concept of the "invisible hand" refers to:

1. The idea that society benefits from economic efficiency and expansion generated by individual gains. 2. The idea that government should not interfere with the operation of the market. 3. The idea that government's role is to establish a rule of law and protect property rights.

What are the trade-offs that we need to worry about when designing a democratic system?

1. federal vs unitary state 2. judicial review vs parliamentary supremacy 3. Unicameral vs bicameral parliaments 4. different electoral systems 5. Parliamentarism vs Presidentialism

What is a constitutional system that disperses some powers in states or provinces called?

A federal state

Regime

A form or type of governmental system, emphasizing rules and institutions.

State Interventionism

An approach to economic management in which the state plays a central role, not just through enforcing contracts and property rights but through active interventions such as coordinating investment, supplying credit, and, in many instances, through the establishment and running of state-owned enterprises.

Example of direct democracy

An assembly of citizens deliberating A plebiscite or referendum

Neoliberalism

An ideological tendency that favors liberal democracy and market led development.

What is parliamentary malapportionment?

Apportionment in which voters are unequally represented in a legislature, such as through relatively greater numbers of legislators per capita for low-population areas and lesser number of legislators per capita for high-population areas.

During what period in the twentieth century did major international powers focus more on security around the world than on the promotion of democracy?

Cold War

How do states differ from other forms of political organization?

Complexity and depth of bureaucracies. The state is a form of political organization that exercises sovereign authority over a territory by holding a monopoly over the legitimate use of violence and that relies on a vast set of impersonal bureaucratic institutions to generate and implement policies.

A perspective that emphasizes mobilization and political action might argue that which of the following are important factors in the building of a welfare state?

Compromise among political interests, such as business and labor

Increasing strength and stability of a democratic regime after a democratic transition?

Democratic consolidation

Initial shift from an authoritarian to a democratic regime?

Democratic transition

The most plausible explanation for variations in development of South Korea and North Korea

Differences in economic and political institutions

SMD

Each district elects one person, encourages small parties, one seat per district, plurality or run-off

Economic

Emphasizes elite interests (Marxists use this theory--for capitalist gain)

procedural definition of democracy

Emphasizes the minimal standards for democracy in a country

federal vs unitary state

Federal- power divided between multiple levels of government. limits government, typically large territory, sacrifice efficiency for autonomy, can create stability but also create desires for seperation. Individual rights may be protected better. Unitary- Just one power, strengthens government

Civil liberties considered central to democracy

Freedom of speech, press, assembly

Different ways to measure development

Gross National Income, Gross Domestic Product, Human Development Index

A common role for the state in many free market economies is:

Guaranteeing contracts

Which of the following is LESS likely to be found in a well-functioning state than in a failed state?

Higher levels of interpersonal violence

Ideally, modern states treat all citizens as equals in rights. This means that, ideally, states should be:

Impersonal

What is the name given by economists to a situation in which prices are rising?

Inflation

Why is India considered a "deviant" case in Comparative Politics?

It is a democracy despite having a low GDP/capita

A country that was a leading example in demonstrating the potential successes of state-led development in the period after World War II was:

Japan

judicial review vs parliamentary supremacy

Judicial: law is taken to court, constrains power but rights can be protected Parliamentary Supremacy: Absence of judicial review

Democratic transitions in the 1970s and 1980s were predominantly located in what regions?

Latin America, southern Europe, and Central-Eastern Europe

In general, a transaction between two or more private actors at a price they agree upon is called a:

Market transaction

Proportional Representation (PR)

Multiple seats per district, closed list system (you vote for a party)

Diffusion

Political and economic interests and influence of earlier states

Electoral democracy

Political regimes where leaders are held accountable to the ruled through periodic free and fair elections under conditions of relatively well protected political rights, but where civil liberties are weakly protected.

Parliamentarism vs Presidentialism

President is head of government and state, plurality or run-off, electoral college(?), fixed terms, elections for HoG and parliament Parliamentarism: Prime Minister or Chancellor is head of government. Monarch or President is head of state, elections can be called, votes of no confidence possible.

What is the welfare state, and how does it differ from country to country?

Provides safety net primarily for the economically disadvantaged

National defense, basic infrastructure, and a healthy environment are examples of:

Public Goods

Public choice theory is associated with the idea that:

Public officials are self-interested actors who often impede market

The ability of the state to achieve its objective, especially the abilities to control violence, effectively tax the population, and maintain well-functioning institutions and the rule of law

Scope of authority

What's the difference between a state's scope and its capacity?

Scope of authority: what they do Capacity: How well states do the things they set out to do

Different Electoral Systems

Single member districts: each district elects one person, encourages small parties, one seat per district, plurality or run-off Proportional Representation: Multiple seats per district, closed list system(you vote for a party)

Unlike neoliberals, proponents of __________ believe that markets are unlikely to generate national wealth on their own.

State interventionism

Culture

States emerge because of rise of a common national identity

Bellicist Theory

States emerge because of war

The welfare state that emerged in the Twentieth Century is based on which of the following principles?

The state should serve economic and social functions to maintain the population's welfare

Modernization Theory

Traces democracy to broad social changes and economic development

If a country were to have a Gini coefficient of 0.95, it would be a _________ country.

Very unequal country

The "bellicist theory of the state" refers to the belief that states are created by _________.

War

For which of the following regions does the bellicist theory of state development seem to apply most strongly?

Western Europe

Ideally, modern states treat all citizens as equals in rights. This means that, ideally, states should be...

impersonal

A form of type of government with an emphasis on institutions and rules.

regime