Political Science Overview

A systematically related set of propositions that provide possible explanations for a set of phenomena. They are simplified models of reality. They can be weak or strong, but not right or wrong.

The study of how individuals try to influence or escape the influence of others. This includes actions like voting, participating, protesting, racism, democracy, and nationalism.

A generic sorting of liberal and conservative ideas and ideals along a continuum of intensity.

An electoral strategy where parties adopt extreme positions on specific issues to attract voters who are particularly concerned about those issues.

A branch of politics that seeks to answer normative questions about what we should be doing. It aims to provide arguments and justifications for these actions.

Individuals should have equal rights and duties, but social and economic inequalities are acceptable if they benefit the least advantaged.

The fairness of property ownership depends solely on how it was acquired.

A formal, procedural process designed to ensure fairness, even if it results in inequalities.

The collective attitudes and beliefs about how government should operate.

A political system characterized by open competition between parties and candidates, where the winner is determined by a plurality of votes.

A political system that aims to represent all parties proportionally, often requiring coalition governments.

Democracy is the best option for political and economic elites, even though it limits their power.

A political culture where individual freedom (liberty) and collective needs (equality) are in constant tension.

A situation where individuals acting in their own self-interest lead to a worse outcome for everyone involved. Both players would be better off if they cooperated, but the incentive to act selfishly dominates.

A situation where a dominant strategy equilibrium (like in the Prisoner's Dilemma) isn't the best outcome for everyone. It highlights the conflict between individual rationality and collective well-being.

A person who benefits from a collective good without contributing to its creation or maintenance. They exploit the shared resource for personal gain.

The actions and non-actions of governments, including laws, policies, programs, and regulations, to address societal problems.

The systematic analysis of public policy to identify problems, evaluate potential solutions, and recommend courses of action. It involves gathering information, assessing options, and considering consequences.

A specific partisanship-based heuristic that helps citizens make informed choices, even with limited information. It represents an individual's personal attachment to a political party.

The declining importance and predictive power of Party Identification (PID) due to increasing electoral volatility. This means citizens are less likely to consistently vote for the same party.

A theory suggesting voters align with parties that represent their group interests, based on their social, ethnic, racial, or cultural identities.

Voting against a specific party, rather than actively supporting another. This primarily focuses on rejecting a certain political stance.

Actions individuals take to influence policy-making through conventional or unconventional methods. It represents the voluntary manifestation of political interest and action.

International organizations (IOs) like the UN and WTO help regulate the global system by setting rules, resolving disputes, and facilitating cooperation between countries.

Diplomacy involves managing relationships between nations through various means like negotiation, treaties, and peacekeeping operations. It aims to resolve conflicts, maintain peace, and address global issues like humanitarian emergencies and public health crises.

Globalization refers to the increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of countries in terms of trade, finance, culture, and communication. This can involve the spread of ideas, technologies, and values across borders.

The concept of 'Public Good' refers to the well-being of a society as a balance between the interests of the state and its citizens. It highlights a tension between individual self-interest and the collective good.

Maximum Feasible Freedom emphasizes the importance of balancing individual liberty and the pursuit of collective good. It acknowledges that short-term selfish interests can undermine long-term common good.

A theory suggesting that mass communication has a powerful and widespread influence on audiences, implying that exposure to media messages directly affects individuals' beliefs and behaviors.

A theory that emphasizes the role of media in shaping the public agenda by highlighting certain issues and making them appear more important than others.

The concept that media consumers tend to select information that confirms their existing beliefs and biases.

A type of media that delivers content to a large, heterogeneous audience through technical means, often characterized as unidirectional, indirect, and impersonal.

The study of interactions among sovereign states, non-state actors, and international institutions in the global arena.

A theoretical approach in IR that emphasizes the importance of power, self-interest, and national security in shaping state behavior. It views the international system as inherently anarchic and emphasizes the role of competition and conflict.

A theoretical approach in IR that suggests that the structure of the international system determines state behavior. States are seen as rational actors seeking to maximize their security within this system.

A theoretical approach in IR that emphasizes the role of cooperation, interdependence, and institutions in shaping international relations. It believes that states can achieve mutual benefits through dialogue and diplomacy.

The capacity of one state or entity to influence the behavior of other states or actors by means of economic, military, or cultural power.

A foreign policy approach that aims to promote democracy and international organizations to achieve peace and stability, often associated with President Woodrow Wilson.

A strategy for maintaining stability in the international system by ensuring no single state dominates the distribution of power. It involves balancing powers to prevent any one from becoming too strong.

A theoretical perspective in IR that suggests that the presence of a single dominant world power (hegemon) contributes to global stability and economic prosperity by maintaining order and promoting cooperation.

A model of decision-making that assumes actors are rational and seek to maximize their utility by carefully weighing costs and benefits in making choices.

A strategy of interaction where actors reciprocate the actions of others, rewarding cooperation and punishing defection. It relies on the principle of tit-for-tat for building trust and achieving mutual cooperation.

A type of political strategy that involves making decisions in the face of uncertainty and potential conflict, often involving a dilemma of whether to cooperate or defect.