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Test 1 PSC
3/12/09
69
Political Studies
Undergraduate 3
03/07/2009

Additional Political Studies Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Comparative Politics
Definition
The study of politics in foreign countries in comparison to the student's home country
Term
What are assumptions of the rational choice theory?
Definition
.Information provided to people is perfect
.Peoples actions are in self interest
.Decision making is cost involved
Term
What is political science used to do?
Definition
Find out the truth (law-like generalization) about politics
Term
Comparative politics gives...
Definition
a need to compare (advantages and disadvantages of different political systems)
Term
Behavioralism
Definition
approach that seeks to provide an objective, quantified approach to explaining and predicting political behavior
Term
Behavioralism (2)
Definition
bottom up quest for general laws based on the use of surveys and statistics
Term
Institutions
Definition
Used to explain path-dependencies within societies and differences in development between them
Term

Institutions

 

Definition
structures that appear w/consistency throughout society
Term
Political Culture
Definition
a society's way of doing things due to common histories, traditions, customs, world-views, and value systems
Term
Political scientists use political culture to...
Definition
explain broad and enduring differences between societies
Term
What are three methods of comparison?
Definition
.Single case study
.Most similar design
.Most different design
Term
What are three dimensions/orientations of political beliefs?
Definition
.Cognitive
.Affective
.Evaluative
Term
Cognitive political belief
Definition
facts and events
Term
Affective political belief
Definition
feeling
Term
Evaluative political belief
Definition
Synthesis
Term
Conservatism definition
Definition
A belief in the virtue of preserving traditional values and social institutions and of promoting loyalty to country, reliance on family, and adherence to religion
Term
What two assumptions does conservatism make about individuals?
Definition
1. Individuals are not consistently rational
2. Individuals are unequal in intelligence, skills, and status
Term
Under conservatism, individuals belong...
Definition
to different groups that are unequal in power, status, and material possessions
Term
Under conservatism, individual liberty is valued, but only...
Definition
within a framework of mutual responsibility in the society.
Term
Under conservatism, forced equality is...
Definition
unwise because it disrupts the natural, cooperative hierarchy among groups, causes social conflict, and endangers the fundamental goal of order and stability
Term
Classical liberalism definition
Definition
Ideology that places highest value on individual freedom and says that the role of government should be quite limited.
Term
2 contrasts of classical liberalism to conservatism
Definition
1. each person is rational and responsible and is the best judge of what is in their self interest
2. there is no higher value in classical liberalism than the freedom of the individual to pursue their natural rights
Term
Liberalism says that a person's full capabilities can be realized only if...
Definition
they are not limited by a social order in which tradition and hierarchy are dominant
Term
Laissez-faire economy
Definition
Each person should be free to pursue their economic goals by any legal activity and to amass as much property and wealth as possible
Term
Classical liberalism says that equality...
Definition
before the law is important, but government should not attempt to create material equality
Term
Utilitarianism
Definition
doctrine that the useful is the good; the aim was said to be the greatest happiness for the greatest number
Term
Capitalism
Definition
system dominated by a laissez faire market economy in which economic actors are generally free from state constraints
Term
M Keynes
Definition
Liberalism is bad because people ultimately only care about themselves
Term
M Keynes believes this of liberalism
Definition
Is the most cruel system
Term
M Keynes says liberalism does not...
Definition
set any standards, give us any guidelines, etc
Term
Socialism assumes this about individuals
Definition
That they are decent, and should be perfected
Term
Socialism says it is up to the state to...
Definition
mold person into perfect human
Term
Socialism says people should care more for the _______ than the _______.
Definition
.society
.individual
Term
Marxist/original socialists thought humans could....
Definition
prepare for evolution to communism, but cannot stop it
Term
Lenin school of socialism
Definition
usually have to wait for societies to develop before transition to communism from socialism
Term
Individual vs Collective values
Definition
Individual beliefs are much simpler and narrower than collective
Term
Political Culture
Definition
The configuration of a particular people's political orientations
Term
Traditional approach that attempts to capture the essence of a people's political culture involves...
Definition
national character studies
Term
Materialist values are also known as...
Definition
survival values
Term
Materialist values
Definition
Exhibit high concern for economic and physical security, as supported by stong national defense, order maintenance, and economic growth
Term
Postmaterialist values are aka...
Definition
self-expression values
Term
Postmaterialist values
Definition
emphasize a subjective well being and quality of life, as supported by a more esthetically satisfying environment, freedom of expression, and more personal power in social and political life.
Term
Secular-rational (modern) values
Definition
Opposite on matters to traditional values
Term
Conventional political participation
Definition
Using routine channels to influence govt/society
Term
Illegal participation
Definition
.system threatening acts
.riots, rebellions, revolution, civil war
.political assassinations
.civil disobedience
.corruption
.withholding services (tax evasions, draft evasion)
Term
On what basis can national affiliation be established for a group of people?
Definition
.ethnic/cultural/blood-line (German model)
.secular/state (Anglo-French model)
Term
Modernism
Definition
Nationalism as consequence of the needs of industrial society- modernization leads to nationalism
Term
Primordialism
Definition
Nationalism as enduring characteristic of human society
Term
State
Definition
a territorial bound sovereign entity
Term
Territorial Integrity
Definition
Says that a state has the right to resist and reject any aggression, invasion, or intervention within its territorial boundaries
Term
Central government
Definition
different bureaucracies and agencies providing general services
Term
Territory
Definition
Enforceable and recognized borders
Term
Population is usually...
Definition
multi-national even though the pretense is nationalism to increase state power
Term
Sovereignty is usually internationally recognized unless...
Definition
the govt is committing serious human rights violations against its own citizens
Term
Nationalism
Definition
"Right of blood"; "Right of territory"
Term
Primordialism
Definition
Feeling that people naturally attract to others they are compatible with
Term
How can the state be conceived in relation to society?
Definition
.As distinct from society (bureaucracy controlling legitimate violence)
.As controlled by a part of society (controlled by the strongest classes)
.As a representation of society (different groups rotating through power)
Term
Authoritarianism
Definition
A system in which the political rights and interests of individuals are subordinated, usually by coercion, to the interest of the state
Term
Authoritarianism
Definition
A system in which the political rights and interests of individuals are subordinated, usually by coercion, to the interest of the state
Term
Totalitarianism
Definition
Political system where govt's allocation of values and its control penetrate into virtually every aspect of its people's lives
Term
Characteristics of an ideal democracy
Definition
.Majority rule
.Limited govt
Term
A legislative branch is responsible for...
Definition
.representation
.law-making
.oversight
Term
Legislative branches are usually __________ or __________.
Definition
.unicameral
.bicameral
Term
Executive branch is responsible for...
Definition
.policy initiation
.policy implementation
.security/military leadership
.diplomacy and treaties
Term
Modern government administrations are...
Definition
large and impersonal
Term
Administration
Definition
extensive system of people who interpret, administer, and enforce the executive branch's policy directives
Term
Common law
Definition
reference to law and the corresponding legal system developed through decisions of courts and similar tribunals (called case law), rather than through legislative statutes or executive action
Term
Civil law
Definition
seeks to resolve non-criminal disputes such as disagreements over the meaning of contracts, property ownership, divorce, child custody, and damages for personal and property damage
Term
Shari'a law
Definition
The Law according to islamic teaching and values
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