Introduction to Comparative Politics

is a reference to the leadership of an institutions that make policy decisions for the country

Based on factual statemtns and statistics

value judgement

• 1st world: US and allies
• 2nd World: Soviet Union and allies
• 3rd World: Nations that did not fit in the first two

Democracy v. Authoritarianism and Communism v. Capitalism

the way that citizens organize and define themselves and their interests

well established democratic governments and a high level of economic development

Countries that have sought to create a sustem that limits individual freedoms in order to divide wealth more equally

Traditionally "Third World"

is territorially organized into states that control what happen within thier borders

a group of people that are bound together by a common political identity

the rules that a state sets and follows in exerting its power are referred to collectively as a regime.

Where citizens vote for legislative representatives which in turn select the leaders of the exectutive branch

where citizens vote for legislative representative as well as executive branch leaders. The 2 branches funtion with seperation of powers.

Prime minister coexists with a president

decisions are made by political elites with out much input from citizens

An arrangement in which government officials interact with people/ groups outside the government before they set policy.

• Seek to control and transform all aspects of the political and economic systems of society.
• Generally have a strong ideological goal than many authoritarian systems lack.

pluralism which is an important way citizens express their need to the government

the right to rule, as determined by their own citizens.

• Traditiondetermines who rules and how
• Often involves important myths / legends
• Monarchies

• baded on the dynamic personality of an indicidual leader or small group
• Fotoriously short lived because it usually does not survive it's founder

• Based on a system of well-established laws and procedures.
• 2 forms 
• Common law (Tradition, past practices) GB, US. ect
• Code Law (written rules of law divided into commercial, civil, and criminal codes.) China, Mexico, Russia

• Economic well-being
• Historical Tradition
• Charismatic Leadership
• Nationalim/ shared political culture
• satisfaction with the governments performance /  responcivness

refers to the callection of political beliefs, values, practices, and institutions that government is based on

• accepts legitimacy of regime and solutions to major problems
• May disagree on some political preocesses and policies, they tend to generally to agree on;
• How devisions are made
• what issues should be addressed
• how problems should be solved

• Citizens are sharply divided on legitimacy of the regime and solutions to major problems
• Political subcultures can erupt

• doesn't advocate the overthrow of basic institutions
• Reformers want to change some of the methods that political and economic leaders use to reach goals that society generally accepts

Involves either a major revision or an over throw of existing institutions

• "Blows to the state" - replace the leadership of a country with new leaders
• Ovvurs in a country where government institutions are weak and leaders have taken control by force

belief that rapid dramtic changes need to be made in the existing society, often influencing the political system

• supports reform and gradual change rather than revolution
• Fenereally beleive that systems are not broken but do not believe they need to be repaired

• Much less supportive of change in general
• Change is disruptive, unforeseen outcomes

• Similar to conservatices, however they find the status que unacceptable
• Willing to use violence

Universal political oder that draw its identity and values from every

National and international groups, independent of any state, that pursue policy objectives and foster public participation

Concentrates all policy making powers in one central government

Divides the power between the central government and  the subunits

An integration of social, environmental, economic, and culture activities of nations that has resulted from increasing international contacts

Bind together the people of a state making it stronger. (i.e. nationalism encouraging allegiance, promotes loyalty)

destabilize government and encourage it to fall apart

Well-developed sense of belonging to the same culture (mix of language, religion, and customs)

Ethinic, economic and spatial forces

inequalities may destabilize a nation -state 

devolutionary events most often occur on the margins of state. Distance remotness and periphal location promote devolution (water, desert mountains)

role that symbolized and represents the people 

deals with the everyday task of running the state, directs the activities of other member of the executive branch

• agencies that generally implement government policy 
• Size has been increasing since the 20th century due to government efforts to improve health, security, and welfare of their populations

• Hierarchical authority structure
• task specialization
• extensive rules
• clear goals
• the merit principle
• impersonality