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20 Cards in this Set
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Authoritarianism |
A system of rule where a government 'from above' imposes rule on society regardless of consent, and thus doesn't rely on consent to rule. Juan Linz 1964 uses 4 qualities to distinguish authoritarian rule: 1-Limited pluralism which slightly constrains government. 2-Legitimacy claim based on emotion and necessary evil to solve problems. 3-Minimal political mobilisation and repression of society. 4-Deliberately vague executive powers. De Maistre 19th century believed this as the only way to reliably secure order; by imposing authority at the expense of personal liberty. Concept includes monarchical absolution, military rule and both communist and fascist dictatorships. It is distinguished from totalitarianism as although it represses opposition and civil liberties, it doesn't aim to obliterate civil society altogether, and thus may tolerate economic and religious freedoms. Today, authoritarian populism is used to describe some supposed democracies-Blair, Thatcher, US exec orders. |
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Authority
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The right to exercise power, sometimes called 'legitimate power'. Based on a duty to obey, rather than coercion or manipulation. Descriptive: Weber divides it into three types: 1-Traditional authority-rooted in history & tradition. 2-Charismatic authority-From the power of personality. 3-Legal-Rational-A set of rules which govern the office rather than the office holder. Weldon defines it as a 'force capable of being exercised with the general approval of those concerned' (vocab of politics) Normative: The notion that authority should be obeyed is more important than if it actually is-users may use this to justify their continued rule, be it through election results or divine right, despite unpopularity. De jure authority-exists due to powers of office (legal rational and traditional) De facto-cannot be traced to a set of rules (Charismatic) Liberals and socialists believe authority arises from the consent of the governed-'from below', which implies authority is rational and limited. Critics say it is the enemy of freedom. Conservatives view it as 'from above' by the most qualified to benefit others the most, but unchecked can lead to authoritarianism. |
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Citizenship |
A relationship between state and citizen, bound by reciprocal rights and duties. Thick or thin citizenship. Individualist perspective (thin)-private entitlement and the citizen being autonomous are key. In a socialist communitarianism approach duty and civic responsibility are essential. Idea dates back to ancient Greece-Aristotle defined it as 'anyone entitled to participate in an office involving decision making'. Machiavelli 16th century built on this (Discourses of Livy) he argues collective self rule and self defence as well as a commitment to the political community should form the basis of the relationship. As citizens, individuals thus have a broader civil responsibility, but lw and rw differ on if this includes social and welfare rights and duties. Marxists-standard feminists-standard |
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Civil society
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Defined as autonomous groups and organisations separate and distinct from the state e.g. business pressure groups and families.
Burke describes civil society as 'little platoons' which represent private institutions separate from government, who organise themselves and pursue their goals. Marx depicts civil society as the 'base' by which social relations can take place and represent the interests of the proletariat must state represents the bourgeoisie as the superstructure. But also criticise it is oppressing the class strugle. The role of society can be used to assess a system of government. In totalitarianism it is obliterated completely. In liberal democracies it is a place of choice personal freedom and individual responsibility. They play vital role in complementing and scrutinising the state, with a desire to weaken government in favour of an enhanced civil society usually prominent. Hegel-it is egoism, state is altruism. |
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Civic culture
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A political culture characterised by the acceptance of the authority of the state and the belief in participation of civic duties like voting and paying taxes. A blend of three types of political culture-ethnic, social and
Term was coined by Almond and Verba 1963. Used opinion polls to analyse 5 democracies-can they affect government and do they want to? Reconciles participation with the need to govern. Several characteristics: pride in the nation, expectation of fair treatment by authorities, tolerance towards opposition parties, self-confidence in one's competence when participating in politics. Criticised as culture isn't homogeneous. Labelled Britain as the civic culture but recent critiques like Seyd and Whitely argue that a lack of trust in politicians and the system questions whether Britain is still a civic culture and whether it is declining. |
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Democratisation
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Transition towards full democracy, be it from an authoritarian or semi democratic regime. Goes through transition and then consolidation. Huntington believes democracy came in three waves, described in his book the third wave. Wave 1-democracy in Western Europe and North America in the 19th century where at its peak there were 29 democracies (but dropped to 12 after rise of dictatorships). Wave 2-post world war two due to Allied victory-reached 36 democracies. Wave 3-began in the 1970s and saw Latin America, Asia and post USSR Eastern Europe all transition to democracy-as of 2009 there are 87. (Fukuyama's liberal democracy theory) People argue democratisation occurs due to wealth, social quality, culture, foreign intervention and education. |
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Direct democracy
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Labelled as the purest form of democracy, involves the 'direct and continuous participation in the tasks of government'. It destroys the separation between government and government as well as between the state and civil society.
Was achieved in ancient Greece and nowadays Switzerland has a version of it. Defends freedom and promoted education through participation, but turn your majority may also occur. Most representative democracies have some elements of direct democracy embedded within them (referendums, recalls, PG activity and media) |
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Legitimacy
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Transfers power into authority. It is a basic condition for governing, and can be derived from several sources: the popular mandate, divine, military etc.
Look states that government isn't legitimate without 'the consent of the governed'. Political philosophers believe the moral principle is the most important thus the claim of government to be legitimate is more important than if they are obeyed. Political scientists view this as a willingness of the governed to comply with a system of rule, regardless of how this is achieved. Weber- legitimacy is a belief in the 'right to rule'. Can be split into the three types of authority (traditional, charismatic, legal rational). Legal rational is now most prominent due to a respect for the rules but there are exceptions. |
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Liberal democracy
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A form of democratic which balances limited government with popular concern.
Gettysburg Address Government is constrained by network of checks and balances such as separation of powers designed to protect citizens liberty against the state. This includes regular competitive elections with universal suffrage and political equality. A healthy and pluralistic civil society independent from government is vital. After the collapse of communism, Fukayama held the trial of liberal democracy as a success and 'the final form of human government in his book End of Days as they are highly responsive and adaptive due to the channels of communication between government and the government. The correlation between liberal democracy and capitalism also makes the prosperity of citizens likely, whilst power is also spread widely (pluralism). representative, direct, procedural, substantive are types. Aristotle-rule of the uneducated and mob rule. Marxists criticise the political equality of liberal democracies as a facade to hide class divide whilst they are also troubled by the prominence of capitalism. |
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Modernisation theory
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Transition from traditional to modern society economically, socially and culturally open to every nation as the west will assist. which can be caused by several factors: Technology-improvements in technology in recent years has seen FDI increase from rich to poor nations in what has become known as globalisation. In addition to communication these have exported capitalism and increasing wealth was decreasing global inequality. Globalists argue that this will ultimately benefit everyone. Social progress – improved access to education and economic prosperity, which often leads to democratisation as well. Critics argue it is Western culture simply replacing indigenous, but others say that the Western society is the only modern society. |
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Nationalism
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The belief that the nation (a collection of cultural political and psychological factors bound by common language history and tradition et cetera) is the central principle of political organisation.
It is based on two assumptions: One – humankind is naturally divided into distinct nations Two – the nation is a political community rule in the most appropriate and thus legitimate way (John Locke 'consent of the governed') There is debate over whether it is doctrine or ideology. Doctrine is more theory than practice. Doctrine– all nations are entitled to independent statehood. Ideology – several meanings: Political nationalism – uses nation as a vehicle to further political means and ends. In liberal nationalism nations have rights like individuals, mainly with self-determination. Other types such as expansionist and anticolonial. This has shaped recent history with World War I, World War II, the end of the USSR and decolonisation brought about by political nationalist thinking. Pros- community and cohesiveness. Also enlarges and defends freedom and democracy. Cons – is inherently oppressive, intolerant and promote conflict between nations as it breeds tribalism. Can be used as an aggressive tool by leaders to control the masses. Cultural – strength of what a nation stands for as a way of life e.g. religion and language |
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Power
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The ability to achieve the desired outcome. To do something.
Mao-'power is in a barrel of a gun' In politics this refers to the ability to influence the behaviour of others regardless of whether they want to. It is power over others. Power is the ability to influence, authority is their right to do so. Linked with the ability to reward and punish. Exerted in several ways. One – conscious decision-making and judgements which shape actions or influence. Keith Boulding (1989) identifies three ways it can be exerted. Force or intimidation, mutual gain and the creation of loyalty and commitment. Often linked to pluralism as it's the influence of multiple actors. Two– agenda setting: prevent decisions being made or proposals/issues being raised. Linked to elitism through vested interests dictating. Three – thought control: influence what people think or need/want. The cultural and psychological control over society which highlights the impact ideology according to the Lukes 1974. Linked to Marxism as the reality of class division is masked. Linked through history to power politics, which states the pursuit of power is the principal human grow. Hobbes states that it is an urge to seek 'power after power' and history supports this. Politics is an arena for personal ambition-to have control over establishing and asserting all where international peace can only occur through a balance of power. |
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Sovereignty
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The principle of absolute and unlimited power. Legal sovereignty is the supreme legal authority which is an unchallengeable right to demand compliance as defined in law. Political sovereignty is unlimited political power – the ability to command obedience usually ensured by a monopoly of coercive force.
External sovereignty – A state's place in the world and capacity to act independently. Internal sovereignty – supreme power and authority within the states, located in the body that makes decisions binding on all citizens and institutions within the territory. Emerged with the Westphalia state system as all monarchies claimed to exercise supreme power. Hobbes and Bodin argue that this was the justification for monarchical absolutism. Nowadays external refers to the recognition of statehood. Globalisation has also eroded political sovereignty due to transnational organisations. |
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Revolution
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French Revolution established its meaning as a process of dramatic and far-reaching change, usually including the destruction and replacement of the old order. Comes in three types:
One – political. Popular uprisings often involving violence, bring about fundamental change to the political system itself (as opposed to a rebellion which changes a policy or the rulers). Two – social. Changes in the system of ownership for the economic system. Marxist views it as a change in the 'mode of production'. See it as more fundamental than political as it goes deeper (class). Three – cultural. Rooting out values and beliefs supported by the old order and establishing new ones. Every revolution has a cultural/ideological element. World has been shaped by revolutions e.g. American 1776, Russian 1917, Chinese 1949, Iranian. Revolutionaries argue that by nature they are a popular phenomenon supported by the masses, but critics say that leaders don't want to relinquish their newly won power and are also obliged to continue to rule with violence if this is how they won it, leading them towards authoritarianism. |
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State
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'The political association that establishes sovereign jurisdiction within defined territorial borders, exercising authority through a set of permanent institutions' Heywood. Have five key features: One – exercises sovereignty. Absolute and unrestricted power which leads Hobbes to describe it as a 'leviathan'. Two – state institutions are publicly funded and make and enforce decisions on society as opposed to the private sphere of civil society. Three – legitimacy. Decisions are usually accepted as binding on citizens as they reflect the permanent interests of society. Four – domination. Weber 'monopoly on legitimate violence'. Five – exercises jurisdiction within geographically defined borders and should be treated as an autonomous entity internationally. Minimal, developmental, collectivised, totalitarian are all examples. Liberals state it is a neutral realm for competing interests in society. Marxist believe it is an instrument for class oppression as it maintains the status quo of unequal class power. Has declined due to globalisation and increased interdependence and cooperation of economies. |
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Totalitarianism
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But all-encompassing system ruled established by ideological manipulation, open terror and brutality. It seeks total power through the politicisation of every aspect of social and personal existence, abolishing the 'private' sphere-civil society.
One – the existence of an official ideology. Two – a one-party state, usually led by an all powerful leader. Three - terroristic policing. Four – a monopoly on mass communication. Five – a monopoly on armed combat. Six – state control of all aspects of the economy. Originated in Fascist Italy and can be right-wing or left-wing which compare the differences between communism and fascism (negative). The idea that powers total is also a misconception as there will always be pockets of resistance. |
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Westphalia state system
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The principle in international law that each nation has sole sovereignty over its territory and domestic affairs, and that each state is equal in international law.
Named after 17th-century treaty where European leaders agreed to respect one another's territory. NATO Gen. Sec Solana 1998: System promotes 'rivalry, community, exclusion, not integration.' Some argue globalisation has made this system obsolete, making the state less relevant as well as: EU-concept of shared sovereignty contradicts principles of Westphalia as external agents can interfere with domestic affairs (Factortame 1992). |
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International Society |
Suggests relations between states are conditioned by rules and norms that establishes regular patterns of interaction-society. Implies it is a rule governed system which maintains international order. Pluralist view-states with different political arrangements and cultures can coexist. Realists argue it over emphasises how prepared states are able to set aside narrow self interest. Institutions are international law, diplomacy and activities of international organisations. Internationalism: The theory/practice of politics based on transnational or global cooperation, where the ties which bind people of different nation's together are stronger than those which separate them. Liberal internationalism is based on individualism-human rights have greater importance than the sovereign authority of a nation. Socialist-Class solidarity of the proletariat binds these individuals. Condemns nationalism as unnecessary and wrong, with internationalists denying their basic assertion that the nation is the sole legitimate unit of political rule, and are simply there to maintain social cohesion by elites. Also a moral sphere of internationalism-global response to crises. Immanual Kant believed in a 'league of nations' so that 'there should be no war'. But internationalism can't compete with national structures which promote political allegiance and underestimates nationalism. Universal human rights also doesn't take into accounts national traditions and cultures-labelled as covert western imperialism. |
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Procedural democracy |
Institutional arrangement for arriving at political decisions in which individuals acquire the power to decide by means of a competitive struggle for people's votes. Citizens of a state have less power than in a normal liberal democracy. Procedures which must be fulfilled to be considered a democracy. If these democratic procedures are followed the end result is democracy. Electoral process is at the core of authority. In some African countries. Relies on: universal participation Political equality Majority rules Responsiveness of government to voter desires. |
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Substantive democracy |
People have a right to a controlling influence over public decisions and matters, and should be treated with equal respect and worth in the context of such decisions. Opposite of procedural. Focus on democratic ends and means. Outcome of elections is representative of the people. Government functions in the interests of the governed Must guarantee civil rights and liberties and sometimes social and economic rights. Separation of powers. |
