The Political Dimension Of Europe

Front 1

Politics

Back 1

1. Struggle for power and leadership that gives an individual or a group the ability to make authoritative decisions for the public as a whole, for society.
2.The interaction of people, ideas and institutions, i.e. it provides focus for understanding how values are allocated and resources distributed
3. Who get's what, when, where, why and how?

Front 2

The State

Back 2

1. A Geographic territory with international recognized boundaries, an identifiable population that lives within these boundaries, and a recognized government

2. An institution claiming a 'monopoly of legitimate use of physical force in enforcing it's order within a certain territorial area'

Front 3

Sovereignity

Back 3

1. The ability to act within a territory, independently from internal or external rivals. "You can do what you want
Internal: Supreme authority domestically

External: Independence Internationally

Front 4

Monopoly of legitimate violance

Back 4

Max Weber; Protects it's territory and the population within it.
Legitimate: The state should be the only one to protect the state and the only one who can use violence. Accepted by society
Anghel: One of the functions of the state that makes it the only one capable of using violence with the agreement of society

Front 5

Collective Goods

Back 5

The State provide collective goods; it has institutions that help society function (Laws, regulations, taxation, infrastructure)

Front 6

Unitary State

Back 6

1. Most power at national level, less at regional level
2. Example: France, where Paris is the most important thing.

Front 7

Federal State

Back 7

1. Significant power given to regional bodies by constitution

2. Example: Germany with it's 16 states. US, in some states death penalty is allowed, in some not. The Netherlands.

Front 8

Nation State

Back 8

Correspondence between nation and state; population bounded by a shared territory, culture, history, culture, common legal rights and duties for all citizens.

Front 9

Homogenous State

Back 9

State with one ethnic group

Front 10

Heterogenous State

Back 10

State with several ethnic groups, for instance the Netherlands

Front 11

Traditional Authority

Back 11

Traditional customs and values, something that we are used to do.
Example: Queen of England

Front 12

Charismatic Authority

Back 12

Personality

Example: Fidel Castro, or Barack Obama

Front 13

Rational-Legal Authority

Back 13

System of collectively agreed rules. Based on the rules of the constitution.

Example: Mark Rutte

Front 14

Three types of Authority according to Weber

Back 14

Traditional, Charismatic and Rational-Legal

Front 15

Power

Back 15

1. The ability to make people do what they otherwise not do. Often equated with coercion of force. One fears power.
2. Power is the production of intended results.
3. Obedience at high cost.
Example: Fear for a gun with a robber, Fear for an Exam with a teacher, fear for prison or punishment with taxes

Front 16

Authority

Back 16

1. Legitimate power because the ruled recognize the rights of the rulers to exercise power, so it is often equated with consent. One respects authority.

2. Production of intended results trough consent.

3. Obedience at low cost

It is highly desirable for rulers to convent power to authority.
Example: Doctor

Front 17

Narrow (empirical) definition of democracy

Back 17

Focus on the means of democracy; emphasizes democratic institutions and procedures; minimal approach.

1. Competitive elections + Participation of electorate.

2. An institutional arrangement for arriving at political decisions in which individuals acquire the power to decide for the whole of society by the means of a competitive struggle for the people's vote

Front 18

Broad (normative) definition of democracy

Back 18

Focus not only on the means of democracy but the goals; emphasizes democratic ideas and values: Individual freedom or/and collective equality
1. Democracy implies voting, but voting alone is not enough;

- Meaningful participation, choice and debate in creating truly free individuals and genuine communities

-Presence of a alternative source of information, free media

-Rule of Law

-Lively Civil Society

-Free economy

Front 19

Key components of democracy

Back 19

1. Participation
2. Competition

3. Freedom

4. Rule of Law

Front 20

Participation

Back 20

Political equality, rulers'accountability trough fair, frequent, secret and competitive elections in which most adults can participate

Front 21

Competition

Back 21

Political parties, checks and balances, separation of power

Front 22

Rule of law

Back 22

The public and those in power respect and abide by the rules and the norms of the democratic regime

Front 23

Freedom

Back 23

Individual rights and liberties;
1. Civil rights (Freedom of speech, thought and faith, right to own property, right to due process).
2. Political Rights (Right to participate in the exercise of power, of association)

3. Social Rights (Economic welfare and security, right to education,healthcare etc.)

Front 24

Direct Democracy

Back 24

Decisions are taken by the entire electorate through direct participation: Referenda.

Renewed interest in political participatory democracy:

1.Political apathy is not inevitable. Participation is now more possible, thanks to technological development

2. More direct participation should be encouraged (use of referendums).

Example: Switzerland

Front 25

Representative Democracy

Back 25

Decisions are taken by elected official who represent the electorate. Electorates choose the people who represent them.
-> Pluralist and elitist democracy

Front 26

Pluralism

Back 26

Society is composed of multiple groups with competing/hostile interests. The state regulates and mediates between those groups. Some scholars see the state as a neutral arbiter, others as another group. All groups can make their voice heard in the political process. Power is fragmented. One group is not influential in all issues. -> Robert Dahl: Polyarchy

Front 27

Elitism

Back 27

Democracy and elite can coexist (Joseph Schumpeter): Mass participation is unrealistic: People want elites to take care of politics. Masses are irrational and have authoritarian values. Competitive elites protect democratic values as they seek to provide the maximum benefits for their voters.

Front 28

3 types of democracy

Back 28

1. Liberal
2. Social

3. Illiberal

Front 29

Liberal Democracy

Back 29

Emphasizes individual political and economic freedom over collective equality. Argues that a high degree of freedom will procedure the greatest prosperity of the majority.
Competition leads to innovation, progress, lower prices, higher efficiency.

Accepts a certain level of inequality and the reality that some individuals fall behind.

Requires a minimal state (night-watchman state): Ensures internal and external security and plays little role in society and the economy.
Example: Germany & France

Front 30

Social Democracy

Back 30

Respects individual liberty: Political and civil rights. In economic and social issue, emphasizes equality over freedom.

Requires a strong state able to implement the redistributive policies that ensure equality.

Welfare state.

Front 31

redistributive policies that ensure equality

Back 31

1. Taxes
2. Government Regulations of competition, money supply, trade.

3. State ownership of crucial economic sectors
(welfare state)

Front 32

Illiberal democracy

Back 32

Presence of regular elections that reflects the reality of popular participation in politics and support for those elected, presence of competing parties, but absence of fair elections, reduced meaningful choice and reduced accountability of political rulers to people. Frequent abuses of power, corruption, curtailment of press freedom, human rights.
Authoritarian Regimes.
Example: Russia

Front 33

Authoritarian Regimes

Back 33

No seperation of power. The exercise of power is not controlled except by the rulers themselves. Elections are held only to increase power. Leaders make decisions based on their own interests and wants.