Untitled Quiz

Lecture 1

• Polis is an ancient Greek city-state, encompassing the city and its surrounding area, governed independently. Examples include Athens and Sparta.
• Cosmopolitan describes someone or something worldly and diverse, possessing a global perspective.
• Greco-Roman Civilization refers to the cultural blend of ancient Greece and Rome, including Greek influence on Roman society and spreading Roman law and architecture.
• Paideia is an ancient Greek concept emphasizing well-rounded, ethical, and knowledgeable individuals through upbringing, encompassing character, morals, and citizenship, not solely formal education.

Lecture 2

• Roman State Model is a complex government system featuring democratic and autocratic elements.
• The Roman Republic (509-27 BCE) consisted of elected officials (consuls, senators) and checks and balances (popular assemblies, tribunes).
• The Roman Empire (27 BCE-476 CE in the West) was ruled by emperors maintaining some republican institutions and traditions.
• The Christian Church functions as a global community of believers in Jesus Christ, impacting religious life, culture, and society.
• Augustine's concept of the "two cities" portrays two distinct realms: The City of God emphasizing the spiritual, and the City of Man representing the secular.

Lecture 3

• The "Great Tradition" refers to the body of knowledge, cultural practices, and intellectual heritage from major civilizations (Greece, Rome, and religious scriptures) significantly impacting history.
• Humanism is a philosophical and cultural movement emphasizing individual value, dignity, and potential, drawing inspiration from classical antiquity.
• The "New Man" of the Renaissance embodies traits like curiosity, individualism, and a well-rounded education, stressing personal achievement.
• Virtù is a Renaissance concept emphasizing the qualities of strength, skill, and wisdom enabling individuals to shape their own destinies.

Lecture 4

• The Peace of Westphalia (1648) ended the Thirty Years' War, introducing modern state sovereignty and reshaping European politics by weakening the Holy Roman Empire and boosting France and Sweden.
• Weber's three types of legitimacy include traditional (customs), charismatic (extraordinary qualities), and legal-rational (laws and rules).
• The 17th-century shift in reasons for obeying the state transitioned from divine right to legal-rational legitimacy, emphasizing formal laws, institutions, and procedures.
• Tilly's "war made the state and the state made war" describes the reciprocal relationship between warfare and state formation in Europe, highlighting the demanding aspects of war necessitating stronger state institutions and bureaucracies.

Lecture 5

• Nation-state is a political entity with a distinct cultural group (nation) coinciding with a sovereign government (state), with aligned boundaries.
• Hirst describes the creation of modern Germany through Prussia's state-building efforts in the late 19th century, incorporating wars, economic integration, and Bismarck's realpolitik.
• Four core features of the modern European state include territoriality, sovereignty, monopoly on legitimate force, and bureaucracy.

Lecture 6

• Democracy is a form of government where power is vested in the people; key principles include popular sovereignty, rule of law, and political equality.
• The "tyranny of the majority" refers to when the majority's interests oppress minority groups, requiring constitutional safeguards and independent judicial systems.
• The Roman Republic was a government with elected officials (Senate, consuls, and popular assemblies), establishing a groundwork for modern democracies, though transitioned into the Roman Empire.
• The Divine Right of Kings is the political doctrine asserting a monarch's authority derives directly from God.

Lecture 7

• The Third Reverse Wave describes the period where democracies shifted to authoritarianism, reversing previous democratic gains.
• Authoritarianism and Totalitarianism share centralized control but differ; Authoritarianism allows limited freedoms, while Totalitarianism aims for total control over public and private life.
• Selectorate refers to the group with power to choose leaders, impacting regime stability.
• Hybrid regimes blend democratic and authoritarian elements, often having elections, but with limited freedoms and restrictions.
• Democratic backsliding is a gradual decline in democratic quality, where institutions weaken, freedoms are reduced, and power erodes.
• Pseudo-opposition refers to opposition parties that lack real power or independence, creating a façade of democracy without true contestation.

Lecture 8

• Legistlature is the body responsible for creating and passing laws and consists of BICAMERAL/UNICAMERAL chambers.
• Executive Branch enforces and administers laws, led by the head of government and ministers, often encompassing related institutions.
• Parliament is the legislative body, accountable to the legislature, where the head of government is typically the majority party leader, and the head of State holds a separate ceremonial role.
• The Constitution is a document outlining a government's fundamental principles and structure.

Lecture 9

• Ideology is a coherent system of beliefs and values guiding political action and shaping the understanding of complex social and political issues.
• Traditional ideologies emerged from the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution, questioning traditional authority and debating issues of individual rights, equality, and government roles.
• Positive freedom emphasizes the capacity to realize one's potential and requires support; Negative freedom defines freedom from external constraints.
• Liberalism, Socialism, and Conservatism differ in their views on government size, individualism, and market approaches.

Lecture 10

• Contemporary ideologies diverge from traditional ones by shifting from universal principles to fragmented, localized, and identity-based concerns.
• Postmodernism challenges the absoluteness of traditional ideologies, emphasizing pluralism, relativism, and subjective truths.

Lecture 11

• A political party is an organized group seeking power using elections; key features include a central role within the government and internal organization.
• Predominant party system, two-party system, and multi-party system represent different structures of power concentration and distribution.
• Anti-politics signifies distrust in traditional political systems.

Lecture 12

• Elections are crucial for democracy, ensuring representation, accountability, legitimacy, and citizen participation.
• Key election systems include majoritarian, proportional, and mixed systems.
• Advantages and disadvantages of each system focus on stability, representation, proportional outcome, and administrative complexities.