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POLI 203 Midterm Review Concordia University study guide solution update for winter 2024
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POLI 203 Midterm Review Concordia University studyguide solution update for winter 2024
- Chapter 1: Comparative Politics
Politics: the making of authoritative public choices from private preferences
Comparative Politics: the systematic research for answers to political questionsabout how
people around the world make or contest authoritative public choices
Hypothesis: A specific prediction that can be tested against empirical evidence.Specific
hypotheses are often derived from a theory. In comparative politics, hypotheses are
often about a certain case or set of cases
Falsifiable: the possibility that a hypothesized relationship can be shown to beincorrect
Comparative Method: a way to examine patterns of facts or events to narrow downwhat
is important in terms of building a convincing comparative argument
Most Similar System Design: Research design in which we compare cases that aresimilar
with respect to a number of factors, but with distinct outcomes
Most Different System Design: Research design in which we compare cases thatdiffer
with respect to multiple factors but in which the outcome is the same
Causation: a process or event that produces an observable effect
Correlation: a measure of observed association between two variables
Quantitative Research: relies on statistical data to assess relationship between attributes
and outcomes, analysis using mathematical examination
Qualitative Research: focuses on an in-depth understanding of attributes andoutcomes,
analysis based on facts in narrative form
- Chapter 2: The State
State: a political-legal unit with sovereignty over a particular geographic territorywith a
population that resides there
Sovereignty: ultimate responsibility for and legal authority over the conduct ofinternal
affairs with a territory defined by geographic borders
Failed state: a state where sovereignty over claimed territory has collapsed or wasnever
effectively established
,Legitimacy: the degree to which citizens willingly accept the states sovereignauthority to
use power
Collective Action Problem: a situation wherein each individual has private incentives not
to participate in an action that benefits all members of the group
Hobbes:
- States emerged to solve collective action problems that stem from the class
between individual and collective interests.
State of Nature: Term coined by Hobbes to describe an imaginary time before humans
organized into states for the collective good “Men is the wolf of other man” “Individuals
are trying to maximize their interests, thus they clash with one another”
• Described to be anarchic, a mythological time before governments existed
• Life in the state of nature is described as “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and
short”
• Leviathan emerges as a higher authority to solve collective action problems
• Individuals submit to a higher authority and give up some freedoms in
exchange for security and protection
Social Contract: a theoretical political agreement in which everyone agrees to limit their
ability to do as they please in order to achieve some collective benefit
Weber:
“The state is the central political institution that exerts a monopoly on the legitimateuse
of physical force within a given territory”
The Modern State: The most important form of political organization in modern
politics in its ideal form, is characterized by centralized control of the use of force,
bureaucratic organization, and the provision of public goods
The State–Society Relationship; Functioning states have autonomy from social
institutions, yet are responsive to civil society
Characteristics of Modern states:
1. Bureaucracy: A form of organization that has individuals operating and
working under established, specified, and complex rules. Its ideal form is
characterized to be impartial and transparent
2. Impersonality: States identified with institutions rather than the personalities
of their leaders rules, constitutions are the main source of authority and
legitimacy not the personal dictates states treats members ofthe population as
citizens with equal rights and responsibilities, little or nofavoritism-relatively
autonomous
, 3. Sovereignty: States are the ultimate authority within their specifically
demarcated territories
Functions of modern state: Defense (External and internal security)Taxation
Economic management
Human Capital (Public health education)
Welfare State (social insurance) Infrastructure
Why do states Emerge:
Political Conflict theory: Main Cause for State Emergence: Conflict
• “War made the state and state made war” (Charles Tilly)
• For states to emerge, several factors needed:
1. Centralized authority
2. Ability to tax population to raise revenue (for war)
3. Ability to mobilize population for collective projects
Economic Theories: States are a reflection of underlying economic interests
- Capitalist classes may favor rise of states because stable state maximizes
profit potential (allowing exploitation of labor, e.g.) (Karl Marx, Perry
Anderson)
- Elite coalitions may craft new institutions like modern states to ensure theirown
rights (Douglass North and collaborators)
- i.e. Landowners shifting alliances against monarch
àIn both cases, states are not treated as autonomous actors
Cultural Theories: Ideas and cultural forces in peoples’ lives led to favoring thestate as
an organization
àTheory: religious changes with Protestantism reshaped attitudes toward role of
institutions in daily life (Philip Gorski)-institutions as protector
àTheory: emergence of nationalism led people to accept the nation-state as a
“natural” and legitimate form of organization (Liah Greenfeld)
* States as the protectors of national identity
Diffusion Theories: It was not foregone conclusion that everywhere would end up with
states Question: Why did the state as a form of organization spread around theworld?
àTheory: states had military advantages over non-states and thus came todominate,
brought their state forms of organization with them
àTheory: states reflected needs of economic interests that pushed for state creation
everywhere
i.e. creating of economic markets for capital accumulation
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