Questions and Answers
What are normative statements?
What differentiates causation from correlation?
What is a political system?
The process by which official government decisions are made.
Define a state.
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What does sovereignty refer to?
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Define a nation.
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What is a nation-state?
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What is the definition of government?
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What does the term regime refer to?
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Differentiate between federalism and a unitary system.
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What is devolution?
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What is a political ideology?
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Define institutions of government.
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What is political culture?
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What does political participation encompass?
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Define political efficacy.
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What is political socialization?
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What is civil society?
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What are interest groups?
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What are political parties?
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What is political legitimacy?
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What is traditional legitimacy based on?
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What does charismatic legitimacy derive from?
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What is a cult of personality?
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What does rational-legal legitimacy derive from?
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What are indicators of legitimacy?
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What does globalization refer to?
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What is a supranational organization?
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Distinguish between developed and developing countries.
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What is meant by 'race to the bottom'?
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Define political economy.
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What is a liberal economy?
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What does liberalization refer to?
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What is resource curse?
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Explain import substitution.
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What is subsidization?
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What does privatization mean?
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Define the Gini Index.
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What is GNP?
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What is GDP?
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What are tariffs?
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What is foreign direct investment?
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Define social cleavages.
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What are coinciding cleavages?
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What are cross-cutting cleavages?
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Study Notes
Empirical vs. Normative Statements
- Normative statements express value judgments using terms like "should" or "better," whereas empirical statements are based on experimentations and tested hypotheses.
Causation vs. Correlation
- Causation indicates that one action directly causes another, while correlation shows a relationship without causation between two actions.
Political System
- A political system outlines how government decisions are made, interacting with legal, economic, cultural, and social systems.
State
- A state is a politically organized entity with centralized authority that holds a monopoly on legitimate force within a defined area.
Sovereignty
- Refers to a governing body's full authority over itself, free from external interference.
Nation
- A nation consists of people who share a common culture, history, and traditions, typically concentrated in a specific geographic region.
Nation-State
- Defined as a state where the majority of the population shares the same culture, aligning national and political boundaries ideally.
Government
- The organization with the authority to create and enforce laws, governing a country, land, or group of people.
Regime
- Represents the form and set of rules governing an institution, influencing its operations and interactions with global entities.
Federalism vs. Unitary
- In a unitary system, power is centralized in one government, while federalism divides authority among multiple national and local governments.
Devolution
- The process of transferring power from a central government to regional or local authorities.
Political Ideology
- Set of ethical ideals or beliefs providing a framework for social order. Common ideologies in the U.S. include liberalism, conservatism, libertarianism, and populism.
Institutions of Government
- Government organizations that create and implement laws, mediate disputes, and represent the population's interests.
Political Attitudes and Spectrum
- A political spectrum categorizes differing political positions, with a basic right-left model often oversimplifying complex views.
Political Culture
- Involves shared views and judgments of a population towards its political system, influencing citizens' beliefs and opinions.
Political Participation
- Encompasses various activities allowing citizens to express their political views and engage in shaping decisions affecting their lives.
Political Efficacy
- The belief that one’s participation in politics leads to meaningful change, encouraging further involvement.
Political Socialization
- The process through which individuals develop their political views based on familial, social, and cultural influences.
Civil Society
- Comprises voluntary organizations formed around shared interests, such as the NRA or NAACP.
Interest Groups
- Organized associations aiming to influence public policy in favor of their shared objectives.
Political Parties
- Groups of individuals unified by similar ideologies striving to implement their political agendas.
Political Legitimacy
- The accepted right to govern, dependent on the perceived authority of those in power.
Traditional Legitimacy
- Based on historical precedent and familial connection, exemplified by monarchies.
Charismatic Legitimacy
- Arises from a leader's personal charisma and ability to inspire and dominate public opinion.
Cult of Personality
- A phenomenon where a leader is venerated to the extent that their legitimacy is unquestioned.
Rational-Legal Legitimacy
- Grounded in established laws and institutional procedures that ensure governance authority is recognized and upheld.
Other Indicators of Legitimacy
- Economic strength, popular policies, and nationalism can enhance the legitimacy of authority.
Globalization
- The integration of societies into a global community across political, economic, and cultural spheres.
Supranational Organization
- Multinational entities where member states cede some authority, with binding decisions affecting all members.
Developed vs. Developing Countries
- Developed countries are more industrialized with higher per capita incomes, while developing countries have less industrialization and lower incomes.
Race to the Bottom
- Refers to deregulation aimed at attracting businesses by lowering taxes and labor standards, potentially impacting wages and environmental laws.
Political Economy
- The analysis of how economic theories manifest in practice, examining the interplay of culture, history, and customs on economies.
Liberal Economy
- Characterized by free market principles and private ownership of capital.
Liberalization
- The reduction of governmental controls, particularly regarding international trade and capital.
Resource Curse
- Describes nations rich in natural resources that struggle to modernize due to dependency on a single economic product.
Import Substitution
- A strategy for developing countries to reduce reliance on imports by promoting domestic industries through protective measures.
Subsidization
- Government financial support aimed at stabilizing or increasing prices in certain economic sectors.
Privatization
- The transfer of ownership from the government to private entities, potentially applying to publicly traded companies as well.
Gini Index
- A metric assessing income distribution inequality, where higher values indicate greater disparity.
GNP vs. GDP
- GNP measures national economic output based on international revenues, while GDP evaluates domestic production within a country's borders.
Tariffs
- Taxes imposed on imported goods and services to balance trade.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
- Investments by entities in one country into businesses in another country, often motivated by competitive advantages.
Social Cleavages
- Deep-rooted social divisions that create differing political ideologies within a society.
Coinciding Cleavages
- Identifying divisions that overlap significantly among large segments of the population, potentially leading to conflict.
Cross-Cutting Cleavages
- Divisions that allow for agreement in some areas despite disagreement in others, helping to maintain social cohesion.
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Description
This quiz covers the key concepts of empirical and normative statements, including their definitions and differences. It also explores the distinction between causation and correlation, helping to clarify common misconceptions in these areas. Test your understanding of these foundational principles in social sciences.