Comparative Politics Final Study Sheet PDF

Comparative Politics Final Study Sheet Key Definitions 1\. Society: A group of people bound by shared institutions that define how human relations are conducted. 2\. Culture: Shared values, beliefs, and norms that shape political, economic, and social behavior. 3\. Identity: The sense of belongi...

Comparative Politics Final Study Sheet Key Definitions 1\. Society: A group of people bound by shared institutions that define how human relations are conducted. 2\. Culture: Shared values, beliefs, and norms that shape political, economic, and social behavior. 3\. Identity: The sense of belonging to a group defined by shared characteristics such as ethnicity, religion, or nationality. 4\. Nation: A group of people with a common identity seeking political autonomy. 5\. Nation-State: A state whose population shares a sense of national identity. 6\. Ethnicity/Ethnic Identity: Shared cultural heritage often linked by language, religion, or ancestry. 7\. National Identity: A sense of belonging to a nation and a belief in its political aspirations. 8\. Nationalism: Pride in one's nation, often coupled with the desire for national self-determination. 9\. Ethnic Conflict: Disputes between ethnic groups that struggle to achieve political or economic goals. 10\. National Conflict: Conflicts between groups with distinct national aspirations, often over sovereignty or state legitimacy. 11\. Citizenship: The relationship between an individual and a state, involving rights and obligations. 12\. Patriotism: Pride in one's state and its political system. 13\. Political Ideology: A set of beliefs about the goals of politics and the role of the state in achieving them. 14\. Political Culture: The collective attitudes and norms that influence political behavior. Political Ideologies 1\. Radical: Advocates for dramatic revolutionary changes to the current system. 2\. Liberal: Supports evolutionary change within the system to improve institutions. 3\. Conservative: Defends the status quo and is skeptical of rapid change. 4\. Reactionary: Seeks to restore a previous political or social order. 5\. Liberalism: Emphasizes individual freedoms, free markets, and limited state intervention. 6\. Communism: Advocates for state control of economic resources to achieve equality. 7\. Social Democracy: Balances liberalism's focus on individual freedom with social welfare. 8\. Fascism: Rejects individual freedom and equality, emphasizing authoritarianism and nationalism. 9\. Anarchism: Rejects state authority and seeks a stateless society. Political Economy Concepts 1\. Markets: Systems where goods and services are exchanged. 2\. Property: Ownership rights over resources and goods. 3\. Public Goods: Resources provided by the state for everyone (e.g., roads, security). 4\. Private Goods: Goods and services provided by the market to individuals. 5\. Social Expenditures: State-provided benefits like healthcare, education, and pensions. 6\. Taxation: The main source of state revenue to fund public services. 7\. Gross Domestic Product (GDP): Measures the total economic output of a country. 8\. Purchasing Power Parity (PPP): Compares the value of currencies based on their purchasing power. 9\. Human Development Index (HDI): Measures development using health, education, and income indicators. Key Case Studies 1\. United Kingdom: Brexit: Driven by concerns over sovereignty, immigration, and economic independence. Represents a break in UK-EU relations. The Troubles: A conflict between unionists (Protestants) and nationalists (Catholics) in Northern Ireland. 2\. Russia: Shock Therapy: Rapid privatization led to economic instability and oligarchic control. Political impact: Centralized authority under Vladimir Putin. 3\. China: Reform and Opening: Transition from Maoist policies to market socialism, fueling rapid economic growth. Belt and Road Initiative: Infrastructure investments aimed at expanding global influence. 4\. Iran: Bonyads: Parastatal foundations that control significant economic resources, contributing to corruption and inefficiency. Resource Curse: Reliance on oil has hampered political and economic reform. 5\. Brazil: Bolsa Familia: A conditional cash transfer program that reduced poverty but faced corruption scandals. Rising debt, unemployment, and inflation have fueled political instability. Globalization and Economic Systems 1\. Globalization: Positive effects: Increased trade, economic growth, and cultural exchange. Negative effects: "Race to the bottom," loss of sovereignty, and growing inequality. 2\. Economic Systems: Capitalism: Market-driven economy with minimal state intervention. Mercantilism: Focuses on state power through trade protectionism and exports. Social Democracy: Combines market economy with strong social welfare programs. Revolutions and Political Violence 1\. Revolution: A mass uprising aiming to overthrow a government or regime. 2\. Terrorism: Use of violence by non-state actors against civilians to achieve political goals. 3\. Causes of Political Violence: Institutional: Weak state capacity or lack of democratic avenues. Ideational: Radical ideologies or nationalism. Individual: Personal grievances or psychological motives. Key Comparisons 1\. Public vs. Private Goods: Public goods are non-excludable and provided by the state. Private goods are distributed based on market demand and supply. 2\. Import Substitution vs. Export-Oriented Industrialization: Import Substitution: Protects domestic industries by reducing imports. Export-Oriented: Focuses on integrating into global markets through exports. 3\. Integration vs. Devolution: Integration: Strengthening connections between states (e.g., EU). Devolution: Delegating power from central governments to local authorities. Short Answer Preparation 1\. Explain the pros and cons of globalization for state sovereignty and economic development. 2\. Compare GDP, PPP, Gini Index, and HDI as measures of economic growth and inequality. 3\. Analyze the challenges developed democracies face in maintaining the welfare state. 4\. Discuss how imperialism has shaped the political and economic challenges of developing countries. Let me know when you're ready, and I'll craft mock test questions based on this study sheet!