Intro to Poli Sci Chapter 5

Venezuela is which type of authoritarian regime?

military

Modern elite theorists are __________.

social critics

In Iraq, governance is complicated and sometimes violent because people from different __________ tend to vote for different parties.

religious groups

What evidence would pluralists most likely cite to support their claims that elites are ultimately accountable?

the millions of dollars that tobacco firms have paid out in lawsuits and settlements

Which of these can be considered an example of direct democracy?

Citizens voting on a ballot referendum

Which statement explains how economics have transformed authoritarian regimes in recent decades?

Growing economies have spurred democratic transitions.

What German thinker argued that any organization, no matter how democratic its intent, ends up run by a small elite?

Robert Michels

Which condition suggests that a state's elections are rigged?

The regime controls most or all of the press in the country.

More than half the world's nations are at least somewhat __________.

democratic

One benefit of a system with frequent alternation in power is __________.

effective control over corruption

The main way that democratic governments are held accountable is through __________.

regular electoral challenge

What is the main difference between autocratic regimes of the past and twentieth-century totalitarian regimes?

Autocratic regimes demobilized their populations, whereas totalitarian regimes demanded mass mobilization and widespread participation by citizens.

What is the relationship between alternation in power and democratic elections?

Both must have an element of uncertainty and fluidity.

Totalitarianism began with __________.

Lenin's seizure of power in Russia

Which country is a present-day example of a totalitarian regime?

North Korea

Recent Supreme Court decisions loosened restrictions on campaign spending, allowing billionaires to exert unprecedented influence over U.S. elections. Which statement represents the way an elite theorist would most likely evaluate this development?

The Supreme Court has undermined democracy by tilting elections in favor of moneyed interests.

Which statement explains why democracies tend to fail in poor countries?

Poor countries tend to lack a vibrant middle class, education levels are low, pluralism functions poorly, and people have yet to be shaped by markets that normalize behavior.

Which of these following countries could be labeled a "fake democracy"?

Russia

Which statement provides evidence for the usefulness of social media in a democratic system?

Text messaging, Twitter, Facebook, and television media helped catalyze the "Arab Spring."

Which country has recently become more authoritarian?

Venezuela

Elite theorists and pluralists differ on whether or not __________.

any single group has a monopoly on the influence over government policies

In the United States, the press is often referred to as the "fourth branch of government" because __________.

of its key role in keeping government accountable to citizen demands

What do authoritarian leaders seek from their citizens?

passivity and obedience

Which of the following reforms would move a regime from a totalitarian system to an authoritarian system?

power shifted from one leader to a small group

States with which type of government regularly use organized terror and violence against citizens to maintain control and achieve goals?

totalitarianism